It’s been nearly a year since Apple releasediOS 11for iPhones and iPads. And while the Cupertino, California-based company is soon to release iOS 12 for 2018, you still have a few more months with the current operating system. Although Apple has released more than a dozen updates for iOS 11 this year, there are still some bugs and issues that plague certain users.
We searched a variety of forums for the biggest problems people are experiencing on their iPhone or iPad since the update. To help make the transition easier for you, here are the most common iOS 11 problems and potential solutions on how to deal with them.
Problem: Control Center buttons are freezing
According toAppleToolBox, some users have been reporting issues with the Control Center. After downloading iOS 11, people have found that the buttons are freezing and unresponsive.
Potential solution:
Issue: Device overheating
Not only have users onApple’s forumbeen complaining about their devices getting extremely hot, but some claim to have experienced serious swelling causing theiriPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plusto burst open. Due to what appears to be the battery swelling from gases inside, the expansion places pressure on the display causing it to pop open. While having the device burst open does help to avoid a fire, you’ll still want to make sure your device doesn’t overheat.
Potential solutions:
Problem: Trouble connecting to Wi-Fi
Users have expressed via theApple Forumthat they arelosing Wi-Ficonnection or are unable to connect to networks. Even though the Wi-Fi is working with other devices, people are having trouble finding a stable connection.
Problem: Apps won’t work in iOS 11
Apple originally warned users withiOS 10.3that it will soon drop support for 32-bit apps. With iOS 11, thechange is officialand any 32-bit apps on your phone will refuse to launch. You’ll instead receive a pop-up notification letting you know the developer needs to release a 64-bit update for it to work.
Workaround:
Glitch: Apps freezing or quitting unexpectedly
A common problem users have been experiencing with iOS 11 istheir apps freezingor quitting unexpectedly. The problem could stem from a variety of reasons ranging from the iOS version to the app itself. If you find yourself opening an app only to watch it shut down on you repeatedly, there are ways, other than simply deleting the app, to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
Problem: Touchscreen stops working
With iOS 11, users on theApple Forumhave been reporting their touchscreen is either lagging or becomes completely unresponsive. The issue has existed as far back as the beta withdevelopers postingon the Apple Developer forum. If you find this happens to you, there’s always the common answer of making sure your screen is both clean and dry, and that you don’t need a new screen protector. But there are also other ways you might fix this issue within the operating system, rather than focusing on the screen itself.
Problem: Can’t connect to App Store
Aside from problems downloading apps, some users have also been experiencing problems with getting into the App Store. During the beta testing, Reddit users had the same issue and took to theiOS 11 threadto try to solve it. They’ve been receiving error messages saying their device cannot currently connect to the App Store.
Issue: Contacts showing up as phone numbers
With iOS 11, some users have found that their contacts are not showing up correctly. OnApple’s forums, one user noticed all the contact names in the phone app showed up as phone numbers when someone called. Rather than displaying the correct contact, it would suggest names by listing it as “Maybe:” followed by a name.Another userexperienced the same issue when receiving text messages instead.
Glitch: Touch ID not working
Some iPhone users — particularly those with an iPhone 6S — have been experiencing Touch ID issues. OnApple’s forum, users found the home button was no longer working for them after updating their software to 11.2.1.
Prior to trying out different solutions, you should make sure the Home button itself is clean and dry. you’re able to do so by using a clean, lint-free cloth to wipe off any dirt or debris.
Problem: Battery drain on older iPhones
With any iOS update also comes battery issues. For the most part, being able to handle iOS 11 isn’t a problem for the next-generationiPhone 8, 8 Plus, and X, which all include an A11 Bionic chip. But for those of you with an older processor, you might find your battery dying more quickly than it used to. OnApple’s forums, multiple users have been complaining that their batteries have been drainingextremely fastsince downloading iOS 11.
In December 2017, Apple alsoconfirmedit does slow down older iPhones in order to better handle the power output that aging batteries can offer. In an effort to appease angry customers, it now offers owners of an iPhone 6 and later models abattery replacementfor $29 — $50 less than what it would normally cost — through December 2018.
