The iOS 9 update for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch brings new features
but it also brings some problems along with it. With those complaints in
mind, we want to show you how to fix the common iOS 9 problems found
on iOS 9.0, iOS 9.1, iOS 9.2, iOS 9.2.1, and iOS 9.3 beta.
In June, Apple confirmed an iOS 9 release for the fall. In the weeks that followed, the company pushed out several new iOS 9 beta updates though it failed to confirm a specific iOS 9 release date for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users.
In September, Apple finally spilled the beans and confirmed an iOS 9 release date for September 16th. On September 16th, Apple rolled out the iOS 9 update and it’s now available for all eligible devices including the iPhone 6, iPhone 5 and iPhone 4s.
Apple’s brand new operating system brings a ton of exciting features to iOS users. It also, as we’ve learned, brings trouble.
iOS 9.0, iOS 9.1, iOS 9.2, and iOS 9.2.1 users are reporting problems with the operating system for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.
Apple’s extensive iOS 9 beta testing process wiped out a ton of potential bugs but it appears that some problems managed to slip through the cracks. This isn’t surprising. iOS updates, even ones that go througa lengthy beta period, arrive with problems.
Some of these problems are small others, like the iPhone 6s battery percentage bug, appear to larger and more widespread.
Apple’s confirmed an iOS 9.3 update but its release date is unknown. This means that those of you running into iOS 9 problems on iOS 9.0, iOS 9.0.1, iOS 9.0.2, iOS 9.1, iOS 9.2, and iOS 9.2.1 will likely have to find fixes on your own.
With that in mind, we want to help you take care of the issues that you’re seeing on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch.
This list of common iOS 9 problems comes with some fixes that have been passed down over the years. All of them are proven fixes and there’s a good chance that you’ll find the fix that you’ve been looking for right here. These will work if you’re on iOS 9.0, iOS 9.0.1, iOS 9.0.2, iOS 9.1, iOS 9.2, or iOS 9.2.1.
If you’re having problems with the iOS 9.3 beta, these fixes should work for you as well.
We’re still seeing isolated installation issues though including frozen downloads and and issue that’s preventing users from swiping to update after installing the iOS 9 update on iPhone and iPad. Neither is ideal. Fortunately, there are fixes for both of these issues.
If your iOS 9.2.1 download or installation locks up, you’ll want to
hold down the power button and the home button for 10 seconds. This
typically jump starts the process.
We ran into this problem right after we installed the update on the iPhone 6. The problem prevented us from accessing any apps and it also prevented us from turning the phone off. Fortunately, we were able to fix it very quickly with a simple solution.
If your screen stops responding to touches and swipes, you’ll want to hold down the power button and home button at the same time. Wait for the phone to reboot and then try to use your screen like you normally do.
If it doesn’t work the first time, try it again until it works. It took three resets for our screen to start working again.
Battery issues are common, particularly right after a major system update like iOS 9. If your iOS 9 battery life isn’t what you think it should be after installing iOS 9.2.1, wait a couple of days for the update to settle. Things tend to improve after two days or so.
If they don’t, take a look at our list of iOS 9 battery life fixes and tips that will help you fix bad iOS 9.0, iOS 9.2 or iOS 9.2.1 battery life.
With an iOS 9.3 update on the way, we could see a fix on board one of those.
If you run into Wi-Fi problems on iOS 9, you’ll want to reset your Network Settings. To do this, head into Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. This process can take a few minutes to complete and after it’s done, your device will have forgotten known Wi-Fi passwords so make sure you have your password handy.
If that doesn’t solve your issue, forget your Wi-Fi networks and reconnect to them. To get that done, go into your Settings > Wi-Fi > Select your connection > Tap Forget this Network at the top of the screen. Reconnect if you can.
If those fixes don’t work, take a close look at your router. We recommend unplugging it for a good minute or so then plugging it back in. If that doesn’t help, see if there is a firmware update for your router. Each router is different so you’ll need to consult your manual on how to do this.
If none of these fixes work for you, you can head here for some other potential fixes. Apple’s also got its own guide available as well.
These issues might require a direct fix from Apple but there are some things you can try if Touch ID starts acting up.
Next. go to Settings > Touch ID & Passcode > Enter your Passcode. On the next screen swipe from right to left on each fingerprint to delete them. When this is complete you can tap on Add a Fingerprint… to re-train Touch ID.
If that doesn’t work, you might want to try a factory reset as this has been known to dislodge major Touch ID problems. The instructions can be found at the bottom of this page.
This is another common iOS problem and one that should affect various iOS 9 users in the weeks to come. Cellular data issues can be tricky but there are a few known fixes for them.
