10 Common iPhone 13 Problems & How to Fix Them

iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro owners are complaining about a variety of bugs and performance issues.

If you’ve run into trouble on your iPhone 13, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to fix your ailing phone before Apple pushes new iOS 17 software or you’re forced to get in touch with a customer service rep.

In this guide we’ll take you through fixes for some of the most common iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max problems.

Our list includes potential remedies for Wi-Fi issues, fixes for Bluetooth problems, and many other issues.

Before you start playing around with your settings, make sure your iPhone 13 is updated with the latest version of iOS 17. New software always has the potential to fix bugs and performance issues.

How to Fix iPhone 13 Battery Life Problems

Most iPhone 13 users are getting excellent battery life out of their phone. However, some are seeing the battery drain faster than it probably should.

If your iPhone 13’s battery suddenly starts draining faster than it normally does, have a look at our list of fixes for iPhone 13 battery life issues.

If the problems are really bad, you might have a hardware issue. If that’s the case, you’ll want to get in contact with Apple customer service and/or take your iPhone 13 into an Apple Store.

How to Fix iPhone 13 Missing 5G

The iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max all support 5G connectivity. However, you need to be on a plan that supports 5G.

If you go into the Cellular section of your phone’s Settings app and you don’t notice any options for 5G, this isn’t a bug. It most likely means you aren’t on a 5G-enabled plan with your carrier. If that’s the case, you’ll only see “LTE” and “4G.”

In order to make use of your carrier’s 5G network you’ll need to change/upgrade your plan. Before you do so, make sure 5G service is available in the areas you frequent most. Check the maps below for more information:

• AT&T 5G Map
• T-Mobile 5G Map
• Sprint 5G Map
• Verizon 5G Map

If your iPhone 13 is on AT&T, you might notice that your phone is connected to 5Ge when it’s not connected to a Wi-Fi network. This isn’t AT&T’s 5G network. 5Ge stands for 5G Evolution and it’s a rebranding of the carrier’s LTE-A service.

How to Fix iPhone 13 Black Screen Issue

If your iPhone 13’s display goes black and the device stops responding to gestures and button presses, follow these instructions.

• Press volume up.
• Press volume down.
• Hold down the side button and continue holding it for a minute.

These steps come straight from technical support at the Apple Store and they should return your device to a normal state.

How to Fix iPhone 13 Bluetooth Problems

If your iPhone 13 can’t connect to one or more of your Bluetooth devices, there are a few solutions you can try.

First, you’ll want to do is forget the Bluetooth connection that’s not working properly. Here’s how to do that:

• Head into the Settings app.
• Tap Bluetooth.
• Select the connection using the “i” in the circle.
• Tap “Forget this Device”.
• Try reconnecting to the Bluetooth device.

If that doesn’t work, you can try resetting your Network Settings:

• Go to your Settings app.
• Tap General.
• Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
• Tap Reset.
• Tap Reset Network Settings.

This process will take a few seconds to complete. It will also cause your iPhone to forget known Wi-Fi networks so make sure you’ve got your password(s) handy.

You can also try reverting your iPhone 13’s settings back to Apple’s factory defaults. This should only be done as a last resort. Here’s how to do that:

• Head into Settings.
• Tap General.
• Tap Reset Transfer or Reset iPhone.
• Tap Reset.
• Tap Reset All Settings.
• Enter your passcode if you have one enabled.

If none of those fixes work, you might have to contact Apple’s customer service. If the product you’re trying to connect to isn’t made by Apple, you’ll want to contact the company that makes the product.

How to Fix iPhone 13 Wi-Fi Problems

If you’re seeing slow Wi-Fi speeds or dropped connections, here are some potential fixes that have worked for us in the past.

Before you start playing around with your iPhone 13’s settings, you’ll want to investigate the Wi-Fi connection causing the problems. If you’re on your home Wi-Fi network, try restarting your router.

If you’re confident there aren’t any issues with the router itself, check Down Detector and see if others with the same internet provider are having similar issues in your area.

If you can’t access the router your iPhone 13 is connected to, or if you’re positive the issue has nothing to do with your ISP/router, head into your iPhone 13’s Settings app.

In here, you’ll want to forget the Wi-Fi network you’re having issues with. Here’s how to do that:

• In Settings, tap Wi-Fi.
• Select your connection by tapping the “i” in the circle.
• Tap Forget this Network at the top of the screen. (Note: This will cause your iPhone to forget the Wi-Fi password so you’ll want to have that handy.)

If this doesn’t work, try resetting your iPhone 13’s Network Settings:

• Go to your Settings app.
• Tap General.
• Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
• Tap Reset
• Tap on Reset Network Settings.

If none of those help, you’ll want to check out Apple’s guide to Wi-Fi problems.

How to Fix iPhone 13 Charging Problems

Some iPhone 13 users are running into charging issues and most of the problems are related to their wireless charging feature.

If you encounter an issue with wireless charging, reset your iPhone 13. To do this, press and release the volume up button, press and release the volume down button, and then hold down the power button until the phone shuts off. Turn the device back on and see if charging works normally.

If you’re using an iPhone case to store credit cards or security passes, you’ll want to remove those before charging your phone. You also might try taking your case off and try charging your iPhone 13 that way.

How to Fix iPhone 13 Cellular Data Problems

If your iPhone 13 suddenly displays a “No Service” symbol and you can’t connect to your cellular network, here are a few steps you can take.

First, make sure there isn’t an outage in your area. Check social media for reports and/or get into contact with your service provider on social media. You can also check Down Detector and see if others in your area are having similar issues.

If the issue is unrelated to a network outage, you’ll want to restart your iPhone 13 and see if that fixes the issue. If that doesn’t work, try turning Airplane Mode on for 30 seconds before turning it off.

