30 Common iOS 11 Problems & How to Fix Them

Apple’s iOS 11.4.1 update is causing problems for some iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch users. If you run into iOS 11.4.1 issues on your device, try a fix from this list before making an appointment at your local Apple Store.

We don’t know when Apple will release its next iOS 11 upgrade. The company hasn’t confirmed iOS 11.4.2 which means you’ll need to be extremely proactive if you run into an issue with iOS 11.4.1 or an older version of iOS 11.

This walkthrough will show you how to fix most common problems on iOS 11.0, iOS 11.0.1, iOS 11.0.2, iOS 11.0.3, iOS 11.1, iOS 11.1.1, iOS 11.1.2, iOS 11.2, iOS 11.2.1, iOS 11.2.2, iOS 11.2.5, iOS 11.2.6, iOS 11.3, iOS 11.3.1, iOS 11.4, and iOS 11.4.1.

If you’re noticing weird battery drain, an issue with Bluetooth, or random reboots, take a look at this list of fixes before you get in contact with customer service.

How to Fix iOS 11 Installation Problems

Installation problems and errors always popup after a major iOS release and we’re already seeing a number of complaints about iOS 11 downloads and errors.

The iOS 11 download is getting stuck for some iPhone and iPad users trying to install the new operating system. This is an extremely common issue and it’s one that can be fixed in seconds.

If your iOS 11 download gets stuck, hold down the home button and the power button at the same time until the device reboots. This process is a little bit different on the iPhone X, iPhone 8, iPhone 7.

If you’re using an iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus, hold the volume down and power button. On the iPhone 8, press volume up and release, press volume down and release, then hold the power button for about 5-10 seconds.

If you’re using an iPhone X, press volume up, volume down, then hold the side button on the right edge of the device. The device should eventually reboot itself.

If you’re experiencing long download times, check your internet connection. Remember, iOS 11 download times will vary from device-to-device, person-to-person.

If you skipped an iOS update the features from the update will be baked into iOS 11 which will increase your download size and download time.

How to Fix iOS 11 Battery Life Issues

If you start noticing abnormal battery drain immediately after installing iOS 11 there’s no need to panic. It might take the update a few hours, or even a couple of days, to settle in. If you continue to notice issues you’ll want to take action.

Battery drain is an extremely common problem for iPhone and iPad users and we typically see tons of complaints right after a new update is released.

If you need help getting a handle on your device’s battery life take a look at our full length guide to fixing bad iOS 11 battery life. It’ll walk you through some potential fixes and tips that could help you get more out of your phone or tablet.

If none of those fixes work you might have a bad battery and you’ll need to get in contact with Apple about a replacement. If you live near an Apple Store, a Genius should be able to diagnose your problem in a matter of minutes.

How to Fix iOS 11 Bluetooth Problems

Bluetooth issues are extremely annoying and they can be extremely difficult to fix. If Bluetooth starts acting up on iOS 11, here’s what you should do.

since IOS 11 came out, been having trouble with bluetooth keyboards.

— Keao Wright (@keao45) October 19, 2017

First you’ll want to forget the Bluetooth connection giving you trouble. Go to Settings > Bluetooth > Select the connection using the “i” in the circle  > and tap Forget this Device. Try reconnecting.

If that doesn’t help reset your device’s network settings. Go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. It will take a few seconds to complete and your device will forget all known Bluetooth devices. Reconnect and see if your device pairs correctly.

You can also try resetting all of your settings to their factory defaults. Go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset All Settings. This will take a few minutes to complete.

If you’re dealing with Bluetooth issues in the car you’ll need to consult your manual. If you’re unable to reset the connection you should make an appointment with customer service at your local dealership.

How to Fix iOS 11 Wi-Fi Problems

iOS 11 users are complaining about various Wi-Fi problems. If you’re noticing slow speeds or dropped connections, here are a few things to try.

Before you start playing around with your device’s settings you should take a look at our router. If you’re on your home network try unplugging the router for minute before plugging it back in.

