Troubleshooting common iPhone 17 and iOS 26 problems (and quick fixes)

The iPhone® 17 and iOS® 26 come with plenty of exciting features, from Liquid Glass visuals to AI-enhanced apps. But every new release has a few bugs that pop up early—especially with all that new tech working under the hood.

If your iPhone is lagging, glitching, overheating, or just not feeling right, you’re not alone. These tips from the experts at Asurion can help you fix the most common iPhone 17 and iOS 26 issues.

App crashes or freezing

Apps that haven’t updated for iOS 26 can behave strangely after a software upgrade. Try this:

• Open the App Store and go to your profile.
• Scroll to see pending updates. Tap Update All.
• Restart your iPhone when done.

If an app still won’t open, delete and reinstall it. You won’t lose your saved data if the app is cloud-backed.

Battery drain after updating

Some battery drain is normal right after installing a major update—your iPhone needs time to re-index and adjust. But if it continues after a few days:

• Go to Settings > Battery to see which apps are using the most power.
• Close background apps you’re not using.
• Turn on Low Power Mode in Settings > Battery or Control Center.
• Try resetting your iPhone battery stats if the estimates seem off.

Overheating while charging or gaming

iPhones generate heat during high-powered tasks like gaming, video editing, or fast charging. Here’s how to keep it under control:

• Don’t use your phone while charging.
• Avoid direct sunlight or hot environments.
• Remove your case while charging if it traps heat.
• Disable background refresh: Settings > General > Background App Refresh > Off.

If your phone stays hot even while idle, a background process or software issue could be to blame. Try restarting or updating your apps.

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connection issues

iOS 26 may reset or tweak your network settings, which can affect connectivity. If you’re having trouble staying online:

• Toggle Airplane Mode on and off to refresh your signal.
• Forget and reconnect to your Wi-Fi network under Settings > Wi-Fi.
• Reset network settings: Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings.
• Make sure Bluetooth is turned on and the device is in pairing mode.

Face ID not working

iOS 26 includes updates to Face ID that may require re-scanning your face if you’ve made recent appearance changes.

• Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Reset Face ID.
• Scan your face again, holding the phone at eye level in a well-lit space.
• If Face ID still fails, check for camera obstructions or smudges.

Touchscreen not responding

Unresponsive touchscreens may result from software bugs, screen protectors, or physical damage.

• Clean your screen and remove any protective case or screen protector.
• Force restart your iPhone by pressing and quickly releasing Volume Up, then Volume Down, then holding the Side button until the Apple® logo appears.
• Update your iOS version to the latest available patch.

iOS 26 features missing or not working

Some iOS 26 features require newer chipsets or specific settings.

• Make sure you’re signed into iCloud and have a stable internet connection.
• Go to Settings > General > Software Update to check for additional patches.
• For AI tools or background image cleanup, make sure Siri & Search > Advanced Features is enabled.