If you still can’t get it to work, you’ll want to try shutting off Cellular Data completely. To do that, here’s what you need to do:

• Go to the Settings app.
• Tap Cellular.
• Toggle Cellular Data to off.
• Leave it off for a minute and then toggle it back on.

How to Fix iPhone 13 Sound Problems

The iPhone 13’s speakers should project loud, crisp audio. However, if your sound starts to crackle or sound muffled, here are a few things you can try before getting in contact with Apple customer service.

First restart your iPhone 13. You also might want to check to make sure your SIM card is positioned correctly in the tray. The SIM card slot on the iPhone 13 is located on the left side of your phone.

If sound coming from the phone is still missing or distorted, make sure there isn’t debris blocking the speaker grille or your device’s Lightning port located on the bottom of the device.

If you start noticing a sudden drop in call quality, restart your iPhone. You’ll also want to check the device’s receiver to make sure it’s not blocked by debris or your screen protector (if you have one). You can also try removing your case (if you’re using one) to see if that helps.

If your phone’s microphone suddenly stops working or starts randomly cutting out, try restarting your phone.

If the microphone is still busted, you can try restoring from a backup. If restoring doesn’t work, you’ll want to get in touch with Apple because you might have a hardware issue on your hands.

How to Fix iPhone 13 Face ID Problems

If you’re having issues with your iPhone 13’s Face ID, here are a few things you can try.

First, make sure your iPhone 13 is running the latest version of iOS 17. If you’re running the latest version of iOS 17 and you’re seeing issues, head into your Face ID settings.

• Go to Settings.
• Head into Face ID & Passcode. Note that you’ll have to enter your passcode (if you have one) to gain access.

Once you’re in there, make sure Face ID is setup on your phone and that all of the features you’re trying to use Face ID with are currently turned on.

If you’re having issues using your face to unlock your phone, make sure you’re actively looking at the screen.

If you constantly change your appearance, you might need to add an alternate appearance to Face ID. Here’s how to setup an alternate appearance:

You’ll also want to make sure there isn’t any debris (dirt, dust, etc) blocking your iPhone 13’s FaceTime camera.

If your phone isn’t registering your face when you’re setting up Face ID, make sure you’re scanning it in a well-lit room. You also might need to bring the iPhone closer to your face or bring it more level.

How to Fix iPhone 13 Overheating Problems

If your iPhone 13 is running hot during the setup and/or while running apps and services like GPS and you don’t want to take your phone into a store, here are a few things you can try.

First, try removing your case (if you’re using one) and see if that helps. You’ll also want to try turning the phone off and back on. You can also try putting the phone into Airplane Mode.

You’ll also want to check out this guide to keeping your iPhone within acceptable operating temperatures. This will come in handy if you often use your iPhone in hot environments.

Downgrade iOS

If nothing above works, and you can’t wait for the next version of iOS 17 and/or you don’t get a working solution from Apple customer service, you can try downgrading back to the previous version of iOS 17 if the option is available. This could help improve your phone’s performance.

If you don’t know how to downgrade an iPhone’s software, take a look at our walkthrough.

Restore as New

If the problems are really bad, you can try restoring your iPhone 13 as new. You can do this via Finder, iTunes, or iCloud. This should only be used as a last resort.

Install iOS 17.4.1 for Better Security

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If security is important to you, think about installing Apple's iOS 17.4.1 update right away. The iOS 17.4.1 update includes security patches, but Apple hasn't revealed them yet. It's probably waiting until it releases additional software for Mac and other devices.  The update's patches will help keep your device and its data protected from harm. And that makes it an important upgrade. If you missed iOS 17.4 and older software, you'll get the security patches from updates you missed when you upgrade to iOS 17.4.1. iOS 17.4 had four security patches on board.  The update also delivered quantum security protection for iMessage. The company says the upgrade gives iMessage "the strongest security properties of any at-scale messaging protocol in the world."  The iOS 17.3 update brought 15 new security patches to iPhone. The software also added Stolen Device Protection to iPhone. It increases the security of your iPhone and Apple ID by requiring Face ID or Touch ID to gain access to passwords, make purchases in Safari, and more. This is useful if someone gets access to your iPhone and its passcode.  iOS 17.2 delivered 10 new security patches to iPhone. If you wish to find out more, you can head on over to Apple's security site for the details. iOS 17.2 also included iMessage Contact Key Verification which improves the security of iMessage. The company also fixed an exploit that let the Flipper Zero multi-tool lock up iPhones. iOS 17.1.2 had two security patches on board. Both were related to WebKit. If you want to learn more, you can do so right here. iOS 17.1 brought 18 security fixes to iPhone. It addressed issues within Weather, Status Bar, WebKit, and more.  iOS 17.0.3 brought two patches for two security issues Apple identified within the software. If you want to read about the patches, head here. iOS 17.0.1 delivered three important patches to iPhone. If you're interested in the exact nature of these improvements, you can read about them over on Apple's security website. As for iOS 17 itself, it brought 40+ new security patches with it. A staggering number to say the least. If you want to learn more about them, head over to Apple.  In addition to those patches, iOS 17 brings some additional enhancements to privacy and security including improvements to Communication Safety beyond Messages. It now includes content sent by AirDrop, Contact Posters in the Phone app, FaceTime, and the systemwide photo picker. You now have an option to blur out sensitive photos and videos before you choose to view them. There's also an expanded Lockdown Mode which will help protect you against cyber attacks. Apple's also improved sharing permissions and you now have more control over what you share with the apps on your device.  The company also notes that starting in iOS 17, Voice Memos encrypts the titles of recordings stored in iCloud, in addition to the recordings themselves. If you skipped older versions of iOS, you'll get the security patches from those updates with your iOS 17.4.1 update as well.

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