If you can’t access the router you’re using or if you’re positive it has nothing to do with it, you’ll want to head into your device’s settings.

The first thing you’ll want to do is forget the Wi-Fi network giving you issues. Go into your Settings > Wi-Fi > Select your connection by tapping the “i” in the circle > and tap Forget this Network at the top of the screen. This will cause your device to forget the password so make sure you have that on hand before you do this.

If that doesn’t work, go into your Settings app > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. This will also cause your device to forget Wi-Fi passwords so have those handy.

If nothing here helps, head over to Apple’s guide to Wi-Fi problems.

How to Fix iOS 11 Cellular Data Problems

If your device suddenly says “No Service” and you can’t connect your cellular provider’s network, here are a few things to try.

First, you’ll want to check your service provider for outages. Outages are common so you’ll want to check around on social media sites for updates. You’ll also want to check sites like Down Detector.

If you’re confident the problem isn’t related to a data outage, try restarting your iPhone or iPad.

If a restart doesn’t work, flip Airplane Mode on for 30 seconds before turning it off. Airplane Mode kills all of the connections on your device and it could jumpstart your connection.

If that doesn’t restore order, toggle Cellular Data and/or LTE off to see if that helps. To shut LTE down temporarily, go into Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options > Enable LTE > Off.

To shut off Cellular Data completely without turning off any other services go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data > Toggle Off. Toggle it back on after 30 seconds.

How to Fix iOS 11 Emoji Problems

If you’re seeing lines or a rectangles with question marks inside of them in your Messages, it’s because your contact is attempting to send you emojis.

Anyone know why I'm getting a box with a question mark on a lot of tweets and texts? Is iOS 11 not giving me every emoji? Fantastic.

— Robert Żeglinski (@RobertZeglinski) November 6, 2017

Apple’s iOS 11.1 update delivered new emoji characters and those who aren’t running iOS 11.1, iOS 11.1.1, iOS 11.1.2, iOS 11.2, iOS 11.2.1, iOS 11.2.2, iOS 11.2.5, iOS 11.2.6, iOS 11.3, iOS 11.3.1, iOS 11.4, or iOS 11.4.1 will see lines or rectangles/other symbols in place of these characters.

If you want to see the emojis you (or the person complaining about them) need to update your devices to iOS 11.4.1. If you are seeing the symbols on a Mac, you need to update to the latest version of macOS High Sierra.

How to Fix iOS 11 Touch ID Problems

If Touch ID stops working make sure dirt and sweat are removed from the Touch ID sensor and that oil is removed from your hands. These can cause Touch ID to misread your fingers.

If you’re positive those aren’t the issue, try retraining your fingerprints. Go to Settings > Touch ID & Passcode > Enter your Passcode.

On the next screen tap on each print and select Delete Fingerprint. When this is complete tap on Add a Fingerprint… to re-train your Touch ID.

How to Fix iOS 11 Sound Problems

If you’re experiencing issues with sound (distortion, fuzziness, lack of sound, etc) try this.

@CarcassonneApp I've been experiencing popping (audio distortion) whenever in-game sound effects play on the iPhone 8 (iOS 11.1). Music sounds fine. Never had this problem on earlier iOS devices. Anyone else report this on the latest hardware?

— Mike Strobel (@mstrobel) November 18, 2017

First, restart your device. Power down your iPhone or iPad and turn it back on to see if that helps. This has worked for us in the past.

If that doesn’t help, take a peek at your speaker grille and check for debris. If you notice something, carefully remove it and see if your sound improves. If that doesn’t work, try toggling Bluetooth off and on.

If you’re experiencing the issue in a specific app, you should download the latest update and see if that helps.

If you own an iPhone 8 or iPhone 8 Plus and you’ve heard audible crackling sounds, be sure to download the latest iOS 11 update. It fixes these issues.

