Apple first unveiled iOS 16 at their 2022 Worldwide Developers Conference in June. The latest version of the mobile operating system brought several new features like a customizable lock screen, iMessage improvements, and upgrades to apps like Maps, Wallet, and Health. iOS 16 was initially released on September 12, 2022.
According to Apple’s data, iOS 16 adoption has reached 81% as of early June 2023 [1]. This is ahead of the anticipated announcement of iOS 17 later this year. While a majority of iPhone users have upgraded to the latest OS, around 13% are still on iOS 15 and 6% remain on earlier iOS versions [2]. The 81% adoption rate is fairly typical for a new iOS release at this point after launch.
Buggy Release
iOS 16 had a rocky start with many users reporting bugs at launch. According to MacRumors, some of the most common issues included slow keyboard pop-ups, random rebooting, laggy animations, and problems with AirPlay. Apple released iOS 16.0.1 shortly after launch to address some of the early bugs, followed by iOS 16.0.2, iOS 16.0.3, iOS 16.1, and iOS 16.1.2 over the next few months. Each release fixed additional issues, though users continued to experience problems. Some of the most persistent bugs involved copy and paste functionality, device activation, WiFi connectivity, FaceTime freezing, and excessive battery drain, per GottaBeMobile. While Apple seems committed to squashing bugs through rapid updates, the initial iOS 16 release was widely viewed as one of the most problematic iOS updates in recent memory.
Compatibility Issues
The iOS 16 release has experienced compatibility issues on some older iPhone models. According to Apple Support, iOS 16 is compatible with iPhone 8 and newer [1]. However, users with older devices like the iPhone 6s and iPhone 7 have reported problems installing or running iOS 16 [2].
Some of the compatibility issues seen on older iPhones include the update failing to install, random reboots after updating, severe battery drain, overheating, and apps crashing frequently. These problems seem most pronounced on the iPhone 6s, iPhone 7, and iPhone SE (1st generation) models. Apple has not officially acknowledged compatibility problems or supported these devices since they are below the minimum requirements.
For iPhone owners with older models like the 6s or 7, it is recommended to avoid updating to iOS 16 until further fixes are released. Staying on iOS 15 provides a more stable experience. Upgrading could lead to a phone that is slow, buggy, or unusable.
Update Failures
One of the most common issues users have reported with iOS 16 is failing to successfully download or install the update. Many users encounter errors downloading the update over WiFi or cellular data.According to Apple support, this is often caused by a poor internet connection, lack of storage space, or the iPhone overheating during installation. The installation can fail if interrupted, or if the device runs out of battery during the process.
Specifically, error messages like “Unable to Install Update” or “An error occurred installing iOS 16” usually indicate a problem with the download being interrupted. This can happen if the WiFi connection drops during the download, which typically requires over 1 GB of data. Similarly, if the iPhone storage is full, it may not be able to fully download or unpack the iOS update files.
Apple recommends users troubleshoot by deleting the failed update from Settings > General > iPhone Storage, ensuring they have enough free space, connecting to a stable WiFi network, and trying the update again. Restarting the device or force quitting any running apps can also help the update process complete successfully without any interruptions leading to errors or failures.
Battery Drain
One of the most common issues reported with iOS 16 is increased battery drain. Many users have complained that their battery seems to deplete much faster after updating to iOS 16, with some reporting over 50% more battery usage compared to iOS 15 (Source).
There are a few key reasons that could explain the battery drain issues in iOS 16:
- New features like the customizable lock screen with widgets, Live Activities, and the always-on display can use more battery in the background.
- There may be bugs causing apps and system processes to consume more CPU resources, resulting in faster battery depletion.
- Indexing and syncing of data after a major iOS update also places additional load on the system.
While the battery drain typically improves after a few days as indexing completes, many users have reported persistent battery issues even after extended use. iOS 16 contains bugs that seem to directly impact battery performance compared to iOS 15 (Source). Apple will need to address these battery optimization issues in future iOS 16 updates.
