iPhone 13 Problems: 5 Things You Need to Know

Problems are popping up for some iPhone 13 users. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that people are having issues with the iPhone 13, but keep in mind that some of these problems are bugs and others are a matter of people just getting used to iOS 16 and their new iPhones.

iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max users are complaining about bugs, connectivity problems, and performance issues. We haven’t heard about any serious widespread iPhone 13 issues yet, but that could change down the road.

The iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max face many of the same problems because they share many parts, were released at the same time, and utilize 5G networks in the United States and abroad.

Below are the most common iPhone 13 issues, some potential fixes for the problems, places to find feedback about iPhone 13 performance, and a look at what’s in the iOS pipeline for these phones.

The list of iPhone 13 problems will grow. Some problems will get resolved by Apple and its partners via software updates, but we’ll continue to see issues pop up as people put more mileage on their device.

iPhone 13 Problems

We’re hearing about iPhone 13 activation issues. Activation issues always plague iPhone models so this isn’t surprising to see.

If you’re having issues activating your new iPhone 13, check Apple’s System Status page. If you don’t see a green symbol next to iOS Device Activation, you’ll want to wait until it’s green and then try activating your phone again.

If the symbol is green and the activation process still isn’t working, make sure you have a SIM card inserted in your iPhone. If you’re receiving a “No Sim” or “Invalid SIM” error, you’ll want to head over to this guide for assistance.

On top of those problems, we’re also hearing about issues with first and third-party apps, excessive battery drain, ongoing noise cancellation issues, Exchange problems, Wi-Fi problems, a variety of CarPlay problems including crashes, iCloud issues, Bluetooth issues, sound problems, and login issues.

Some iPhone 13 owners are complaining about pink screen issues that make their device impossible to use unless the device is restarted. Apple is aware of the issue and says it’s a software bug though it’s unclear when the company will roll out a fix.

A number of iPhone 13 users are complaining about touch issues where the device’s display doesn’t respond to swipes and gestures.

We’re also hearing 5G cellular data issues. Some users are saying cellular service is dropping unexpectedly. Others are complaining about the speed of 5G.

It’s important to note that 5G is still fairly new technology and coverage is still very inconsistent. Some of the frustrations with slow 5G performance should resolve over time as carriers like AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile build out their 5G networks.

iPhone 13 Performance

If you’re thinking about buying an iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, or iPhone 13 Pro, or if you already own one, you’ll want to monitor feedback from other people using the same device. This feedback will alert you to potential issues with Apple’s hardware and software.

We recommend keeping an eye on YouTube, Apple’s discussion forums, social media sites like Twitter, and sites like the MacRumors forums for ongoing feedback about these phones.

We’ve released a list that runs down the best reasons to, and not to, install the latest version of iOS 15 and it’s worth a look if you’re on the fence about downloading Apple’s latest iOS 15 software.

And if you’re thinking about moving to iOS 16 or if you’ve already made the move, take a look at our guide to the latest version of that software.

How to Fix iPhone 13 Problems

If you run into a problem on your iPhone there’s a very good chance you’ll be able to fix the problem yourself. In some cases, you may need to contact Apple support, contact your carrier, or take your phone into an Apple Store.

If you’ve run into trouble, take a look at our list of fixes for the most common iPhone 13 problems. Our guide runs down fixes for the most common iPhone issues like broken Bluetooth and busted Wi-Fi.

We’ve also released some tips to help improve your iPhone 13’s performance and a guide that could help you improve battery life if you think it’s draining faster than it should be.

If you can’t find a fix in our guides, you’ll want to check Apple’s discussion forums and see if someone has a solution for whatever is ailing your phone.

If you can’t find anything on Apple’s forums, you should contact Apple. You can do so via the company’s support account on Twitter. You can also get in contact with Apple Support via the company’s website.

If you’d rather get answers in person, you might want to take your phone into your local Apple Store and see if they can diagnose your problem. If you’ve got an Apple Store in your area, make sure you schedule a Genius Bar appointment.

Your iPhone is currently under warranty so they might offer you a replacement if the problem is serious enough.

iOS Downgrade Status

If you’re dealing with software problems on your iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, or iPhone 13 Pro Max, you can try downgrading your devices to the previous version of iOS if the option is available. Right now, it’s not.

If you’re unfamiliar with the iOS downgrade process our iOS downgrade guide will walk you through everything you need to know before you make the move.

Next iPhone 13 Update

Apple’s pushed an iOS 15.7 update to iPhone users. It’s unclear if this will be the final version of iOS 15. Apple could choose to push additional versions of iOS 15 but that hasn’t been confirmed.

The company’s also released its new iOS 16 operating system and the software is currently available to download right now if you own an iPhone 13 model.

Apple’s confirmed a new iOS 16.2 update and it’s currently in beta testing ahead of its public release. We expect the iOS 16.2 release date to land in December.

If you can’t/don’t want to wait for the official release date, you might try downloading the iOS 16.2 beta and see if it helps resolve your issues.

For more on iOS 16.2 and the beta, have a look at our walkthrough. For more about the iOS 16.2 release date, check out our guide.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says Apple is also working on a new iOS 16.3 update and it will likely arrive in February or March of next year.

Install iOS 16.1 for Better Security

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If security is important to you, and you’re still lingering on iOS 15, think about installing Apple’s iOS 16.1 update right away. The iOS 16.1 update features 19 security patches and you can learn abut the particulars over on Apple’s website. If you missed iOS 16.0.3, it had one security patch on board. It fixed 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.

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