iOS 10 Problems: 12 Annoying Issues & Fixes

iOS 10 introduced a major redesign with new features like raised text, richer notifications, and a revamped lock screen, but it also brought a set of frustrating problems for many users. This guide covers the most common iOS 10 annoyances—from battery drain and Bluetooth issues to the infamous “slide to unlock” removal—and provides clear, step-by-step fixes you can try right now.

1. Battery Draining Too Fast

One of the most frequent complaints after updating to iOS 10 was a noticeable drop in battery life. This often happens because the update triggers background tasks like reindexing Spotlight and syncing iCloud data, which can take a few days to settle. However, if the drain persists, it’s usually caused by specific settings or apps.

How to fix:

• Check which apps are using the most battery: Settings > Battery. Look for apps with high background activity.
• Disable Background App Refresh for apps that don’t need it: Settings > General > Background App Refresh. Turn it off entirely or selectively.
• Turn off Raise to Wake if you don’t use it: Settings > Display & Brightness > Raise to Wake. This feature lights up the screen every time you lift your phone, which can drain battery.
• Disable Location Services for apps that don’t need your location: Settings > Privacy > Location Services. Set to “While Using” or “Never” for unnecessary apps.
• If the problem started immediately after the update, try a forced restart: hold the Home and Power buttons (iPhone 6s and earlier) or press and release Volume Up, then Volume Down, then hold the Side button (iPhone 7 and later) until the Apple logo appears.

2. Bluetooth Not Working or Dropping Connections

Many users reported that after updating to iOS 10, their Bluetooth devices (car stereos, headphones, speakers) would not connect, or would drop connection randomly. This is often caused by corrupted Bluetooth settings or interference from other devices.

How to fix:

1. Turn Bluetooth off and on again: Settings > Bluetooth or Control Center.
2. Forget the problematic device: Settings > Bluetooth, tap the “i” icon next to the device, then “Forget This Device”. Then pair it again from scratch.
3. Reset Network Settings: Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. This clears Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and cellular settings, so you’ll need to re-enter Wi-Fi passwords.
4. Check for interference: move away from other Bluetooth devices or Wi-Fi routers that operate on 2.4GHz.

3. “Slide to Unlock” Removed – How to Unlock Now

iOS 10 removed the iconic “Slide to Unlock” gesture, replacing it with a press of the Home button (or Side button on iPhone 7). Many users were confused, especially those with Touch ID enabled. The new behavior is: if you have Touch ID, you press the Home button to unlock, but the phone may go to the home screen immediately if your finger is recognized.

How it works now:

• With Touch ID: Press the Home button. If your fingerprint is recognized, the phone unlocks and goes to the home screen. If not, it asks for your passcode.
• Without Touch ID: Press the Home button to wake the screen, then swipe or enter your passcode.
• To access widgets/control center from lock screen: Swipe right for widgets, swipe up for Control Center.

If you want to reduce accidental unlocks, you can disable “Rest Finger to Unlock” in Settings > General > Accessibility > Home Button. This makes Touch ID only unlock when you press the button, not just rest your finger on it.

4. Wi-Fi Keeps Disconnecting or Slow

Wi-Fi issues after iOS 10 are often related to DNS settings or a glitch in the network configuration. Some users also experienced slow speeds because the update reset certain network preferences.

How to fix:

1. Turn Wi-Fi off and on: Settings > Wi-Fi.
2. Forget the network and rejoin: tap the “i” icon, “Forget This Network”, then select the network again and enter the password.
3. Reset Network Settings as described earlier.
4. If the problem persists, try changing DNS to a public DNS like Google (8.8.8.8) or Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) in Settings > Wi-Fi > (i) > Configure DNS.

5. Messages App Crashes or Lag

iOS 10 brought a major overhaul to Messages with new bubble effects, digital touch, and app integrations. This added complexity led to crashes and lag, especially on older devices like iPhone 5s or 6.

How to fix:

• Force close the Messages app and reopen it.
• Restart your iPhone.
• Check for app updates for Messages extensions (like stickers) that might be buggy.
• If the issue is severe, you can disable iMessage and re-enable it: Settings > Messages > iMessage toggle off, wait a minute, then toggle on.
• For persistent crashes, try resetting all settings: Settings > General > Reset > Reset All Settings. This doesn’t delete data but resets preferences like Wi-Fi passwords and wallpapers.

6. Phone Calls Dropping or No Audio

Some users reported call issues after iOS 10, including dropped calls or no audio during calls. This can be caused by network settings glitches or Bluetooth interference.

How to fix:

1. Toggle Airplane Mode on and off to reset the cellular connection.
2. Turn off Bluetooth if you’re not using a Bluetooth headset, as it can sometimes interfere.
3. Reset Network Settings (as above).
4. Check for carrier settings update: Settings > General > About – if an update is available, a prompt will appear.
5. If the issue persists, contact your carrier to ensure your SIM is properly provisioned.