If you’re sure that these issues don’t have anything to do with an outage, either at Apple or device’s service provider, you’ll want to first try restarting your device. Power it down, slide to turn it off, and reboot it. It’s simple but it has squashed cellular issues in the past.
If that restart doesn’t help, try toggling Cellular Data off and on in your device’s Settings. To do that go into Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data > Toggle Off. After you toggle it off, toggle it back on and see if that doesn’t help.
If that doesn’t work, try flipping Airplane Mode on for 30 seconds before turning it back off again. Airplane Mode kills all connections on your device. The Airplane Mode function can be found at the top of your Settings
If the problem is with LTE, try shutting LTE off for a few minutes. To shut it down, go into Settings > Cellular > Enable LTE > Off. Flip it back on when ready.
The first thing you’ll want to do is reset your device’s Network Settings. To get that done go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. Your device will forget the Bluetooth device and you’ll now have to reconnect.
If that doesn’t dislodge your problem, you’ll want to try forgetting the Bluetooth connection. To do that go to Settings > Bluetooth > Select your connection using the circular blue i tab > Tap Forget this Device. Try reconnecting.
You can also try resetting all of your settings. This has worked for us in the past and there’s a chance it will work for you. To reset all of your settings go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset All Settings. This process could take a few minutes and after it’s done, your device’s settings will be restored to factory defaults. In other words, have your Wi-Fi passwords handy.
If you are seeing Bluetooth problems in the car, you’ll want to consult your car’s manual so that you can restart the connection. This could be a little time consuming for some of you so make sure you set aside some quiet time to do it.
Forget the connection and then try reconnecting to the car. If that doesn’t help, you might want to try bringing it into a dealer or car specialist to take a look.
First, see if there is a recent update for your app. Developers have been rolling out iOS 9 support updates that could help. We’ve downloaded a number of them and we haven’t run into any major problems with our apps. Make sure you read reviews on the App Store first though.
If that doesn’t work, try reinstalling the application. This has worked for us and many others in the past and it’s worth a shot. Make sure your data is backed up before you do this though.
If that doesn’t work, contact the developer and tell them about your problem so that they can address it in a future update.
There are two known fixes for the problem though they aren’t guaranteed to work for you. The first requires a reset. To do this, hold down the power button and home button. Users are saying that got rid of the issue.
Others are saying that they’v been able to rapidly tap “Update” on an app before the “Open” symbol appears. Some have said that they’ve had to tap upwards of 10 times for it to work but that it worked in the long run.
We’ve also seen this issue on older iOS updates and the issue simply went away after a short period of time. So if nothing works, be patient.
If you’re seeing problems with Messages, the first thing you’ll want to do is toggle the feature off and on again.
Go into your Settings > Messages > Toggle iMessage off then back on. This fix has worked for us in the past and it’s the first thing you’ll want to try out.
If that quick fix doesn’t work, reboot your device.
And if a reboot doesn’t work, head into your settings and reset Network Settings. Head into Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. This will cause your device to forget your connections so make sure you have your Wi-Fi passwords handy.
In June, Apple confirmed an iOS 9 release for the fall. In the weeks that followed, the company pushed out several new iOS 9 beta updates though it failed to confirm a specific iOS 9 release date for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users.
In September, Apple finally spilled the beans and confirmed an iOS 9 release date for September 16th. On September 16th, Apple rolled out the iOS 9 update and it’s now available for all eligible devices including the iPhone 6, iPhone 5 and iPhone 4s.
Apple’s brand new operating system brings a ton of exciting features to iOS users. It also, as we’ve learned, brings trouble.
iOS 9.0, iOS 9.1, iOS 9.2, and iOS 9.2.1 users are reporting problems with the operating system for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.
Apple’s extensive iOS 9 beta testing process wiped out a ton of potential bugs but it appears that some problems managed to slip through the cracks. This isn’t surprising. iOS updates, even ones that go througa lengthy beta period, arrive with problems.
Some of these problems are small others, like the iPhone 6s battery percentage bug, appear to larger and more widespread.
Apple’s confirmed an iOS 9.3 update but its release date is unknown. This means that those of you running into iOS 9 problems on iOS 9.0, iOS 9.0.1, iOS 9.0.2, iOS 9.1, iOS 9.2, and iOS 9.2.1 will likely have to find fixes on your own.
With that in mind, we want to help you take care of the issues that you’re seeing on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch.
This list of common iOS 9 problems comes with some fixes that have been passed down over the years. All of them are proven fixes and there’s a good chance that you’ll find the fix that you’ve been looking for right here. These will work if you’re on iOS 9.0, iOS 9.0.1, iOS 9.0.2, iOS 9.1, iOS 9.2, or iOS 9.2.1.
