Each new version of iOS comes with a bunch of bugs and issues, some bigger than others, and iOS 14 is no different. Apple will iron out many of these issues with subsequent software updates, but it’s helpful to know if the issues you see on your own phone are bugs in iOS 14, and to learn more about the fixes and fixes that you can try.
Problem solving is not always an exact science. Remember that detective work may be needed to determine what is going wrong with your own iPhone or iPad. It is possible that something other than iOS 14 is to blame for the problems you are experiencing, but we would be able to figure it out somehow.
Poor battery life
iOS 14 has caused battery usage issues for many users, with iPhones allegedly not staying as long with Apple’s latest mobile operating system. It’s been mentioned in connection with every iOS 14 version, but it looks like it the rollout of iOS 14.2 especially battery life has taken a hit.
The battery life is not specifically mentioned in the release notes for iOS 14.3, and it seems that the problem – at least for some users – is still widespread complaints on social media. Apple has not yet officially acknowledged anything.
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But the company has provides technical support earlier in the iOS 14 release cycle for those with both an iPhone and an Apple Watch, and recommends a full backup and reset (instructions here and here) of both devices to cause battery problems. Unfortunately, in addition to the usual battery saving tricks, a complete reset is just about everything you can try while waiting for a software update to (hopefully) address the issue.
No notifications
One of the more common (and frustrating) issues reported by iPhone owners running iOS 14 is that the Messages app does not show notifications as it should. Alerts do not appear on the lock screen and red badges do not appear on the app icon in some cases, which causes a delay in SMS messages above and beyond a separate issue.
This is an error that Apple acknowledged and claims to have corrected with the iOS 14.3 update, according to the release notes. If you have noticed that this is happening on your own device, the first issue is to update to OS 14.3.
If you still do not get alerts for messages as you should be, there is also no specific solution to try the basic solutions: Check your notification settings, recharge your phone, and if all else fails, reset it and start over (make sure it is fully backed up first).
Choose new default programs
iOS 14 has quite quietly introduced the ability to set apps other than Apple Mail and Apple Safari as your default email client and web browser, respectively – the only problem is that iOS would very quickly forget which alternatives you chose, and return to the Apple is default to a restart.
This is an issue that Apple has addressed and says it’s right, according to the iOS 14.0.1 update it was not released long after iOS 14 itself. If for some reason you have not updated to the latest version of iOS, it should be enough to make your default email and web choices valid.
If you are still not sure how to configure this new feature, go to Settings and then select the email application or web browser of your choice from the long list of applications. You must then see a Default email program of a Default browser program option, which you can use to make your chosen app the default choice.
Lose wifi connections
Problems with wifi and cellular connections always appear along with a new iOS version, and iOS 14 was no different – it had to be something about applying a brand new software layer that confuses your phone (or the networks it connects to), often leading to decreased or unstable connections.
In the case of iOS 14, issues are most commonly reported with dropped wifi connections. According to many users, iPhones tend to lose their connection to wireless internet and they refuse to reset the link, causing problems for just about anything you want to do on a smartphone.
This is an error that Apple identified and applied a fix – it should have rolled to your phone with iOS 14.0.1, which “fixes an issue that could prevent your iPhone from connecting to Wi-Fi networks,” according to the release notes. If you are still experiencing issues after updating, try the standard troubleshooting issues solve an internet connection problem.
Specific app issues
There are always one or two apps that do not work properly with a new iOS version: developers have to work hard to get their software to work with Apple’s updated operating system, and sometimes errors slip through the cracks. If this happens to you, you should be aware of updates to programs – or even ask the developers directly about this.
YouTube is an example of iOS 14: the picture-in-picture mode does not work, then works and does not work again. At the time of writing, it will only work properly if you have a YouTube Premium subscriber (a previous solution for managing YouTube within Safari has since been blocked).
It’s the same with 4K playback from the YouTube app: it’s only going to work if you’re a paying subscriber. Other apps on your phone may have similar limitations, so if you experience buggies or something is not really working in one particular app, you should focus your troubleshooting effort on that particular app.
Other issues
There are probably more issues than we discussed above, but these are the issues that have been reported the most. It’s worth watching Apple’s official iOS 14 update page, because the company will list the bug fixes applied to iOS as well as the new features being added.
Issues that have been addressed since the first iOS 14 release include problems sending emails, displaying widgets, using family sharing, receiving incoming calls, wireless charging, the camera viewfinder, sound levels of the headphones, an unresponsive lock screen, and more, so if you’ve had problems with any of the above and are updating to the latest version if iOS 14 is worth it.
If you encounter a problem that we did not discuss here, research on the Internet should match someone else who is experiencing the same issues (try as specific as you can in your search). Good starting points are the Apple subreddit on Reddit and the iPhone Discussion Forums on the Apple website. Or tell us your problem below – maybe fearless Gizmodo readers can help solve it.