Top 43 iOS 13/13.2 Update Problems & Fixes

Part 2. iOS 13/13.2 Problems: Software Problems after Update

Not only while updating their devices to iOS 13/13.2, but users may also face unexpected issues after the iOS 13/13.2 update has been rolled out. For instance, there could be a problem with some of the apps or the system functioning of the iPhone. We have distinguished the post-update problems in different categories for your convenience.

Quick Fixes:

• Avoid busy time of Apple server: Simply wait for a few minutes. If Apple’s servers are busy, then you can wait and retry to activate your phone. If you are lucky, you won’t get this error after a while.
• Restart iPhone: Restarting your phone is another option that might work. This will make your phone contact Apple’s servers again and can resolve the activation error.
• Reboot Wi-Fi network: If there is a network-related issue, then you need to reboot the Wi-Fi network. Make sure that your SIM is inserted properly as well. Take the SIM ejector pin and remove the SIM tray. Clean it and insert it back again. In the end, you can check if it works or not.

Apart from that, you can also this in-depth tutorial: Guide to fixing the iPhone/ iPad Activation Failed error.

Quick Fixes:

• Force restart device: One of the best ways to fix the iPhone stuck in the reboot loop is by forcefully restarting your iPhone. Just long-press the Power + Home button for iPhone 6 and older versions or Power + Volume Down for iPhone 7 and newer versions. This will forcefully restart your device and might fix the issue.
• Downgrade iDevice: If there is anything wrong with the iOS 13/13.2 update, then you can try to downgrade your phone to a previous stable version. Also, you can connect it to iTunes and check if a stable iOS version is available (in case you have updated your phone to an unstable version).
• Put iPhone in recovery mode: If nothing else would seem to work out, then you can also put your device in recovery mode. While pressing the Home button, connect it to the system, and launch iTunes. It will automatically put your iPhone in recovery mode and will ask you to restore it.

Furthermore, you can read this detailed guide: How to fix iPhone stuck in reboot loop.

Quick Fixes:

• Understand iTunes errors: First of all, you need to identify the type of iTunes error you are getting with your iOS 13/13.2. Just note down the code of the iTunes error to further explore it. Apple has come up with a list of iTunes errors that you also view. In this way, you can educate yourself about its common causes and prospective solutions.
• Ensure iTunes is up to date: If you are trying to connect iOS 13/13.2 device with an outdated version of iTunes, then you might face unexpected issues. Before you connect your device to your computer, make sure iTunes is up to date. You can go to its menu and check for updates. Most of the time, iTunes automatically reminds users to update it as well.
• Disable anti-virus and firewall: A lot of times, a third-party anti-virus can also tamper with the functioning of iTunes and block the relevant ports. Simply disable the anti-virus and firewall, restart the system and check if you still get the iTunes error or not.
• Check the lightning cable: Make sure that the lightning cable that you are using to connect the iOS 13/13.2 iPhone to the system is reliable and functioning. You can try any other cable or use a different socket as well. Furthermore, clean the socket on your iPhone too, and try connecting it again.
• Disconnect external devices: If your computer is connected to many external devices, then there could be a clash in commands. Remove all the other devices and connect your iPhone once again to see if you still get the iTunes error.

Quick Fixes:

• Check hardware damage: Firstly, you need to inspect your iOS 13/13.2 device for any hardware damage. Check the lightning cable you are using, the charging socket, and if there is any damage with the device or not.
• Charge device: During the iOS 13/13.2 update process, the device requires a lot of charges. Therefore, your iPhone could be switched off due to low battery. Charge it for a while and try to start your device once again.
• Force restart your device: Another way to fix this problem is by force restarting your device. You might already know the key combinations for iPhone 6s and older generations (Home + Power) as well as iPhone 7/7s (Power + Volume Down). If you have an iPhone X, then first quickly press the Volume Up button. After that, quickly press the Volume Down button. Once you release it, hold and press the Power button.

In addition to that, you can read this guide to learn what to do when an iPhone won’t start.

