No mobile operating system is perfect. When Apple released iOS 13 in 2019 — to ample fanfare — the euphoria was intense but short-lived, as the software suffered from a host of problems and stability issues. Numerous bugs plagued the initial release — so many that Apple quickly released a beta upgrade to iOS 13.1 a week ahead of schedule to tackle the worst problems.

If you haven’t yet made the jump to iOS 14, you may have encountered one or more of the following issues. While this is by no means a complete list, here are the most common iOS 13 problems and what you can do to fix them, starting with version 13.7, the latest and last version Apple released on September 1, 2020. We cover the most high-profile problems users reported in each version of the OS, and any workarounds we found.

Pro tip: Don’t mess with iOS 13 anymore. Anyone currently using iOS 13 and experiencing issues with the latest iOS 13.7 incarnation, can now download iOS 14. Any iPhone that runs iOS 13 can also run iOS 14, starting with iPhone 6S and newer. An upgrade to iOS 14 will likely solve most if not all your iOS 13 problems. Note that Apple has stopped signing iOS 13.7, so you cannot downgrade back to iOS 13 from iOS 14. This should not be a problem for most users.

Apple’s iOS 13.7 update, released in late September, is a minor milestone release, but it could affect your iPhone’s performance. There are few issues associated with iOS 13.7, an update that debuts new Memoji stickers and iCloud Drive folder sharing from the Files app. It also features the new opt-in Exposure Notifications System to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Installing iOS 13.7 lets you opt in for the COVID-19 Exposure Notifications system without having to download an app. Data depends on support from your local public health department. Installing iOS 13.7 is a point of no return because you can no longer downgrade to a previous version of iOS 13.

The latest version brings a useful update to Group FaceTime. While each FaceTime participant occupies a tile in the interface, the software makes the speaker’s tile larger while the other tiles fade into the background. While iOS 13.7 doesn’t have any security patches, if you skipped iOS 13.6 or are still using an older version of iOS, you’ll get all the security patches previously released with this upgrade.

A few problems are still being reported, including issues with downloading and installing the update. If your iOS 13.7 installation gets stuck, a hard reset should solve the problem. There have also been scattered complaints about interface lag, and issues with AirPlay, CarPlay, Touch ID and Face ID, battery drain, apps, HomePod, iMessage, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, freezes, and crashes. That said, this is the best, most stable iOS 13 release so far, and everyone should upgrade to it.

It seems that iOS 13 finally found some stability with iOS 13.6 and later. With iOS 13.6.1, Apple fixed an issue where unneeded system data files might not be automatically deleted when available storage is low and an issue where Exposure Notifications could be disabled. It also fixed a thermal management issue called the Green Tint Bug. It was unclear whether this green display tint was a hardware or software issue. Apple considered both possibilities, and the company acknowledged and attempted a software fix for the tint with iOS 13.6.1. Apple also approved some display replacements to remedy this issue, though screenshots strongly suggested it was software based. A few iPhone owners reported problems with charging after upgrading to iOS 13.6.1 while Bluetooth and Wi-Fi performance issues, particularly for CarPlay, got fixed.

Unlike previous updates, iOS 13.6 actually introduced new features, along with fixes for some of the known problems reported in the previous versions. With iOS 13.6 you got an updated Health app, which adds a new category called Symptoms that lets you log conditions like fever, chills, and coughing, which can then be transferred to third-party apps. Another important feature of iOS 13.6 is support for Digital Car Keys, though it’s limited to iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and later models. This feature lets you use your iPhone to unlock your car. It’s currently only compatible with the newest BMW models, with more car models expected. Users in the U.S. also got Apple News+ to help listen to audio and read local news. A new Wi-Fi-based Automatic Update option is also available for downloading updates automatically.

Even as late as iOS 13.6, some users continued to struggle with issues like performance lag and battery drain.  The good part is that these issues affect far fewer people than before, which they may be individual rather than systemic problems. Connectivity issues — both with Wi-Fi and mobile data — still exist for some users on iOS 13.6 with no specific solutions suggested. A few users reported problems with Face ID on this update, specifically that they can’t unlock their phones while wearing a face mask. Apple had already rejiggered the system to recognize masks, but it still didn’t work for everyone. Battery drain remains an intermittent and persistent problem for some users, though no specific cause has been identified.

While there’s no specific fix for what ails iOS 13.6, you can boost performance by doing the following to enhance battery life and prevent app problems:

Apple released iOS and iPadOS 13.5.1 on June 1, just over a week after the release of iOS and iPadOS 13.5, major updates that brought the COVID-19 Exposure Notification API, FaceTime changes, mask-related unlocking updates, and more. The iOS 13.5.1 update is bare bones. There are no new features, a single security update, and no bug fixes. A few isolated issues associated with the problematic 13.5 update remain. Among these are glitches in Face ID, wallpaper, Bluetooth connectivity, GarageBand app crashes, and a bizarre keyboard prediction error where typing the word “vote,” “vote” (with space), or “vote for” automatically suggests “trump” regardless of whether users live in the U.S. Complaints to @AppleSupport have recorded screenshots of this phenomenon.

