iPhone XR Problems: 5 Things to Know

Some iPhone XR users are running into bugs and performance issues after downloading Apple’s latest iOS update.

The colorful 6.1-inch iPhone XR has been out for awhile now, but we’re still getting a lot of feedback from those who’ve adopted Apple’s colorful phone. A lot of the feedback is good. That said, we’ve also seen negative feedback emerge.

Some iPhone XR users are dealing with hardware problems while others are experiencing issues with the device’s operating system.

In this guide we’ll take you through the most common iPhone XR problems. We’ll also provide you with some tips and resources that will come in handy if you start noticing issues on your new phone.

iPhone XR Problems

Some iPhone XR users have had problems activating the phone at home. This is a common issue with new phones and it’s sometimes easy to fix.

If you’re unable to activate your iPhone XR, take a look at Apple’s System Status page. If the circle is anything other than green, you’ll have to wait until it’s green before trying to activate again.

If the circle is green and you still can’t activate your phone, make sure your SIM card is in properly. If you’re getting a “No Sim” or “Invalid SIM” error, head here for help.

iPhone XR users are also complaining about restore issues, issues setting up Face ID, Bluetooth problems, Wi-Fi problems, weird battery drain, Exchange problems, issues with first and third-party apps, crashes, abnormal amounts of lag, crashes, and iCloud problems.

We expect this list to grow as current iPhone XR users put milage on their device and as more people buy the device throughout the year.

Where to Find Feedback

If you own an iPhone XR or if you’re thinking about buying one for yourself or a loved one, you’ll want to dig into feedback from iPhone XR users.

We recommend keeping an eye on YouTube, Apple’s discussion forums, social media sites like Twitter/Facebook, and the MacRumors forums for information about the iPhone XR’s performance.

If you’ve moved your iPhone XR to iOS 15, have a look at our iOS 15 guide. It goes over all of the changes in the latest version of iOS 15 which, as of right now, is iOS 15.7.

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

How to Fix iPhone XR Problems

If you’re dealing with issues, and your iPhone XR is running an older version of iOS, try updating it to the latest version.

If your phone is already on the latest version of iOS, or you don’t want to upgrade just yet, take a look at our list of fixes for the most common iOS problems.

We’ve also released some tips to help improve your iPhone XR’s performance and tips that could help you improve your battery life.

If you can’t find a fix for your iPhone XR’s problem in those walkthroughs, check Apple’s discussion forums for other potential fixes.

If you’d prefer to get in touch with Apple, get in contact with the company’s support account on Twitter. You can also get in contact with Apple Support via the company’s website.

If Apple’s frontline customer service can’t find a solution for your issue, you might want to take your phone into your local Apple Store or your local carrier location. They might be able to diagnose the issue in minutes.

If you’ve got an Apple Store in your area, schedule a Genius Bar appointment. Your iPhone XR is under warranty so if the problem is serious, you might be able to get a replacement.

How to Downgrade the iPhone XR

Sometimes you’ll have the option to downgrade your iPhone XR to another version of iOS. Downgrading can have a positive impact on your device’s performance.

Our guide to the iOS downgrade will walk you through everything you need to know about the process.

What’s Next

If your phone is struggling on iOS 16, iOS 15.7 or an older version of iOS, you’re on your own for the time being.

Apple’s confirmed a new iOS 16.2 update and the firmware is currently in beta testing ahead of its public release. We expect it to arrive sometime before the end of the year.

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.

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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