Quick Fixes:

• Ensure proper network coverage: To start with, check if your iOS 13/13.2 device is in proper network coverage or not. Check the signals located on the top left corner of the screen. If you are in a basement or out in the woods, then you might not be getting enough network coverage on your iPhone/iPad. Needless to say, without the network signal, you can’t make or receive calls.
• Turn on and off Airplane mode: One of the easiest ways to fix this is by toggling on and off the Airplane mode on your iOS 13/13.2. You can do this either by visiting the Control Center on your phone or its Settings. Turn on the Airplane mode, wait for a while, and turn it off again. Most likely, the trick will let you regain the network on your phone.
• Re-insert the SIM: If you think there is a problem with your SIM, then you can reinsert it in your iOS 12.4 updated iPhone as well. To do this, you need to take the assistance of the SIM ejector tool.
• Check carrier updates: While the carrier updates are often pushed automatically, sometimes we need to do it by ourselves. Go to your phone’s General Settings > About > Carrier. Tap on it and check if a new iOS 12.4 update is available. Once you have downloaded the iOS 12.4 update, restart your phone, and check if the problem is solved or not.
• Reset network settings: Lastly, you can simply reset the network settings on iOS 12.4. To do this, go to its Settings > General > Reset and tap on “Reset Network Settings”. Afterward, your phone would be restarted with the default network settings.

For further help, refer to this comprehensive guide to fix iPhone calling issues after an iOS 12.4 update.

Quick Fixes:

• Force restart your iPhone: First of all, try to force restart your iPhone by applying the correct key combinations. If you are lucky, then it will fix your new iOS 13/13.2 and would restart it in the normal mode.
• Restore device: If you have already taken a backup of your data before updating your iPhone to iOS 13/13.2, then you can restore the device as well. To do this, just connect it to your computer and launch iTunes. Go to its “Summary” tab and click on the “Restore iPhone” button. Follow the on-screen instructions to reset your iPhone.
• Fix in recovery mode: You can also put your iPhone in the recovery mode, connect it to iTunes, and restore the iOS 13/13.2 system entirely as well.
• Fix in DFU mode: If feasible, then try to put your iPhone in the DFU (Device Firmware Update) mode. The key combination is different for various devices. Once you know how to put your iPhone in DFU mode, you can connect it to iTunes. It will automatically detect that your phone is in DFU mode and would restore it entirely. While it will get rid of its data and saved settings, it might unbrick your iOS device.
• Fix with an iOS 13/13.2 repair tool: If you don’t want to lose your data in order to fix a bricked iPhone, then you can use a reliable third-party solution like Dr.Fone - System Repair (iOS) as well.

The issue still unfixed? Follow these suggestions on how to unbrick your device in a detailed manner.

Quick Fixes:

• Remove unwanted data: If the iOS 13/13.2 is running on low storage, then chances are it might turn slow automatically. Therefore, you can get rid of any app that is no longer in use. Also, you can remove photos, videos, and other data files from your device that you don’t need anymore.
• Close apps: Another reason for a lagging iOS 13/13.2 could be the processing of too many apps. For devices other than iPhone X/XS (Max)/XR, you can visit the App Switcher by double-tapping the Home button. Later, you can swipe up the apps you wish to close. If you have an iPhone X/XS (Max)/XR, then go to the Home screen, swipe up, and wait. Now, swipe up the app you wish to close.
• Turn off Background App Refresh: Certain apps are also allowed to be refreshed automatically in the background. To save the processing on iOS 13/13.2, you need to turn this option off. Just go to your device settings and switch off the Background App Refresh feature.
• Disable services: Besides that, you can also turn off other services on your iOS 13/13.2 device like location, Bluetooth, AirDrop, Wi-Fi, and so on.
• Restart device: Also, restart your iOS and check if it changes its processing speed or not.

Here are some other expert solutions that can make your iOS device faster.

Quick Fixes:

• Turn on Screen Recording again: Make sure that you have turned on the Screen Recording feature on iOS 12.4. You can find it in your iPhone’s Control Center. If you want, you can go to the Control Center Settings and add its shortcut there as well. Once the screen recording has been started, you will be notified.
• Turn on the microphone: Sometimes, the screen recording simply includes the visuals with no audio. This happens when the microphone has been disabled by the user. When the recording is taking place, just tap on the microphone icon and make sure it is not set to the "mute" mode.
• Reset device settings: There could be a problem with your iOS 12.4 settings as well that could have caused this issue. To fix this, go to its Settings > General > Reset, and Reset All Settings on your iPhone or iPad.
• Use a 3rd-party screen recorder: If you are still not able to fix this iOS 12.4 issue, then you can consider using a third-party screen recorder as well. There are numerous options for iPhone screen recorders that you can use.

