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What are common issues reported after installing iOS 26


Common issues reported after installing iOS 26 include a variety of bugs and performance problems that affect usability and device stability. These problems range from installation and update errors to visual glitches and connectivity concerns. Key issues can be grouped as follows:

Installation and Update Problems:
Users often face issues such as the iOS 26 update not appearing, getting stuck on “Update Requested” or “Preparing Update,” and the “Install Now” button being grayed out or nonresponsive. Some receive error messages like “Software Update Failed” or “Unable to Install Update.” This can be due to server overloads, corrupted profiles, or insufficient free storage space. Workarounds include restarting the device, deleting partially downloaded update files, signing out and back into Apple ID, and using iTunes or Finder for manual update installation.

Performance and Battery Life:
Battery drain has been widely reported, with users experiencing significantly faster battery consumption after upgrading. Devices also tend to overheat even during normal use, likely because of background processes such as file indexing and app syncing that occur after installation. Performance issues include lags, stuttering animations, delayed keyboard response, and general sluggishness of the user interface. A common recommendation is to allow 24-48 hours post-update for background tasks to complete, and to update all third-party apps to the iOS 26 compatible versions.

Visual and UI Glitches:
Visual bugs are prominent, particularly with the new Liquid Glass interface style affecting icon clarity and text legibility. Users report home screen icons flickering or redrawing unexpectedly, widgets showing extremely poor text visibility, and the Photos app appearing greyed out. The dark theme has been criticized for a low-quality appearance and poor readability, which some found particularly problematic for visually impaired users. The Settings menu and other UI elements sometimes become greyed out or misaligned, and the keyboard spacing can occasionally become inconsistent.

Connectivity Issues:
Wi-Fi connectivity can drop randomly, or the device may fail to connect to known networks after rebooting. Bluetooth pairing problems prevent wireless accessories from maintaining stable connections, including headphones and CarPlay systems. AirDrop also faces detection and connection issues with other devices. These bugs are often resolved by restarting the device, toggling connectivity features off and on, or resetting network settings.

App Compatibility and Crashes:
Some third-party apps, especially security-sensitive apps like banking and messaging apps, have not yet been fully updated for iOS 26 compatibility. This results in app crashes, freezes, or features not working correctly. System crashes involving SpringBoard, which handles the iOS user interface, also occur, causing the screen to briefly go black before recovering.

Other Notable Issues:
- Missed calls not appearing correctly in the call log but instead showing as SMS notifications.
- The update causing the iPhone to consume more storage space than expected.
- Text invisibility in widgets and uneven design elements like corner radii being visually displeasing.
- CarPlay connection and scaling problems resulting in blurry or unusable interfaces on some car displays.

Users have reported that these combined problems diminish the premium feel of the iOS experience, impacting usability significantly, especially for those relying on accessible features or specific apps. Common remedies include device restarts, clearing storage space, resetting settings, updating apps, and occasionally rolling back to earlier iOS versions when possible. Apple's continued updates and third-party app patches are expected to resolve many of these issues over time.