Apple

iOS 14 Beta Problems: 5 Things You Need to Know

Published

4 years ago

09/10/2020

Apple’s iOS 14 beta is causing problems for testers. Some of these issues are minor, others are far more problematic.

The iOS 14 beta is live for those enrolled in Apple’s developer programs which means we’re getting feedback from people who have moved their iPhones off of iOS 13.

iOS 14 beta is loaded up with changes including new features and performance enhancements which means there are plenty of reasons to give it a try.

Of course, the iOS 14 beta also has its fair share of issues and that comes as no surprise. It’s unfinished software and Apple’s pre-release software is always plagued by a variety of bugs and performance issues.

Those of you who are interested in trying the iOS 14 beta need to understand what you’re getting into before you hit download. And those of you using the beta need to know where to find fixes and ongoing feedback about the beta’s performance.

In this guide we’ll take you through the current state of iOS 14 beta problems. We’ll also provide you with a list of resources that might come in handy if you download the beta and you start noticing problems.

iOS 14 Beta Problems

Apple’s iOS 14 beta change log acknowledges multiple issues and developers are reporting additional problems with the software.

Right now we’re hearing about installation and download problems, Wi-Fi connectivity issues, Face ID problems, problems with auto-brightness, crashes, lag, and problems with first and third-party applications.

Apple will fix some of these initial problems, but some of them will probably linger throughout the beta process.

It’s impossible to predict exactly what you’ll see during your time on the iOS 14 beta and that’s why we recommend doing some prep work before you install the software on your iPhone.

We’ve put together a pre-installation checklist that will help you get everything in order before you install. We’ve also put together a walkthrough that will hold your hand through the iOS 14 beta installation process.

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Where to Find Feedback

If you’re using the iOS 14 beta or thinking about downloading it, make sure you keep an eye on feedback from users. The feedback they provide will give you a look at the most prominent issues. On the flip side, it will also outline the beta’s potential benefits.

If you’re using an older phone or having a good experience on an older version of iOS 13, you’ll want to dig into feedback before you jump to the beta. If you’re on iOS 13.6.1 or an older version of iOS 13, there’s no way back once you install the beta on your phone.

There are a few places to check for iOS 14 beta feedback. You can check YouTube for information about your device. We’re starting to see feedback about bugs, performance issues, and the overall speed of the first beta.

Apple’s official discussion forums are another resource to look at. We also recommend monitoring feedback from the MacRumors forums and Twitter.

We’ve also put together a list of reasons to, and not to, install the iOS 14 beta right now and it’s worth a look if you’re on the fence.

How to Fix iOS 14 Beta Problems

Some issues will require a fix from Apple. Others you should be able to fix on your own.

We’ve put together a list of fixes for the most common iOS problems. It’s a good starting point if you encounter problems with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or issues with cellular data.

If you’re dealing with performance issues (lag, lockups, etc), take a look at our list of tips to improve the iOS 14 beta’s performance on your phone or tablet.

If you’re experiencing weird battery drain, check out our guide to fixing bad iOS 14 beta battery life. It should help you improve it in minutes.

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 with Apple via its customer support account on Twitter.

You Can Downgrade from iOS 14 Beta

If you can’t stand iOS 14 beta’s performance on your device, you can drop back down to iOS 13. This could help return your device to a normal state.

Apple is currently signing on iOS 13.7. Unfortunately, the company has stopped signing on iOS 13.6.1 and older versions of iOS which means you can’t drop back to any of those.

If you decide you want to move your iPhone back to stable software, we’ve released a downgrade guide that will take you through the entire process.

What’s Next

Apple will periodically release new versions of iOS 14. New iOS 14 betas will bring bug fixes, but they’ll also bring problems of their own.

The company typically releases new beta software every other week and then every week once we get closer to the Gold Master and final release. New betas are usually released around 10AM Pacific.

The final version of iOS 14 should arrive in late September or in October after the company confirms the 2020 iPhones.

4 Reasons Not to Install iOS 14.8.1 & 11 Reasons You Should

Install iOS 14.8.1 for Better Security

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If security is important to you, think about installing iOS 14.8.1 right away.

The iOS 14.8.1 update brings 12 new security patches to the iPhone. You can read about all of them over on Apple's site.

If you want to better protect your iPhone and its data, you'll want to install the iOS 14.8.1 update in the near future.

If you missed iOS 14.8, you'll get its security patches with your upgrade. You can learn more about them right here.

If you missed iOS 14.7.1, you'll get its patch with your upgrade. If you want to learn more about iOS 14.7.1's security update, check out its support page.

If you missed iOS 14.7, you'll get its 31 security patches with your upgrade. You can learn more about those on Apple's website.

If you skipped iOS 14.6, you'll get the update's 38 security patches with your iOS 14.8.1 update. If you're curious about the particulars, you can read about them right here.

If you skipped iOS 14.5.1, you get the update's two security patches on board. You can read about them over on Apple's website. Both are related to WebKit.

If you missed iOS 14.5 you'll get its patches with your upgrade. You can read more about those changes over on Apple's website.

iOS 14.5 also brought Apple's new App Tracking Transparency which lets you control which apps are allowed to track your activity across other companies' apps and websites for ads or sharing with data brokers.

If you skipped iOS 14.4.2, you get its security patch with iOS 14.8.1. You can learn more about that patch over on Apple's website as well.

If you missed iOS 14.4.1, you get its patch with your upgrade to iOS 14.8.1. You can read about that patch right here.

If you skipped iOS 14.4, you get the update's patches with your upgrade. You can learn more about iOS 14.4's security patches right here.

If you skipped iOS 14.3 you'll get its nine security updates with your upgrade. You can read more about them on its security site.

iOS 14.3 also included a new privacy information section on App Store pages that includes a developer-reported summary of the app’s privacy practices.

If you skipped iOS 14.2, your iOS 14.8.1 update includes 24 additional security patches. You can learn more about the patches on Apple's security website.

If you're still running iOS 13, iOS 14.8.1 includes iOS 14.0's security updates.

iOS 14.0 brought 11 new 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 website.

In addition to those patches, iOS 14 comes with some security and privacy upgrades including improvements to Home/HomeKit and Safari.

For instance in Safari, you can now tap the Privacy Report button to better understand how websites handle your privacy.

With iOS 14 on board you can now get information on the App Store that will help you understand the privacy practices of apps before you download them.

There is also a new recording indicator that will appear at the top of your screen whenever an app is using your microphone or camera. You can see if an app has used them recently in Control Center.

Researchers also discovered that Apple brought a new "BlastDoor" sandbox security system to iOS 14. The system is meant to prevent attacks from occurring via the Messages app.

You can read more about "BlastDoor" right here.