Quick Fixes:

• Use iTunes: If you can’t restore iOS 13/13.2 the usual way, then take the assistance of iTunes. That is, connect your phone to the system, launch iTunes, and go to its Summary tab. From here, you will get an option to Restore your iPhone or iTunes.
• Update iTunes: If you are still getting an error while restoring iOS 13/13.2 via iTunes, then you should consider updating the version of iTunes you are using.
• Restore in recovery mode: Another way to restore iOS 13/13.2 is by putting your iPhone in the recovery mode. Launch iTunes on the system and connect your phone to it while pressing the Home or Volume Down button. If it is iPhone X/XS (Max)/XR, then you first need to quickly press the Volume Up button and then Volume Down button. In the end, keep pressing the side button till you see the iTunes symbol on the screen.
• Boot device in DFU mode: If nothing else would seem to work, then consider putting your phone in the DFU mode. There are different key combinations for this, which would majorly depend on the kind of device you have. While it might delete the existing data on the iOS 12.4 device, the results are mostly positive. Alternatively, try to boot iOS 12.4 in DFU mode without losing data.

Quick Fixes:

• Restart your device: If the data is inaccessible, then you can fix it by simply restarting the phone. Though, you should not do it multiple times as it can make iOS 13/13.2 data recovery harder. Just restart your device once and see if the deleted content appears or not.
• Restore iTunes backup: It is always recommended to take a backup of our data before updating to iOS 12.4. If you have already taken a backup of your device via iTunes, then use iTunes to restore it. Just launch iTunes on your system and connect your phone to it. Go to its Summary tab and click on “Restore Backup”. From here, you can select the backup file you wish to restore on your iOS device.
• Restore iCloud backup: Besides taking a backup on the local computer, some users also backup their phone on iCloud as well. In order to restore data from an iCloud backup, you need to set up iOS 13/13.2 first. Perform a factory setting so that you would get this option. Now, choose to “Restore from iCloud backup” and log-in to your iCloud account. Select the relevant iCloud backup and wait for a while as your phone would load it.
• Use a recovery tool: In case you have not taken a backup of your device beforehand, then you would need to use a data recovery tool. Out of all the data recovery software, we recommend Dr.Fone - Data Recovery (iPhone Data Recovery). Being one of the first data recovery tools for iOS devices, it will let you retrieve the lost and deleted content from your phone without any trouble.

Part 4. iOS 12.4 Problems: Other Problems after Update

Not just apps, the other features on your iPhone can also malfunction after an iOS 12 update. There could be an issue with its Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, battery, and so on. We have covered some of the major iOS 12.4 issues with their quick fixes.

Quick Fixes:

• Check battery performance: Check the battery of your iPhone and make sure it is charged enough. The new iOS 12.4 comes with a Battery Health feature that can be checked from its Settings > Battery. This will let you check the peak performance and the overall capacity of the iOS 12.4 battery.
• Identify battery-draining apps: Go to the Battery usage and identify the apps that have been draining your iPhone’s battery the most. You can update or uninstall these apps afterward.
• Avoid running too many apps: Try to optimize the iOS 12.4 performance by closing unnecessary apps. You can also switch off iOS 12.4 services like GPS that can drain your iPhone’s battery. Also, go to its Settings and turn off the Background App Refresh option.
• Turn off Fitness Tracking: If you have enabled the Fitness Tracking option on iOS 12.4, then it can consume a lot of battery as well. Go to its Motion & Fitness settings and turn this option off.
• Wait for the formal iOS 12.4 version: The unwanted iOS 12.4 battery problems are usually seen in the beta or earlier versions. Wait for a more stable iOS 12.4 version and update your device whenever a public version is released to fix this problem.

Quick Fixes:

• Exclude physical damage: Check for any physical damage on your iOS 12.4 device. Make sure that the charging socket is working and that you are using an authentic lightning cable. Try to charge your iPhone through different power sockets to diagnose this problem.
• Restart device: Restart your iPhone. Sometimes, all it takes to fix a charging issue with iOS 12.4 is a simple reset of its power cycle.
• Clean charging socket: Take a cotton bud (not wet) and clean the charging socket on your iOS 12.4 device. It could be malfunctioning due to dirt or damage.
• Adopt a more stable iOS 12.4 version: Wait for a more stable iOS 12.4 release and don’t update your device to a beta or initial version. If you are using iOS 12.4 beta and can’t upgrade it, then consider downgrading it to a stable iOS 12 version.

Here are some other solutions to fix the common iPhone charging issues.

