iOS 16 Problems: 5 Things You Need to Know

Apple’s iOS 16.7.4 update fixes issues, but there are problems plaguing iOS 16 and the iPhone as we push away from the company’s latest software release.

Some iPhone users are noticing an improvement after upgrading to the latest version of iOS 16. On the flip side, some iPhone users have run into a variety of bugs and performance issues. Some of these issues have carried over from older iOS software, others are brand new.

Table of Contents

In this guide to iOS 16 problems we’ll take you through the current state of these issues. We’ll show you where to find potential fixes for the most common iOS 16 problems and provide you with some resources that will help if you run into trouble.

We’ll also touch on the state of the iOS downgrade and outline what you can expect from Apple and iOS 16 down the road.

iOS 16 Problems

The current list of iOS 16 problems includes some very common issues. We’re currently seeing complaints about the following problems:

UI lag
AirPlay issues
Touch ID and Face ID issues
Safari issues
Battery life problems
Issues with the Mail app
iMessage issues
GPS issues
Problems with AirDrop
Spotlight problems
Data transfer issues
Camera issues
Wi-Fi problems
App Store problems
Bluetooth problems
CarPlay issues
Lockups, freezes, and crashes

We expect the list of iOS 16 problems to grow as more iPhone users transition from older versions of iOS 16 to the latest version.

If you haven’t downloaded the newest version of iOS 16 yet, we recommend preparing your iPhone for the download. Some prep work ahead of time can help you avoid major headaches.

We’ve put together a step-by-step pre-installation process and it will take you through the best way to prepare for the move.

Where to Find iOS 16 Reviews

If you’re currently running iOS 16 on your iPhone, or if you’re planning to upgrade, you’ll want to sift through feedback from other users. This feedback will alert you to potential problems and performance issues others are having on the same iPhone model.

We’ve released our list of reasons to, and not to, install Apple’s latest iOS 16 update and it’s a good starting point for those of you weighing a move.

We’ve also released a guide that goes over the iOS 16.7.4 update’s performance. It’s also a worth a look if you need additional feedback.

We also recommend keeping an eye on YouTube, Apple’s discussion forums, social media sites like Twitter and Facebook, and the MacRumors forums for additional feedback about iOS 16’s performance.

How to Fix iOS 16 Problems

Some problems might require a fix from Apple in a future iOS 16 update. Others, you may be able to fix on your own.

Before you get in contact with Apple customer support, take a look at our list of fixes for the most common iOS 16 problems.

We’ve also released tips that could help you improve your device’s performance and a guide that shows you how to fix iOS 16 battery life problems. If you’re running into severe battery drain issues after installing iOS 16.7.4, have a look at those.

If you can’t find what you’re looking for in our guides, you should head on over to Apple’s discussion forums. If they can’t help you, you might want to get in contact via the company’s website.

If you still can’t fix your issue(s), you might want to schedule an appointment to see a Genius at your local Apple Store. They should be able to diagnose your problem.

iOS Downgrade Status

If you run into bugs or performance issues on iOS 16, you can try downgrading your iPhone’s software in an effort to improve its performance, that is, if the downgrade path is open. Currently, it is.

Apple recently stopped signing on iOS 16.7.3 which means you can’t downgrade back to older software if iOS 16.7.4 causes problems on your iPhone. You can’t downgrade to iOS software older than iOS 16.7.3 either.

For more about how the downgrade process works, take a look at our walkthrough.

What’s Next

If your iPhone is struggling on iOS 16.7.4 or an older version of iOS, you’re on your own for the time being.

iOS 16.7.4 was the last known update in Apple’s iOS 16 pipeline and it’s unclear when a new version will drop for the iPhone X, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and users who still haven’t moved to iOS 17.

We do expect Apple to continue support for iOS 16 throughout the year, but new updates won’t offer much more than security patches and the occasional bug fix.

Apple is planning to release new iOS 17 software in early 2024. Don’t be surprised if new iOS 16 software rolls out alongside it.

4 Reasons Not to Install iOS 16.7.4 & 11 Reasons You Should

Install iOS 16.7.4 for Better Security

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If security is important to you, and you missed prior versions of iOS 16, think about installing Apple's iOS 16.7.4 update on your iPhone right away.

iOS 16.7.4 doesn't have any security patches on board, but again, you'll get the fixes and features from updates you missed when you upgrade.

iOS 16.7.3 delivered several security patches including one that patches up an issue with the Find My app.

iOS 16.7.2 brought several security patches to iPhone models still running iOS 16. Learn more about them here.

iOS 16.7.1 carried two important security enhancements including one that addressed a kernel vulnerability. You can learn more about the pair over on Apple's website.

iOS 16.7 had three security patches on board and you can learn more about them right here.

iOS 16.6.1 brought two important security patches to iPhone. If you're interested in what they patch up, here's Apple's guide.

The iOS 16.6 update delivered 16 security patches. For more information about the changes, check out Apple's rundown.

iOS 16.5.1 brought two security patches to iPhone users If you want to learn more, head on over to Apple's website.

The company's iOS Security Response 16.5.1 (c) update also included a security update and you can learn more about it right here.

iOS 16.5 brought a ton of security patches to the iPhone. You can find out more about them over on Apple's security site.

iOS 16.4.1 included two security upgrades . You can learn more about the pair right here.

Apple's iOS 16.4 update had a substantial number of patches on board. You can read about them in detail over on Apple's security site.

The iOS 16.3.1 update had three security patches on board including one for an actively exploited vulnerability. For more on the security contents of iOS 16.3.1, check out Apple's security page.

iOS 16.3 brought 10+ new security patches with it and you can learn more about all of those right here.

In addition, the software came with support for physical security keys for Apple ID. These will beef up your account security by requiring a physical security key as part of the two factor authentication sign in process. Learn more about the change right here.

If you skipped iOS 16.2, you'll get its changes with iOS 16.7.4. iOS 16.2 brought a ton of important security patches with it and you can dig into the details on Apple's security site.

The update also brought end-to-end encryption to iCloud, iMessage, iPhone backups, Notes, Photos, and more. If you want to learn more about it, head over to Apple's guide.

If you decided to missed iOS 16.1.2, you'll get its solitary security patch with your upgrade. Learn more about it right here.

If you skipped iOS 16.1.1, you'll get its security patches when you upgrade. You can learn more about them right here.

If you missed the iOS 16.1 update, it brought 19 security patches to the iPhone and you can learn about the particulars of those over on Apple's website.

If you failed to download iOS 16.0.3, it had one security patch on board, a fix for a potential exploit within the Mail app. For more about the fix, check out Apple's security site.

If you're still running iOS 15 your iPhone, you'll get a bunch of other patches when you upgrade.

iOS 16.0 brought a ton of security patches to the iPhone. If you're interested in the exact nature of these improvements, you can read about them over on Apple's security website.

In addition to those patches, iOS 16 brings some additional enhancements to privacy and security including Safety Check which, according to Apple, will help "people in domestic or intimate partner violence situations review and reset the access they’ve granted others."

The feature also resets system privacy permissions for apps and restricts Messages and FaceTime to the device on hand.

Apple's also made some improvements to Passkeys in Safari. iOS 16 brings a brand new sign-in method that's end-to-end encrypted and safe from phishing and data leaks.