If you’re having problems with the iOS 9.3 beta, these fixes should work for you as well.
1) How to Fix iOS 9 Installation Problems
The iOS 9 release date was plagued with widespread installation problems. Apple’s servers were slammed with requests and that caused them to meltdown under the pressure. Fortunately, those problems dissipated after 30 minutes or so.We’re still seeing isolated installation issues though including frozen downloads and and issue that’s preventing users from swiping to update after installing the iOS 9 update on iPhone and iPad. Neither is ideal. Fortunately, there are fixes for both of these issues.
Many users see the iOS 9 software update failed error.
2) How to Fix iOS 9 Touchscreen Problems
If your device’s screen stops responding after upgrading to the iOS 9 update, there’s no need to panic. At least not right off the bat.We ran into this problem right after we installed the update on the iPhone 6. The problem prevented us from accessing any apps and it also prevented us from turning the phone off. Fortunately, we were able to fix it very quickly with a simple solution.
If your screen stops responding to touches and swipes, you’ll want to hold down the power button and home button at the same time. Wait for the phone to reboot and then try to use your screen like you normally do.
If it doesn’t work the first time, try it again until it works. It took three resets for our screen to start working again.
3) How to Fix iOS 9 Battery Life Problems
The iOS 9 update brings a tangible battery life boost to the iPhone. Some users might get up to an extra hour of battery life. While some users are seeing an increase, others are noticing abnormal battery drain on their device.Battery issues are common, particularly right after a major system update like iOS 9. If your iOS 9 battery life isn’t what you think it should be after installing iOS 9.2.1, wait a couple of days for the update to settle. Things tend to improve after two days or so.
If they don’t, take a look at our list of iOS 9 battery life fixes and tips that will help you fix bad iOS 9.0, iOS 9.2 or iOS 9.2.1 battery life.
iPhone 6s Battery Percentage Issue
Apple’s outlined an iPhone 6s iOS 9 battery percentage issue on its website, an issue that we came across during our time at CES 2016 in Las Vegas. Here’s how the company describes this rather widespread issue with iOS 9.2:If you change the time on your iPhone 6s or iPhone 6s Plus manually or change time zones when traveling, you might notice that the battery percentage doesn’t update.If this happens on your iPhone 6s or iPhone 6s Plus, there is a workaround. Apple’s temporary solution looks like this:
- Restart your iPhone.
- Go to Settings > General > Date & Time and make sure that Set Automatically is turned on. Learn more about the date and time on your device.
With an iOS 9.3 update on the way, we could see a fix on board one of those.
4) How to Fix iOS 9 Wi-Fi Problems
We’re already seeing complaints about broken Wi-Fi in iOS 9. This isn’t at all surprising given that Wi-Fi problems are among the most common iOS problems. Fortunately, there are some proven fixes that could help you alleviate your iOS 9 Wi-Fi issues.If you run into Wi-Fi problems on iOS 9, you’ll want to reset your Network Settings. To do this, head into Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. This process can take a few minutes to complete and after it’s done, your device will have forgotten known Wi-Fi passwords so make sure you have your password handy.
If that doesn’t solve your issue, forget your Wi-Fi networks and reconnect to them. To get that done, go into your Settings > Wi-Fi > Select your connection > Tap Forget this Network at the top of the screen. Reconnect if you can.
If those fixes don’t work, take a close look at your router. We recommend unplugging it for a good minute or so then plugging it back in. If that doesn’t help, see if there is a firmware update for your router. Each router is different so you’ll need to consult your manual on how to do this.
If none of these fixes work for you, you can head here for some other potential fixes. Apple’s also got its own guide available as well.
5) How to Fix iOS 9.1 Touch ID Problems
Many iOS 9.1 users are complaining about issues with Touch ID. Some are saying that the update has caused problems with accuracy while others are saying that their fingerprints no longer work to open up their device.These issues might require a direct fix from Apple but there are some things you can try if Touch ID starts acting up.
How to Fix Touch ID Failures
If Touch ID suddenly stops working, try re-training your fingerprints. Before doing this you’ll want to make sure you that dirt and sweat are removed from the Touch ID sensor and that oil is removed from your hands.Next. go to Settings > Touch ID & Passcode > Enter your Passcode. On the next screen swipe from right to left on each fingerprint to delete them. When this is complete you can tap on Add a Fingerprint… to re-train Touch ID.