Quick Fixes:

• Switch off intensive features: Simply turn off the internet, location, AirDrop, and other intensive features on iOS 12.4 and let it rest. You can also switch it off and turn it on again once the iPhone is cooled down.
• Remove the heavy case: If your iPhone is covered with a heavy case, then get rid of it. It is observed that a leather case can lead to the overheating of the iPhone at times.
• Avoid beta releases: Downgrade, or update your iPhone to a more stable version of iOS 12.4 (avoid beta and earlier releases).
• Stop using some apps: Go to your iPhone’s battery usage and data usage settings. This will let you identify the iOS 12.4 apps that are heavy on the processing so that you can stop using them.
• Avoid high-temperature environment: Don’t use your iPhone too much in the sunlight or leave it in your car. Also, avoid placing it on electronic items (like your laptop) that can further heat it.
• Reset iPhone settings: If you think there is an issue with iOS 12.4 settings, then go to its Reset options and Reset All Settings.

Quick Fixes:

• Check network coverage: Firstly, check if you are getting enough coverage on your network or not. Without any network coverage, the cellular data on iOS 13/13.2 would not work.
• Turn on cellular data: Also, make sure that the cellular data option is turned on. Go to your iPhone’s Settings > Cellular Data and turn it on.
• Turn on Data Roaming: If you are roaming (away from your home network), then the “Data Roaming” option under Cellular Data settings should be turned on.
• Reset network settings: Go to Settings > General > Reset and choose to “Reset Network Settings” on iOS 13/13.2 to fix any network-related issue.
• Install carrier's updates: Under your iPhone’s Cellular Settings, you can check if your carrier has pushed any update. If you find any new settings, then update your iPhone.

Quick Fixes:

• Reset Wi-Fi: Try to reset your Wi-Fi on iOS 13/13.2. You can switch it off from the Control Center option or by visiting your device’s Wifi settings to do it. Wait for a while and turn it on once again.
• Exclude Wi-Fi router errors: Check the Wi-Fi router and your connection to make sure there is no error. You can also get in touch with the network provider to know if there is any glitch in their server.
• Re-connect to Wi-Fi: If there is a problem with a particular connection, then you can reset it as well. Go to your Wi-Fi Settings on iOS 13/13.2 and tap on the “i” icon adjacent to a network. From here, you can tap on the “Forget this Network” option. Later, you can turn Wi-Fi off and on again, discover the same network, and try reconnecting it.
• Manually add a network: Sometimes, it is better to manually add a network as well on iOS 12/iOS 13 betas. If your iPhone is not able to detect the Wi-Fi network, then you can follow this approach. Choose to set up a new network manually and provide its details in order to connect to it.
• Remove previous profile: If you have tried updating your iPhone previously, then there could be a clash with its existing profile as well. Go to its Software Update settings and get rid of the existing profile. After that, you can try to update your iPhone to a stable iOS 12/iOS 13 beta version.

Quick Fixes:

• Turn on Bluetooth: Make sure the Bluetooth feature is turned on in iOS 12.4. You can go to its option on Control Center or visit your device’s Settings > Bluetooth. From here, you need to make sure that the Bluetooth option is enabled.
• Turn off Airplane mode: Also, make sure that the Airplane mode on iOS 12.4 is not turned on. If your iPhone is running in Airplane mode, then Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, cellular data, etc. would be disabled. Go to Control Center or Settings on iOS 13/13.2 to turn off the Airplane mode.
• Restart the iOS device: Sometimes, the issue can be fixed by simply restarting the iOS 12 device.
• Connect to Bluetooth again: If you are not able to connect to a specific device, then go to the iOS 12 Bluetooth settings, tap on the “i” icon adjacent to the device, and forget it. Later, you can try to connect to it again.

Follow this detailed guide to know how to solve Bluetooth problems in some other ways.

Quick Fixes:

• Turn off Reduce Motion: If the iOS 12.4 device automatically stretches the image while setting it as wallpaper, then there would be a conflict with its parallax settings. To avoid this, go to its Settings > General > Accessibility > Reduce Motion and turn the option for “Reduce Motion” off.
• Turn off the Low Power mode: There could be an issue with Live Wallpapers as well. Firstly, check if your iOS 12.4 is in Low Power mode or not. The Low Power mode automatically neglects the Live Wallpapers to save the battery. Charge your phone or turn off the Low Power mode manually.
• Change to a customized wallpaper: Go to your Settings > Wallpaper on iOS 12.4 and set the default wallpaper on your iPhone for a while. After that, try changing it to any other customized wallpaper and see if it fixes the issue.
• Turn on 3D Touch: You might not know this, but live wallpapers use the 3D Touch in order to activate. Just go to General Settings > 3D Touch on your iOS 13/13.2 and make sure it is turned on.