Bug: Mic problems on iPhone 7 and 7 Plus
MacRumors has reported that Apple has acknowledged abug affecting the mics in some iPhone 7 and 7Plusmodels. According to an internal document given to Apple Authorized Service Providers, some users may experience issues regarding a greyed-out speaker button which may keep the affected customers from being heard during phone calls.
The document advises Apple’s service providers to first instruct users to disconnect any audio accessories. If that does not fix the issue, then audio diagnostics should be run. Affected devices will display messages reading “device could not detect dock” or “accessory not supported.”
The document says that if the affected iPhone 7 is no longer under warranty, the service provider may request an extension for this particular issue.
Bug: Battery drain after updating to iOS 11.4
Shortly after Apple release iOS 11.4 in May, some users began noticing battery drain on their iPhones. The problem was not specific to any particular iPhone and many users noticed significant dips in battery life when their phones were in standby mode.
Bug: QR code in camera app could bring you to malicious websites
With iOS 11, you can scan QR codes with your camera app and then tap on the banner notification for the code. But according to areport by Infosec, a bug within the operating system is allowing users to change the URL that it redirects to. Infosec demonstrated this by creating a QR code with an unsuspicious hostname which pulls up a notification to “Open ‘facebook.com’ in Safari.”
The URL embedded within the QR code is “https://xxx@facebook.com:443@infosec.rm-it.de/” but if you tap open the site, the code will instead direct you to “https://infosec.rm-it.de/”. This could be because the URL parser in the camera app can’t detect the hostname the same way Safari does — which means the hostname in the notification banner is different than what the browser opens up.
Infosec mentioned the bug was already reported to Apple’s security team in December 2017. But as of June 03, 2025, the QR code issue has yet to be resolved.
Bug: Receiving specific characters crashes Message and other apps
First spotted by Italian siteMobile World, a new iOS bug was causing iMessage and other apps to crash by sending a specific character in Telugu — an Indian language. It will not only block access to the Messages app but also to apps like Facebook Messenger, Gmail, and Outlook for iOS. Regardless of which app the character is displayed in, it will close out each time you attempt to open it. If someone sends you the symbol and iOS shows it in a notification, then Springboard will be blocked entirely. The bug also affects Macs and Apple Watches.
Problem: Text message and app notifications are disappearing from the lock screen
There have been multiple complaints about notifications suddenly disappearing from the lock screen. OnApple’s forums, one user explained that even with her iMessage notifications enabled to show on the lock screen, in history, and as banners, her notifications still disappear from the lock screen after about 10 seconds. Even after swiping up to show recent notifications, they aren’t there.
Bug: Sprint users unable to use Wi-Fi calling
With the update to iOS 11.2, some Sprint users reported that they are no longer able to use the Wi-Fi calling feature, according toMacRumors. This problem seems to only affect Sprint users who updated to iOS 11.2 and updated their carrier settings to 31.0. We reached out to Sprint and will update the story if it provides any further details.
Glitch: The letter ‘A’ and a symbol appears when some users type ‘i’
Some iOS 11.1 users have been noticing an issue where the letter “i” switched to an “A” followed by a symbol. Apple acknowledged the problem and offered a workaround while it hammered out a more permanent fix, which has now come in the form of a software update.
Bug: Can’t send emails with Outlook.com or Exchange mail account
When the official version of iOS 11 first launched, users were receiving an error message when they tried to send an email. The problem occurred specifically with email accounts hosted by Microsoft,Office 365, orOutlook.com. When they would attempt to send an email, it would tell them “the message was rejected by the server.” If you’re on iOS 11, you could still be receiving this message when attempting to send an email.
Glitch: Brightness is turned up but your device is still dim
One user on aniOS 11 Reddit threadnoticed their iPhone 7 looked dimmer than it did on iOS 10, even though the brightness is turned up. The new operating system might reset your settings from iOS 10, causing it to also reset the White Point percentage — which reduces the intensity of bright colors.
If iOS 11 is still giving you trouble, you can always reset your iPhone to its factory settings by going toSettings > General > Resetand tapErase All Content and Settings. Just verify that you back up all your precious files first as this will wipe your iPhone completely. For more details and alternative methods, check outhow to factory reset an iPhone.