How to Fix Touch ID Problems in App Store
If you’re unable to use Touch ID in the App Store, try this fix. First go to Settings > Touch ID & Passcode > Enter your Passcode. Then turn off iTunes & App Store. Reboot your iPhone or iPad. Go back to Touch ID & Passcode in Settings and turn iTunes & App Store back on.How to Fix Touch ID If It’s Not Working at All
If it stops working, try resetting the phone by holding down the home button and the power button for 10 seconds or until the phone restarts.If that doesn’t work, you might want to try a factory reset as this has been known to dislodge major Touch ID problems. The instructions can be found at the bottom of this page.
6) How to Fix iOS 9 Data Problems
We’re also seeing iOS 9 users complain about issues with cellular data. We’ve seen the list of complaints grow after the iOS 9.2.1 roll out.This is another common iOS problem and one that should affect various iOS 9 users in the weeks to come. Cellular data issues can be tricky but there are a few known fixes for them.
If you’re sure that these issues don’t have anything to do with an outage, either at Apple or device’s service provider, you’ll want to first try restarting your device. Power it down, slide to turn it off, and reboot it. It’s simple but it has squashed cellular issues in the past.
If that restart doesn’t help, try toggling Cellular Data off and on in your device’s Settings. To do that go into Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data > Toggle Off. After you toggle it off, toggle it back on and see if that doesn’t help.
If that doesn’t work, try flipping Airplane Mode on for 30 seconds before turning it back off again. Airplane Mode kills all connections on your device. The Airplane Mode function can be found at the top of your Settings
If the problem is with LTE, try shutting LTE off for a few minutes. To shut it down, go into Settings > Cellular > Enable LTE > Off. Flip it back on when ready.
7) How to Fix iOS 9 Bluetooth Problems
Bluetooth issues are among the most common iOS problems and we’re not surprised to see them affecting iOS 9 users after the iOS 9.2 and iOS 9.2.1 releases. Like cellular data problems, these can be a little tricky to fix because of the sheer number of Bluetooth devices out there. Here are a few things to try.The first thing you’ll want to do is reset your device’s Network Settings. To get that done go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. Your device will forget the Bluetooth device and you’ll now have to reconnect.
If that doesn’t dislodge your problem, you’ll want to try forgetting the Bluetooth connection. To do that go to Settings > Bluetooth > Select your connection using the circular blue i tab > Tap Forget this Device. Try reconnecting.
You can also try resetting all of your settings. This has worked for us in the past and there’s a chance it will work for you. To reset all of your settings go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset All Settings. This process could take a few minutes and after it’s done, your device’s settings will be restored to factory defaults. In other words, have your Wi-Fi passwords handy.
If you are seeing Bluetooth problems in the car, you’ll want to consult your car’s manual so that you can restart the connection. This could be a little time consuming for some of you so make sure you set aside some quiet time to do it.
Forget the connection and then try reconnecting to the car. If that doesn’t help, you might want to try bringing it into a dealer or car specialist to take a look.
8) How to Fix iOS 9 App Problems
If you’re running into issues with third-party applications after installing iOS 9.2.1, you’ll want to try a few things before throwing your phone against a wall or deleting the app entirely.First, see if there is a recent update for your app. Developers have been rolling out iOS 9 support updates that could help. We’ve downloaded a number of them and we haven’t run into any major problems with our apps. Make sure you read reviews on the App Store first though.
If that doesn’t work, try reinstalling the application. This has worked for us and many others in the past and it’s worth a shot. Make sure your data is backed up before you do this though.
If that doesn’t work, contact the developer and tell them about your problem so that they can address it in a future update.
9) How to Fix iOS 9 App Store Problems
We’ve been seeing complaints about problems with the App Store and downloading updates. This is obviously a big problem and it’s one that appears to be affecting iOS 9.0, iOS 9.1 and iOS 9.2 users as well.There are two known fixes for the problem though they aren’t guaranteed to work for you. The first requires a reset. To do this, hold down the power button and home button. Users are saying that got rid of the issue.
Others are saying that they’v been able to rapidly tap “Update” on an app before the “Open” symbol appears. Some have said that they’ve had to tap upwards of 10 times for it to work but that it worked in the long run.
We’ve also seen this issue on older iOS updates and the issue simply went away after a short period of time. So if nothing works, be patient.
10) How to Fix iOS 9 iMessage Problems
We’re also seeing problems with iMessage after the iOS 9.2.1 update. These are extremely common and we will almost certainly see iMessage problems continue well into iOS 9’s lifespan.If you’re seeing problems with Messages, the first thing you’ll want to do is toggle the feature off and on again.
Go into your Settings > Messages > Toggle iMessage off then back on. This fix has worked for us in the past and it’s the first thing you’ll want to try out.
If that quick fix doesn’t work, reboot your device.
And if a reboot doesn’t work, head into your settings and reset Network Settings. Head into Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. This will cause your device to forget your connections so make sure you have your Wi-Fi passwords handy.