How to Fix iOS 11 FaceTime Problems

If you suddenly can’t make or receive FaceTime calls, make sure everything is good over at Apple. If FaceTime is green, here are a few things to try.

FaceTime isn't working. I wonder if Apple is keeping it hostage from me until I update to iOS 11.0shit

— Henrique Jardim (@henriiscrap) October 22, 2017

First, make sure your device is properly connected to Wi-Fi or a cellular network. You should also check to make sure FaceTime is on. Go into Settings > FaceTime. If you notice a message that says “Waiting for Activation”, turn FaceTime off and then toggle it back on.

If it’s on and you’re connected to Wi-Fi or a cellular network, restart your phone or tablet. Power it down and then power the device back on after waiting a few seconds.

If you’re having trouble connecting over a cellular network, make sure cellular data is turned on for FaceTime. Head into Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data > turn on FaceTime.

There’s also a chance you’ve flipped something off in Restrictions. Go into Settings > General > Restrictions and make sure you’re not restricting Camera or FaceTime.

How to Fix “i” to “A” Keyboard Bug

If you’re running iOS 11.1 on your phone you might’ve notice your device change the letter “i” to a capital “A” with a rectangle with a question mark. It’s an annoying issue with an easy fix.

If you encounter this issue on your device, and you’re running iOS 11.1 or below, upgrade your device to iOS 11.4.1.

How to Improve iOS 11 Performance

If you’re noticing weird user interface lag, freezes, and stuttering, you aren’t alone. Other iOS 11 users are dealing with the same problems.

Performance can sometimes drag on older devices, but if your phone is unusable on iOS 11 you’ll obviously need to take action. We’re here to help.

We’ve put together a list of ways to improve iOS 11 performance on iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. These tips will help you eliminate lag and (hopefully) return your device to the way it was before you downloaded iOS 11.

How to Fix iOS 11 Random Reboots

If your phone or tablet starts randomly rebooting itself (goes black for a second and comes back, goes black and you see the Apple logo, etc) there are a few remedies to try before taking the device in.

Another day another random reboot from iOS 11. Worst update ever.

— Matt Zagaja (@mzagaja) November 5, 2017

The first thing you should do is restart the device. You can power it down via the power button or you might try holding down the power button and home button. If you’re using an iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus you’ll need to hold down the volume down and power button.

If you’re still noticing random reboot issues, update all of your applications. Check the App Store and make sure everything is up-to-date.

How to Fix iOS 11 Landscape Problems

If your iOS 11-powered devices somehow manages to get stuck in landscape mode (your device goes into landscape when you hold it horizontally), here’s how to get it unstuck.

First, try locking and unlocking your device. Hit the power button and unlock your phone with your PIN or fingerprint to see if that squashes this issue. It has for us in the past.

If that fails to get the screen unstuck, try restarting your iPhone or iPad.

And if that doesn’t work, you can try turning Reduce Motion off. To do that go to Settings > General > Accessibility and toggle Reduce Motion off.

How to Fix iOS 11 Autofocus Issues

If you’re running iOS 11.2 and your camera’s autofocus isn’t working properly, try downloading iOS 11.4.1.

iOS 11.2.1 apparently solved the autofocus issues some iPhone X, iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 Plus users were dealing with while running the iOS 11.2 update.

How to Fix iOS 11 Screen Not Responding Problems

If your device’s screen stops responding, you don’t need to head to an Apple Store. Yet.

Touchscreen issues are common particularly on older devices. If you start experiencing touch screen problems on your iPhone or iPad, here are a few things to try.

If your iPhone/iPad’s screen stops responding to touches and swipes, hold down the power button and home button (volume down and power button on an iPhone 7/iPhone 7 Plus) at the same time. Your phone will reboot in a few seconds and the problems should be gone.

If it doesn’t work the first time, try it again. It sometimes takes multiple hard reboots for touchscreen lag issues to disappear.

How to Fix iOS 11 Hey Siri Problems

If iOS 11’s “Hey Siri” feature stops working properly after you upgrade to a new version of iOS 11, here are a few remedies that’ve worked for us in the past.

