iOS 12 Beta Problems: 5 Things You Need to Know

The iOS 12 beta is plagued with a variety of issues ranging from minor bugs to serious performance issues. You should be able to fix some of these issues on your own, but some of them will require a fix from Apple in a future iOS 12 beta release.

The iOS 12 beta is still live for developers and the general public via the Beta Software Program. The beta delivers a suite of new features and enhancements, but they’re also causing problems for those testing the software ahead of the official release in the fall.

The fact that the iOS 12 beta is causing problems should come as no surprise. This is pre-release software and the point of the beta is to weed out these problems before the software is released to millions of iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch users around the world.

That said, those of you thinking about trying the iOS 12 beta should know what you’re getting into before you hit the download button.

In this guide we’ll take you through the current set of iOS 12 beta problems. The latest iOS 12 beta has a long list of issues and every upcoming beta will have its own collection of bugs and problems.

We’ll also provide a variety of resources for those of you struggling on iOS 12 beta. Remember, if the beta starts causing problems on your phone or tablet, you aren’t stuck. You can get off the beta onto a stable version of iOS 11 whenever you want.

iOS 12 Beta Problems

Apple’s outlined a series of known issues and developers are providing feedback of their own.

Apple says the most recent betas are plagued with Siri issues, problems with HomeKit, problems with Wi-Fi calls (Wi-Fi calls might end unexpectedly when transitioning from Wi-Fi to cellular while on the T-Mobile network), issues with iOS 12’s new Screen Time feature, and issues with Wallet.

In addition to those issues, we’re hearing about odd battery drain, issues connecting devices to Wi-Fi networks and Bluetooth devices, crashes, abnormal amounts of lag, installation issues, Face ID problems, Touch ID problems, and issues with auto-brightness.

Apple will likely fix some of these problems, but many will linger throughout the beta process on the road to the update’s final release this fall.

Some of these issues are static, but many others appear to be random. For instance, there’s no guarantee you’ll see Face ID problems or battery drain on your phone while using iOS 12 beta.

This is why we recommend doing some prep work before you install iOS 12 beta. Pre-installation prep can help you cut down on the amount of problems you see.

To assist you we’ve put together a pre-installation checklist that will help you get things in order before you go to install the iOS 12 beta on your phone or tablet.

We’ve also put together a step-by-step walkthrough that’ll hold your hand through the entire installation process. If this is your first time trying a beta, they’re worth a look.

Where to Find Feedback

As the iOS 12 beta progresses, it’ll be important for current and prospective users to keep an eye on feedback coming from those testing the software. This feedback will provide a clear look at the current set of problems and it’ll also outline the potential benefits of the iOS 12 beta.

iOS 12’s focused on improving performance, particularly on older devices like the iPhone 5s, but new software often runs poorly on devices using old hardware. Those of you using older devices would be wise to dig through feedback before jumping to the iOS 12 beta.

There are a few places to check for feedback. You can check YouTube for information about your specific device. Beta testers are starting to post feedback about device speed and bugs.

Apple’s official discussion forums are another solid resource, so are social media sites like Twitter and Facebook. We also recommend monitoring the users on the MacRumors forums for additional feedback about the current version of iOS 12 beta.

How to Fix iOS 12 Beta Problems

Again, some of the more prominent iOS 12 beta problems will require a fix from Apple in a future update. Others you should be able to fix on your own.

We’ve put together a list of fixes for the most common iOS beta problems. It’s a great starting point if you start seeing issues with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or your applications.

The iOS 12 beta 12 fixes an annoying popup bug.

If you’re currently dealing with performance issues (lag, lockups, etc), please take a look at our list of tips to improve the iOS beta’s performance on your device.

If you don’t find what you’re looking for in our guides, we recommend getting in touch with the community on Apple’s discussion forums or via Apple customer service line.

You Can Downgrade from iOS 12 Beta

If you can’t stand the bug or performance, you can move your device back to iOS 11. If you downgrade to an official version of iOS you’ll lose access to iOS 12’s features, but it should stabilize your device’s performance.

As of right now, Apple is signing off on one official version of iOS 11: iOS 11.4.1. Unfortunately, the company’s stopped signing on iOS 11.4 and older versions of iOS which means you can only drop back to iOS 11.4.1 if becomes too problematic.

If you decide you want to downgrade from the iOS 12 beta, we’ve put together a downgrade guide that will lead you through the entire process.

What’s Next

Apple will periodically release new versions of iOS 12 beta. These new versions will come with bug fixes, but they’ll also cause problems of their own.

Apple typically releases new beta software every other week and every week once we get closer to the Gold Master and final release this fall.

New beta releases are typically released on Monday or Tuesday around 10AM Pacific though Apple did push iOS 12 beta 10 on a Thursday and iOS 12 beta 12 on a Friday.

The final version of iOS 12 should arrive in mid-September shortly after the company announces new iPhones and a new iPad Pro on September 12th.

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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