21/03/2025
Nicole Newton

Common iPhone problems and how to fix them

iPhones are great – until they start acting up. From battery drain to wifi issues, most iPhone problems have simple fixes. Here are 12 common iPhone problems and their solutions, so you can get your device back to working smoothly!

In this blog:

iPhone battery draining fast

Battery

Battery issues are one of the most frustrating iPhone problems to deal with. Here are some iPhone charging troubleshooting tips for if you ever find your battery draining at a usually fast rate!

Close background apps

Having apps running in the background can use up unnecessary battery power. Go to Settings > Battery to see what’s draining your power and then slowly swipe up to reveal all the apps running in the background. You’ll then be able to fast swipe up on any apps you want to close.

Change your display settings

Your screen could be sucking the battery life from your device, but there are a few settings you can change to stop this. You can reduce your display brightness by heading to Settings > Display & Brightness, which will lessen the amount of power your phone has to use. In the Display & Brightness settings, you can also turn off Always On Display and Raise to Wake, two features that can drain your battery.

Disable background app refresh

Background app refresh allows apps to automatically check for updates and new information, like instant notifications and fresh content, even when you’re not actively using them. Turning this off will save your device from constantly refreshing background apps and wasting your battery. To turn off background app refresh, go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh.

Update your iOS

Sometimes, a simple software update can be all the fix you need! To check if your iPhone needs a software update go to Settings > General > Software Update.

iPhone overheating

An overheating iPhone is never fun. If your iPhone overheats and shuts down, try these fixes:

Remove your case

Did you know some phone cases actually trap heat? If your iPhone is feeling a little too toasty, it could be due to your case. Try removing your case when your iPhone starts warming up to release some of that trapped heat.

Avoid direct sunlight

This one is pretty self explanatory, but keeping your phone in the shade will help to keep it cool. Sometimes, if your iPhone has been in direct sunlight for too long, it will show a temperature warning and stop functioning until it cools down, so try to keep it in the shade while you’re sunbathing!

Close unused apps

Too many open apps can cause your iPhone to work a little harder, which can sometimes result in overheating. You can slowly swipe up from your home screen to reveal all the apps open in the background. You’ll then be able to fast swipe up on any of the apps you want to close.

iPhone touch screen not working

If your screen is unresponsive, there are a few things you can do to fix the problem. However, if your touchscreen still doesn’t work after following these tips, you may need a repair.

Restart your iPhone

While we know hearing “have you turned it on and off again” isn’t the best advice, sometimes a simple reboot really does fix things. Try restarting your iPhone to see if that fixes your touch screen issues

Remove screen protector

If your phone sports a screen protector, it could be interfering with your touch screen. Try removing your screen protector to see if that fixes the problem or swapping to another screen protector brand.

Check for iOS updates

It’s possible that a bug in the software might be causing your touch screen issue, so check if your device needs an update. To do this, go to Settings > General > Software Update.

iPhone stuck on black screen

This usually happens after a failed update or hardware issue. If your iPhone won’t turn on or is stuck on the Apple logo, here’s some tips to fix it:

Force restart

A force restart usually fixes an iPhone that’s stuck on a black screen. To do this, you’ll need to quickly press and release the volume up button, quickly press and release the volume down button, and then hold the side button until you see the Apple logo.

Update via iTunes/Finder

Try updating your phone via iTunes/Finder if you have a computer. To do this, open a Finder window on a Mac, connect your device to your computer and select your device in the left sidebar of the Finder window. Then click General > Check for Update. If there’s an update available, an option to download and update will appear. Alternatively, you can choose to restore your iPhone, however you will lose any data that wasn’t backed up.

iPhone not charging

Has your iPhone stopped charging? There are a few things you can do to try and fix this:

Clean the charging port

If your iPhone won’t charge, it could just be that your charging port is a little dusty. Give it a clean by powering off your device and spraying some compressed air gently into the charging port. You can also use a toothpick, cotton swab or soft brush to dislodge any debris.

Try a different charger or power outlet

Sometimes it’s not your phone that’s the problem. If your phone isn’t charging while plugged into your charger, it could be the power outlet or the charger itself causing the issue. Try using a different power outlet or charger – if your phone starts to charge, then you know the issue isn’t your iPhone!