First, make sure Hey Siri is turned on. To do that, head into Settings > Siri & Search and make sure everything looks good.

If Hey Siri is enabled on your device, try turning Siri off and restarting the device. Once your device reboots, toggling Siri back on.

If that doesn’t help, try resetting all of your Settings. Head to Settings > General > Reset > Reset All Settings. This will cause your device to forget Wi-Fi passwords so make sure you have those handy.

How to Fix iOS 11 Raise to Wake Problems

iOS 11’s Raise to Wake feature isn’t working for some iPhone users. If the feature becomes unresponsive, here are a couple of fixes that’ve worked for us and others in the past.

First, try toggling the feature off and then on again. To do this, head into Settings > Display & Brightness and toggle Raise to Wake off. Turn it on again and check if it works.

If that doesn’t work, restart your device.

How to Fix iOS 11 3D Touch Problems

If your device’s 3D Touch gestures stop working after an iOS 11 update here are a few fixes you can try out.

Is it just me or the 3D touch doesn’t work on iPhone 7plus in iOs 11?

— Ian Benedict Roxas (@bndict) October 17, 2017

The first thing to do is restart your phone or tablet.

If that doesn’t help, try adjusting the feature’s sensitivity to better suit your needs. To do that, head into Settings > General > Accessibility > scroll down to 3D Touch and tap.

Your device’s default should be set to medium, but you can switch it to firm or light. Go ahead and test it at the bottom of the screen.

If that still help, try resetting your settings. Head to Settings > General > Reset > Reset All Settings. Remember, your device will forget known Wi-Fi passwords so have those handy.

How to Fix iOS 11 Haptic Feedback Issues

If haptic feedback suddenly stops working on your iPhone, you should be able to fix the issue by restarting the device.

If a restart doesn’t work, you can try toggling the feature off by heading to Settings > Sounds & Haptics > toggle System Haptics off. Restart the device and toggle it back on.

If that doesn’t work, try resetting all of your settings. Head to General > Reset > Reset All Settings.

How to Can’t Send Mail with Exchange or Outlook Problems

If you’re unable to send emails with an Outlook or Exchange account on iOS 11 and you’re running iOS 11.0, download the latest iOS 11 update. It should fix these issues.

How to Fix iOS 11 App Problems

If one of your apps isn’t working properly there are a few things you can do before getting in contact with the developer.

The first thing to try is a restart. Power done your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch and power it back on. If that the app’s still acting up, you’ll want to check the App Store for an update.

Developers are still pushing iOS 11 support updates and the latest version could help to stabilize the app. Just make sure you read reviews from fellow iOS 11 users before you install.

You can also delete the app and download it again. This worked recently when Netflix refused to load on our iPhone 7.

If that doesn’t fix the issue, get in contact with the app’s developer and see if its aware of the problem.

How to Fix App Store Refresh Problem

We’ve run into an issue on our iPhones where the App Store constantly refreshes itself every few seconds. Others have noticed the issue as well so we want to run down some fixes for those in need.

We fixed the issue by powering the device down, waiting a minute, and then powering it back on. You can also try signing out of your Apple account.

Head into your device’s Settings > Tap your name at the top of the screen > iTunes & App Store > Apple ID > Sign out. After that’s done, tap Sign In and check the App Store.

What to Do If Music Controls Are Missing from the Lock Screen

If your music controls aren’t showing up on your device’s lock screen, make sure you’re running the latest version of iOS 11. This will resolve the issue.

If the issue persists, try restarting your phone or tablet.

How to Fix iOS 11 GarageBand Problems

If Apple’s GarageBand app won’t open after updating to iOS 11, you’ll want to turn off iCloud for GarageBand on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.

To do this, go to the Settings app > Your Name, and tap on iCloud.

