iOS 10 most common problems and how to fix them

Comprehensive guide to fix most common problems in iOS 10 including battery drain, installation and network connectivity problems.

iOS 10 users have been plagued with numerous problems ranging from soft brick to battery drain and Bluetooth connectivity problems ever since Apple released its latest firmware update, a few days ago. To enable users restore full-functionality to their devices, here is the complete list of most common problems in iOS 10 and the possible fixes for them.

Steps to fix most common problems in iOS 10

1. iPhone/iPad softbricks after iOS 10 update

Several users have reportedly ended up soft-bricking their iPhone or iPad after installing iOS 10 on the launch day. The issue is triggered by an installation failure via over-the-air (OTA) update which Apple has acknowledged and fixed in its subsequent update.

However, those who are stuck with this issue can perform the following steps to resolve it:

  • Ensure you have installed the latest version of iTunes on PC or Mac (v12.5.1 or higher) before you connect your iOS device to computer. Go to iTunes via menu bar and click on Check for updates.
  • Once you have found the new iTunes update and then installed it, your iOS device will be recognised in Recovery Mode. Now a message prompt will suggest that you can only restore your iPhone to factory settings and it cannot be updated to latest firmware. Just hit the Restore button to proceed.
  • Another prompt requires you to hit the Restore and Update button to continue. Just follow the onscreen instructions to successfully complete the download and installation of iOS 10 firmware.

Note: You may encounter a few error codes like -18 and 1671 during the process in steps 4 and 5. Just ignore the message and repeat the steps from the start to eventually complete the iOS 10 update. The error messages could be related to a crash resulting due to peak traffic on Apple servers.

2. iOS 10 update failed error

The Update Failed error could be a result of overloaded Apple servers as several users could be trying to install the new public-beta update at the same time. Do the following steps if you encounter such an update error:

  • Reset your internet connection
  • Restart your iOS device
  • Try redoing the update via Settings > General > Software Update
  • If the issue persists, retry the update after a few hours

Alternatively, try completing the update via iTunes by going to the Summary tab and clicking on the update button or use iOS 10 IPSW file to update.

Updating via IPSW

  • Download the correct IPSW file for your device and then connect your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch to the computer.
  • Launch iTunes and open the Summary tab.
  • Hold the Shift key in Windows or Alt/Option key on Mac and hit Restore iPhone button.
  • Browse and select the IPSW file you downloaded earlier and iTunes will start installing the iOS 10 firmware.

3. Stuck at 'Update Requested'

If you are stuck at 'Update Requested' error while updating to iOS 10, you can try performing a hard reset or resetting the network connection or updating via iTunes.

Hard Reset – press and hold the Power and Home buttons on your iPhone together until the Apple logo appears on the screen. Wait until the device boots up to the Home screen and then retry downloading iOS 10.

4. Rapid Battery Drain

Although battery life of your device depends upon your usage pattern, it is a known issue that battery drains faster than normal whenever you update your device to a new iOS firmware. This could be due to poorly optimised software which might be fixed in subsequent firmware updates.

However, you can minimise battery drain by disabling background apps (Settings > General > Background App Refresh) and location services (Settings > Privacy > Location Services) as they hog your iPhone's battery to its limits. Try disabling 4G/LTE services via Settings -> General -> Cellular/Mobile and use Low Power mode via Settings > Battery whenever possible to reduce battery consumption.

5. Incoming emails are blocked or cannot receive mails

Some users have been reporting issues with the native Mail app after iOS 10 update as they are unable to receive emails and sometimes get 'incorrect password' error while logging into their account.

Affected users can try removing and adding the erratic email accounts back to the Mail app:

Step 1: Open the Settings app.

Step 2: Scroll down a bit and select Mail.

Step 3: Tap on Accounts.

Step 4: You will see a list of all the email accounts you've added recently. Locate and open the account that has issues.

Step 5: Scroll down to the bottom and hit 'Sign Out'.

Step 6: Repeat the steps to remove all the other affected email accounts.

Step 7: After removing the accounts, return to the Accounts list, scroll to the bottom of the page and tap on Add Account.

Step 8: Select your email provider and enter your account credentials to add it to Mail app.

6. Bluetooth connectivity problems

Instances of dropped connections with Bluetooth-pairing of devices and failure to connect to a Bluetooth-car-accessory have been reported by a bunch of users, following the iOS 10 update. Here is how to fix this issue:

Step 1: Launch the Settings app and go to General.

Step 2: Scroll down the page and hit Reset.

Step 3: Tap on Reset Network Settings.

Step 4: When prompted, enter your device's passcode.

Step 5: Hit Reset Network Settings to confirm the action and return all network settings to factory defaults.

7. iMessage effects not working

Several iOS 10 users have been reporting issues with iMessage effects wherein they are unable to send or view actual effects as all their messages are delivered in normal text without stickers, drawing tools or emoji. Reduce Motion is reportedly one of the common culprits that could be causing this issue.

Check out our complete guide to fix issues with iMessage feature in the new Messages app for iOS 10.

8. Installed Apps start crashing

Some random users are facing app crashes right after launch while running older apps in iOS 10. Here are a couple of simple steps to overcome this issue:

  • Ensure the app is updated to the latest version available in the market. You can update your app via App Store's Updates tab and check if the issue is resolved.
  • If the issue persists, just uninstall and reinstall the app. Tap and hold on the app icon until it starts shaking. Then hit the X button and select Delete. Finally, return to the App Store and reinstall it.

9. Wi-Fi connectivity issues

If you are unable to connect to a nearby Wi-Fi network or facing frequent disconnects from a known network, here are a few troubleshooting steps to fix the problem:

Step 1: Try resetting the network settings via Settings > General > Reset option. When prompted, enter your device's passcode and then confirm the action by tapping on Reset Network Settings.

Step 2: If issue persists,go to Settings > Wi-Fi andchoose Forget This Network. Then hit Forget again to confirm the action. Return to Settings > Wi-Fi > select your network and then login with your passcode to rejoin the network. Go to step 3 if the issue is still not resolved.

Step 3: Disable Wi-Fi networking services by going to Settings > Privacy > Location Services > System Services. If you are still having issues go to step 4.

Step 4: Turn off Wi-Fi Assist and turn it back on to improve Wi-Fi connectivity. Just disable and re-enable background app refresh to get this feature working.

[Source: iPhonehacks]

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