Quick Fixes:

• Reset your AirPods: Try to reset your AirPods with your iPhone. To do this, go to Bluetooth settings on iOS 13/13.2 and tap on the “i” icon adjacent to your AirPods. From here, you need to disconnect your iPhone. Wait for a while and connect again.
• Re-connect to AirPods: Besides disconnecting, you can choose to forget the iPhone altogether as well. Later, you can connect the iPhone from scratch to fix this iOS 13/13.2 issue.
• Exclude physical issues: Make sure that your AirPods are charged and that they are not physically damaged.
• Turn Bluetooth off and on: Simply turn off Bluetooth on your iOS 12.4 device, wait for a while, and turn it on again.
• Check communication range: Be sure that your AirPods are paired to the right iOS 12.4 device in an ideal range.
• Put AirPods in pairing mode: Put your AirPods in the Bluetooth pairing mode. To do this, keep your AirPods in their charging case with its lid open. Hold the setup button at the back of the case and wait as the status light would start flashing in white color.

Quick Fixes:

• Exclude physical damage: Make sure that there is no physical damage to your iPhone’s speakers. Also, there could be some dirt or dust in it. Take a fine brush and clean it gently.
• Check the Headphone mode: Also, check whether your iPhone is stuck in the Headphone mode or not. You can view a headphone sign on the screen with no sound. In most of the cases, it can be fixed by simply restarting your iPhone.
• Enable Sound in settings: If you are not getting sounds for notifications, then go to Notification Settings on iOS 12.4 and enable “Sound”.
• Turn off DND mode: Go to Settings > Do Not Disturb on iOS 12, and make sure your iPhone/iPad is not in the DND mode.

Quick Fixes:

• Quit silent mode: Firstly, make sure that your iPhone is not in the silent mode. From the side switch, you can view the same. If you can view the orange strip, it means the iOS 13/13.2 device is in the silent mode. Just push it towards the device to unmute it.
• Check ringtone volume: In addition to that, check the ringtone volume on iOS 13/13.2. Unlock your iPhone and press the Volume Up button a few times in order to increase the ringer’s volume.
• Change ringtone: You can also try to change your iPhone’s ringtone as well. To do this, go to Settings > Sounds > Ringtone on iOS 13/13.2 and select any other option from the list.
• Turn on Vibrate on Ring: If your iPhone is not vibrating while ringing, then you can go to Sounds option on iOS 13/13.2 and turn on the “Vibrate on Ring” feature.

Quick Fixes:

• Exclude physical factors: To start with, make sure that there is no physical damage to your iPhone’s touch screen. Look for any crack or spill on the screen to make sure it is not a hardware problem.
• Calibrate brightness: Sometimes, users face a glitch in the iPhone touchscreen due to the brightness level as well. To fix this, you need to calibrate your iOS brightness. Go to Settings > Display & Brightness on iOS 13/13.2. Swipe the level to the left end, wait for a while, and swipe it again to the right end. Do this 2-3 times till the brightness is well calibrated.
• Force restart iPhone: If your iPhone’s screen isn’t responding at all, then try to force restart it by applying the right key combinations. Once the iPhone is restarted, chances are that its touchscreen would also start working.
• Gently press the screen: The logic board in an iOS device mostly connects the display with the rest of the device’s hardware. If there is a loose cable, then you can fix it by pressing the screen above the logic board. In most of the cases, it is located at the top right corner or the middle. Though, make sure that you are gentle and don’t press the screen too hard.

Also, check one more in-depth guide that can help you fix iPhone touch screen problems after an iOS 13/13.2 update.

Quick Fixes:

• Clean the Touch ID part: Make sure that the Touch ID is working properly on your iPhone. Wipe it gently and clean it off from dirt or water. Also, position your finger in the correct manner so that the Touch ID can scan it entirely.
• Add new fingerprint: It is recommended to delete your fingerprint and add a new one every few months. This will improve the accuracy of the scan. To do this, go to Settings > Touch ID & Passcode on iOS 12.4 and delete the existing fingerprints. Now, tap on “Add a Fingerprint” and scan your finger again.
• Reset Touch ID: Another quick solution to fix this issue is by resetting the iOS 12.4 Touch ID feature. Go to the Touch ID settings and under the “Used for” option, you can view how the Touch ID is associated with other features. Toggle them off and lock your device. Unlock it with a passcode, go to these settings and turn them on again.
• Reset all settings: If nothing else seems to work, then simply go to Settings > General > Reset and reset all settings on the iOS 12.4 device. After that, the iOS would be restarted and you need to add a new fingerprint.

Read a new post to know more suggestions for fixing a malfunctioning Touch ID on an iOS device.