App Crashes
One of the most common issues users have reported with iOS 16 is apps freezing and crashing much more frequently than on previous iOS versions. Many users have noticed that both Apple’s native apps like Messages, Mail, Maps, etc. as well as third-party apps are crashing immediately on launch or freezing and becoming unresponsive during use.
According to posts on the Apple Developer Forums, the problem seems particularly prevalent with apps that use a lot of memory or haven’t been optimized for iOS 16 yet. The crashes are likely due to bugs in iOS 16 that cause memory management and threading issues in apps.
Users have reported apps crashing constantly when doing intensive tasks like editing photos or videos. But even basic apps like Settings, Camera, and Safari are crashing for many users. Rebooting the device provides temporary relief, but the crashes inevitably return.
Unfortunately, beyond rebooting and reinstalling apps, there is little users can do to resolve iOS 16 app crashes. Apple will need to address these memory management and threading bugs in a future iOS 16 update to provide a permanent fix.
Performance Hits
Many users have reported performance hits after updating to iOS 16, with common complaints being lag, slowdowns, and overheating. On Reddit, one user with an iPhone XR said iOS 16 caused frequent lag and stutters, with basic actions like opening apps or swiping between screens noticeably slower (Source). Another Redditor claimed iOS 16 reduced their iPhone 12 mini’s performance by 56% compared to iOS 15, impacting RAM management and causing occasional lag (Source).
The performance hits seem most pronounced on older models like the iPhone XR and iPhone 12 mini. The lack of optimization for previous generation hardware could explain why iOS 16 runs slowly and heats up these devices. However, even owners of newer iPhones have cited random lag and stuttering after updating.
Connectivity Problems
Many users have reported various connectivity issues after updating to iOS 16, including problems with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and cellular data. Issues with Wi-Fi are especially common, with some users complaining that their iPhones fail to connect to Wi-Fi networks or frequently drop connections after updating (discussions.apple.com). The Wi-Fi problems seem to persist across various iPhone models including the latest iPhone 14 series.
Some potential fixes for Wi-Fi issues include force restarting your iPhone, checking your router settings, and forgetting then rejoining Wi-Fi networks (ubackup.com). However, many users find these basic troubleshooting tips fail to resolve the problem. There are widespread complaints about iOS 16 Wi-Fi bugs persisting even after factory resets and clean installs of the latest iOS version (forums.developer.apple.com).
Bluetooth connections also seem less stable for some users after updating to iOS 16. Problems like intermittent audio stuttering when streaming to Bluetooth speakers or cars, and Bluetooth devices randomly disconnecting have been reported. Cellular data connectivity also suffers for some. iOS 16 users mention frequent cellular data drops or the cellular data icon disappearing entirely until they toggle airplane mode.
What Users Can Do
If you are experiencing issues after updating to iOS 16, there are some steps you can try to resolve them:
Update Tips
Make sure your iPhone is charged to at least 50% before installing an iOS update. Also, connect to a WiFi network, as software updates can be large files. Close all apps before updating as well. If the update fails, reboot your device and try again. You may need to free up storage space if the update continues to fail.
Reset Settings
Go to Settings > General > Reset and choose “Reset All Settings”. This preserves your data but resets settings to default. Make sure to reconfigure privacy settings afterwards. Resetting can often fix minor software glitches after an update.
Clean Install
For persistent issues, you may need to erase your device and do a clean install of iOS 16 using a computer. Back up data first. Connect to a computer, enter recovery mode, then reinstall iOS. This gives you a fresh start but erases all content and settings.
Apple’s Response
Apple has acknowledged there have been issues for some users updating to iOS 16. In a statement on their support site, Apple said: “We are aware that some users are having issues installing iOS 16 on their iPhone devices and we are actively investigating” (source).
Apple stated they are working on fixes for the most common problems, including update failures, app crashes, battery drain, and connectivity issues. Though an exact timeline wasn’t given, Apple said they are prioritizing updates to address these problems as soon as possible.
“We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate our users’ patience as we finalize iOS 16 updates to address these problems,” Apple said in their statement. They recommend users experiencing severe issues try rebooting their device or contacting Apple support until more permanent fixes can be released.