No sound on iPhone

If you have no sound on iPhone, try a factory reset or follow these steps:

Check Silent Mode

It could be that your phone is on Silent Mode, which will stop certain sounds playing on your phone and can even interfere with the sound on videos. If you have an iPhone with the toggle switch on the side, simply toggle it so that Silent Mode is turned off. If your iPhone has the Action button and your button is still set to Silent Mode, you can press and hold the button to turn it off.

Disconnect Bluetooth

Your phone might be connected to something via Bluetooth that could be preventing the sound from working, like a speaker or your car. Go into Settings > Bluetooth to check if you’re unknowingly connected to anything and unpair your device if you are.

iPhone Home button not working

There are only a few iPhones left that still have the Home button, as many have switched to Face ID instead. If you’re one of the few that still has a Home button and it’s become unresponsive, you might need to pay for a repair or simply get a new phone. However, you can try these tips first:

Clean around the button

Dirt can block the mechanism and stop the button from responding. Try to clean around the button using a soft brush or a tooth pick to remove debris from the edging. You can also use a small amount of rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab to clean the button and surrounding area.

Enable AssistiveTouch

If your Home button still doesn’t work and you don’t want to upgrade to a new phone or pay for a repair, there is a work around so that you can continue using your iPhone. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > AssistiveTouch to use a virtual Home button – this gives you the option of having a Home button added to your touch screen so you don’t have to use the physical Home button.

WiFi not working on iPhone

If your iPhone WiFi keeps disconnecting, check for software updates. If this doesn’t solve the problem and your iPhone WiFi won’t connect or keeps dropping, follow these steps:

Restart your router and iPhone

Try restarting both your router and your iPhone. You can also toggle the wifi off and on by going to Settings > Wi-Fi on your phone.

Forget the network and reconnect

If a simple restart doesn’t work, you might have to forget the network entirely and reconnect. Go to Settings > Wi-Fi, select your network, and tap Forget This Network. You’ll then need to reconnect using your wifi password.

Reset network settings

Resetting your network settings removes all saved wifi network names and passwords, Bluetooth pairings, VPN settings and other network-related configurations, restoring them to their factory defaults. To do this, go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings.

Apps not working on iOS 16

After updating, some apps may stop working. Here are some tricks you can try to get them working again:

Update your apps

If an app won’t work on iOS 16, the developer may need to release an update. Go to the App Store and check if there are any updates for your broken apps. Bare in mind, it could take the developer a few days to release an update fixing any app issues.

Reinstall the app

Your app breaking could be due to a corrupt file or bug within the app itself. Try deleting and redownloading any broken apps. You can delete apps by tapping and holding the app icon and selecting Remove App.

Check app permissions

Your permissions might be stopping your app from functioning correctly. Go to Settings > Privacy to ensure the app has the correct access.

Face ID not working

Having to constantly type in your passcode can be highly frustrating. If your Face ID keeps refusing to acknowledge your face, here are some things you can do:

Clean the TrueDepth camera

A simple but often effective solution to Face ID problems is a quick clean of your TrueDepth camera, which is the camera at the top of your screen.

Re-add Face ID

If your phone stops recognising your face, it could just be that your face doesn’t match the face capture you set when first setting up your Face ID. Try resetting your Face ID by going to Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Reset Face ID.

Touch ID not working

If your Touch ID isn’t recognising your fingerprint, your sensor may be faulty. Try these tips to fix the issue before you decide on a repair or upgrade:

Clean your fingerprint sensor

Dust and grease can interfere with the fingerprint sensor. Try cleaning the Home button using a small amount of rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab.

Re-register your fingerprint

Sometimes starting afresh is best. Go to Settings > Touch ID & Passcode to remove your old fingerprints and follow the usual steps to re-add your fingerprints.

Bluetooth not connecting on iPhone

If your iPhone Bluetooth won’t work, try this:

Forget and re-pair the device

If simply toggling your Bluetooth on and off doesn’t solve your issue, try forgetting your Bluetooth connection and re-pairing. Go to Settings > Bluetooth and tap Forget This Device and then reconnect.

Reset network settings

Like the wifi fix, resetting your network settings can also fix any iPhone Bluetooth problems. Go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings.

If your iPhone problems still persist, it may be time for an upgrade. Luckily, you can make your upgrade cheaper by selling your old iPhone for cash with us – you can even sell broken phones! Plus, you can buy refurbished iPhone models and save £100s vs buying new.