Under Apps Using iCloud, turn off GarageBand. When you turn this off you won’t be able to access any GarageBand songs stored in iCloud Drive, but none of the songs will be removed from iCloud and new songs will still be saved to your device.

Apple is investigating a permanent fix, but until then, use this workaround.

How to Fix iOS 11 PC or Mac Connection Issues

If you can no longer connect your device to a Mac or PC running iTunes here are a few fixes to try.

Make sure you’re running the latest version of iTunes. While in iTunes select the iTunes tab in the upper left corner and click About iTunes. The current version is 12.7.

If you’re running an older version, download the latest update via the iTunes tab > Check for update. You can also find the proper file at this link.

If you’re using a Mac computer, remember you must be running OS X 10.9.5 or later to support iTunes and iOS 11-powered devices.

If you’re using a Windows PC and a firewall, take a look at this guide from Apple. There’s a chance your firewall is blocking your sync.

How to Fix iOS 11 Reachability Problems

In iOS 10, when the Reachability gesture was used (double tapping the home button to bring down the top portion of the screen so it’s easily accessible with one hand), you could swipe from just above the app line to bring up your Notifications. You can’t do this in iOS 11.0-iOS 11.0.3. Fortunately, there’s a fix.

The iOS 11.1 update fixed this bug. With the latest version of iOS 11 installed, you’ll bring up Notification Center when you swipe down from just above the app line.

How to Fix iOS 11 Wallpaper Issues

Some iPhone users are saying the iOS 11 lock screen sometimes gets stuck showing the wallpaper on the home screen. We saw this issue on the iOS 11 beta. Fortunately, there’s a simple fix.

If you restart your iPhone or iPad, the problem should go away.

What to Do If Your Phone Doesn’t Show Up in iTunes

If you’re running iOS 11 and iTunes suddenly fails to recognize your device, there are a few steps you can take to alleviate the problem.

First, make sure you’re running the latest version of iTunes. As of right now, the current version of iTunes is version 12.7.1.

If you’re on the latest version of iTunes and you’re confident the issue has nothing to do with your Lightning cable or the USB port on your computer, make sure you download the latest version of macOS or Windows.

If your computer starts issuing you a “Trust this Computer” alert, unlock your device and tap on Trust. If you aren’t getting this alert, restart your iPhone or iPad.

If none of those solutions work for you, and there’s a chance they won’t, head on over to Apple’s support page for some additional remedies.

How to Fix Sprint Wi-Fi Calling Issues

Apple’s iOS 11.2 update is reportedly causing Wi-Fi Calling problems for Sprint users who updated their carrier settings to 31.0.

If you’re dealing with Wi-Fi calling issues on a Sprint device and you’re running iOS 11.2, you need to downgrade to an older version of iOS 11 or try upgrading to iOS 11.4.1.

How to Fix iOS 11 Visual Voicemail Issues

It appears visual voicemail is broken for some users running iOS 11. If you can’t get visual voicemail to popup on your device, here are a few things to try.

First, try letting the voicemail play all the way through. After that, exit the app and re-open it. If that doesn’t work, restart your phone.

You can also try flipping Airplane Mode on for 30 seconds or so and turning back off.

How to Fix iOS 11 Problems If Nothing Else Works

If you can’t find a fix for your iOS 11 problem on this list, here are a few recommendations.

If you haven’t already, download the latest version of iOS 11.

If you want to continue to try and diagnose your issue from the comfort of your computer chair or couch, head to Apple’s discussion forums and ask for help. Be sure to do it in the right place.

If you can’t find what you’re looking for there you might think about downgrading to an older version of iOS 11. These loopholes will only be open for a short time so you’ll need to make your move soon.

You can also ping Apple Support via its Twitter account. You can also find Apple support on the company’s website. Apple’s customer service might provide you with the fix you’re looking for.

If Apple’s online customer service is unable to help, you can schedule an appointment to see a Genius provided you have an Apple Store near where you live.

If nothing works you might want to start fresh.