7. Apps Crashing or Not Opening

After a major iOS update, apps may crash because they haven’t been updated for compatibility. This is especially true for older apps that use deprecated APIs.

How to fix:

• Update the app to the latest version from the App Store.
• If the app is already updated, try deleting and reinstalling it (this may lose in-app data).
• Restart your iPhone to clear memory.
• Check if the app is compatible with iOS 10 by looking at the App Store description or the developer’s website.

8. Notification Center and Widgets Not Working

iOS 10 redesigned the lock screen and notification center, and some users found that widgets would not load or notifications were not showing. This is often a glitch that can be fixed by restarting or toggling settings.

How to fix:

1. Restart your iPhone.
2. Go to Settings > Notifications and ensure notifications are enabled for the apps you care about.
3. For widgets, swipe right on the lock screen or home screen’s first page. If they don’t load, go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset All Settings.
4. If the issue is with a specific widget, remove it and add it again by tapping “Edit” at the bottom of the widget list.

9. Touch ID Not Working

Touch ID can stop working after an update due to a software glitch or because the fingerprint data needs to be refreshed.

How to fix:

1. Go to Settings > Touch ID & Passcode and enter your passcode.
2. Toggle off and on Touch ID for iPhone Unlock and App Store.
3. If that doesn’t help, delete all fingerprints and re-add them. Make sure your fingers are clean and dry.
4. If Touch ID still fails, you may need to reset all settings or restore the phone, but this is rare.

10. Music App Problems

The Music app in iOS 10 got a new design with a prominent “For You” tab and a new mini-player. Some users found it confusing or experienced issues like songs not playing or playlists not syncing.

How to fix:

• Sign out and back into Apple Music: Settings > Music > Sign Out, then sign in again.
• Turn off “Show Apple Music” if you don’t use the service: Settings > Music and toggle off.
• If songs are not playing, check your internet connection and try toggling iCloud Music Library off and on.
• Restart the Music app.

11. Keyboard Lag or Slow Response

Keyboard lag can be due to background processes or a glitch in the keyboard settings. It’s often temporary but can be annoying.

How to fix:

1. Restart your iPhone.
2. Go to Settings > General > Keyboard and turn off “Predictive” and “Smart Punctuation” temporarily to see if it improves.
3. If you use a third-party keyboard, try switching back to the default keyboard to see if the issue is with the third-party app.
4. Reset All Settings if the problem persists.

12. General Tips for iOS 10 Issues

If you’re experiencing multiple issues, a few general steps can often resolve them:

• Update to the latest iOS 10 version: Apple released several updates (10.0.1, 10.0.2, 10.1, etc.) that fixed many bugs. Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
• Backup and restore: If nothing else works, back up your iPhone and restore it as new (or from backup). This can clear deep software glitches.
• Free up storage: Low storage can cause performance issues. Check Settings > General > iPhone Storage and delete unused apps or photos.
• Turn off automatic updates: Sometimes updates happen at bad times. You can disable automatic app updates in Settings > iTunes & App Store.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my iPhone so slow after iOS 10?

iOS 10 is more demanding than iOS 9, especially on older devices. The phone may be slow because it’s indexing after the update, or because you have too many background processes. Try restarting, disabling Background App Refresh, and freeing up storage. If it’s still slow, consider downgrading (if possible) or upgrading to a newer device.

How do I get “Slide to Unlock” back?

There is no official way to bring back the “Slide to Unlock” gesture in iOS 10. You can, however, reduce the need to press the Home button by enabling “Rest Finger to Unlock” (which unlocks when you rest your finger on the sensor) in Accessibility settings. This makes unlocking feel more seamless.

Will resetting network settings delete my data?

No, resetting network settings only clears Wi-Fi passwords, Bluetooth connections, and cellular settings. Your photos, apps, and other data remain intact. You will need to re-enter Wi-Fi passwords and re-pair Bluetooth devices.

Why does my battery drain even after I close all apps?

Closing apps by swiping them away doesn’t always stop background processes. Check Settings > Battery to see which apps are using the most power. Also, features like Raise to Wake, Background App Refresh, and Location Services can drain battery even when you’re not using the phone. Turn them off for apps that don’t need them.

Can I downgrade from iOS 10 back to iOS 9?

Apple stops signing older iOS versions shortly after a new release. If iOS 10 is installed, you can only downgrade to the last version that Apple is still signing (if any), which is usually only for a few weeks after the release. After that, it’s not possible without a jailbreak or unofficial methods, which are not recommended for security reasons.

Why is my iPhone 7 not connecting to my car’s Bluetooth?

This is often due to the car’s Bluetooth system not being compatible with iOS 10’s new Bluetooth stack. Try deleting the car from your phone’s Bluetooth list and re-pairing. Also, check if your car’s firmware has an update. If the issue persists, resetting network settings on your phone can help.

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