Factory resetting your device will wipe everything and return it to the way it was when you first opened the box so you’ll want to backup all of your important files before going this route.

Once you’ve backed up all of your files, go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. Again, this should only be used as a last resort.

Install iOS 12.5.6 for Better Security

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If you're on the fence, here's one of the best reasons to install iOS 12.5.6 right away. iOS 12.5.6 has a vital security patch on board and it will protect your device(s) from harm. If you want the details, head over to Apple's website. If you missed the iOS 12.5.5 update, it brought three security patches to your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. You can learn more about the trio on Apple's security site.  If you missed iOS 12.5.4, you'll get that update's important security upgrades with your iOS 12.5.6 update. If you're interested in the particulars, head on over to Apple's website for more. If you skipped iOS 12.5.3, you'll get its security patches with your upgrade. Both of its patches were related to WebKit. If you want to learn more about them, head on over to Apple's security site.  If you skipped iOS 12.5.2, you'll also get its security patch with your upgrade. You can read more about it over on Apple's website.  If you also skipped iOS 12.5, you'll also get its patch with your upgrade. Apple's outlined the update's patch in detail on its security site.  If you missed iOS 12.4.9, you'll also get its four security patches with your upgrade. You can read more about those right here.  If you skipped iOS 12.4.7, you also get the update's three security patches (two for the Mail app and one for Wi-Fi) with your upgrade to iOS 12.5.6. If you're running software that's older than Apple's iOS 12.4.4 update, you'll want to download iOS 12.5.6 in the near future because it brings iOS 12.4.4's security patch to your device. You can read about it right here. If you're running software older than iOS 12.4.2, you'll get an its patch with your upgrade. You can read about the security contents of iOS 12.4.2 right here.  If you're on software that's older than iOS 12.4.1, you'll get iOS 12.4.1's security patch with your iOS 12.5.6 update. You can read about that patch right here.  If you're on software that's older than iOS 12.4, you get iOS 12.4's patches with your iOS 12.5.6 update.  iOS 12.4 brought 19 security patches to the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. If you're interested in the specifics, you can read about them on Apple's security site.  If you're running software older than iOS 12.3, your iOS 12.5.6 update carries iOS 12.3's security patches on board. The iOS 12.3 update brought 23 patches and you can read about all of them right here on Apple's site.  If you're on software that's older than iOS 12.2, you'll get iOS 12.2's security patches with your version of iOS 12.5.6. iOS 12.2 brought a whopping 41 security patches to iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. You can read more about the iOS 12.2's patches over on the company's website.  It's important to note that Apple's iOS 12.2 update patched up an exploit that allowed websites to use motion sensors to "fingerprint" devices. The exploit, discovered by researchers in Europe, uses JavaScript to snag data from a device's accelerometer, gyroscope, and magnetometer when the user visits an infected website. If the attack is successful, a device can be tracked around the internet.  Fortunately, Apple's patched up the issue. If you skipped it, you'll probably want to move to iOS 12.5.6 soon. If you're on software older than iOS 12.1.4, you get four important security patches including fixes for a widespread FaceTime eavesdropping bug that lets you call someone via FaceTime and hear the audio coming from their phone before they pick up the phone. If you're on software older than iOS 12.1.3, you get some additional patches with your version of iOS 12.5.6. Again, they're baked into your upgrade. Apple lists a grand total of 23 patches on board iOS 12.1.3 and you can read about all of them over on Apple's website.  If you're on software older than iOS 12.1.1, you should install the iOS 12.5.6 update on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch today.  The iOS 12.1.1 update brought 17 patches for potential security exploits. They'll will help protect your phone. You can read about them here. If you're running software older than iOS 12.1, you'll get 24 patches from that update with your version of iOS 12.5.5. If you're on software that's older than iOS 12.0.1, your iOS 12.5.6 update brings two additional patches. Both patches are for potential lock screen exploits. Long story long, if you store sensitive data on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, you have some really good reasons to upgrade to iOS 12.5.6 today.

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