Complaints about swift battery drain carry over from the recent 13.5 update. If you have recently jailbroken your iPhone, watch out: The 13.5.1 will disable your jailbreak. According to Apple, the update patches a vulnerability of the recently released Unc0ver jailbreaking tool and works on all recent versions of iOS, including iOS 13.5.

With iOS 13.5 released on May 20, users get some helpful new features, such as native support for the framework of coronavirus contact-tracing apps and services. Face ID recognizes you even if you wear a face mask, and improves the performance of Group FaceTime.

Exposure Notifications technology, a life-saving effort developed jointly by Apple and Google for both iOS and Android, is now available to public health agencies to incorporate the API into their own apps that people install. Each user decides whether or not to opt into Exposure Notifications for contact tracing. The system does not collect or use device location and if a person is diagnosed with COVID-19, it is up to them whether or not to report that in the public health app.

Just when you thought iOS 13 was finally safe, along comes iOS 13.5. Apple had been making some fine progress with the mobile OS, despite the shaky rollout, but things slid backward with this release.

There’s still no indication of what, if anything, Apple intends to do about this. On the other hand, Apple already fixed a flaw in iOS 13.5 that caused apps to stop opening and squashed a bug that attacked the Sign in with Apple feature in third-party apps. That could expose some users to cyber-attacks and perhaps allow for account takeovers, resulting from improper security. Apple is also fixing a zero-day vulnerability that makes iOS 13.5 easier for people to jailbreak.

The iPadOS 13.5 is another sad story with reports that the OS is causing “boot loops” for the iPad Pro and failing to play MP4/MPEG-4 files on iPhones. These boot loops appeared first in iPadOS 13.4.1 and again in iPadOS 13.5, causing the 10.5-inch iPad Pro to suffer recurring reboots that happen — for no discernible reason — some 30 to 45 seconds after you log on to the tablet. A full factory reset doesn’t solve the problem, and the bug renders the iPad useless. The bug appears to affect a limited number of iPad Pros and does not seem to be widespread.

Try the new hard reset procedure for the new 2018/2020 iPad Pro models. This may or may not work, but is worth a try.

Users had fewer complaints when the feature-rich iOS 13.4 was released on March 24. It served up improvements to the Mail app, including toolbar upgrades and reciprocal encryption, so that if you reply to an encrypted email, your reply will also be encrypted. iCloud Folder Sharing re-emerged in this version, facilitating easier document sharing. Memoji stickers with nine new choices made their debut, as did universal purchase support for the App Store. This lets you purchase an app to work on an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, and Apple TV in unison, if supported in the app. Also, recently played arcade games now appear in the Arcade tab so you can continue to play on each platform. On the iPad side, iPadOS 13.4 included trackpad support so that the latest iPad Pro can be used more like a laptop.

The iOS 13.4.1 update landed on April 7 with oodles of bug fixes, the most prominent of which fixed an issue with FaceTime calls that didn’t work on earlier versions of iOS and MacOS.

Apple released iOS 13.3.1 some three months after the previous update to deliver fixes to problems found in nine previous updates to squash bugs, and boost performance. There were no headlining new features in this dot upgrade, as new features are generally reserved for whole-number releases. If you skipped previous updates, version 13.3.1 downloaded cumulative updates from previous versions not already installed on your device.

There are few outstanding problems with this update, so if you have issues with any earlier iOS or iPad OS update, this one might be the remedy. This upgrade is not the perfect solution for everyone. And when you upgrade to 13.3.1, you won’t be able to downgrade to earlier versions. The new OS maintenance update is compatible with the iPhone 6S and later. Access it via Settings > General > Software Update.

With iOS 13.3.1, Apple fixed some vexing issues from the previous update. There’s especially great news concerning the bug in Communications Limits, a feature introduced in version 13.3 that should have given parents complete control over whom their kids can call, FaceTime chat, or send messages to, but instead let kids communicate with strangers online via a variety of techniques described below. That was fixed with this update, which prohibits the addition of new contacts without entering the Screen Time passcode.

The update also fixes another issue by giving the newest iPhone models in the iPhone 11 series the ability to disable Ultra Wideband via a new toggle switch. This overcomes the problem of tracking your location when the device’s location services were toggled off, which Apple blamed on its Ultra Wideband chip. If you own an iPhone 11, look for this toggle at Settings > Privacy > Location Services > System Services and switch off Networking & Wireless. This control is also available in previous generations of the iPhone, going back to the 6s, even though it does not have the UWB chip.

Additional 13.3.1 updates fix bugs related to iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro Deep Fusion photo editing delays, fix remote image and undo dialog issues in Mail, fix a camera glitch when using FaceTime, resolve push notifications over Wi-Fi, and fix distorted sound in CarPlay when making phone calls in some vehicles. It also now supports Indian English Siri voices for HomePod.

The iOS 13.3.1 update includes 21 new security patches, so if you’re running an older version of iOS 13, you should update. The update for iPadOS 13.3.1 is identical, except for features that iPads don’t have, such as an ultra-wide camera, CarPlay, Ultra Wideband, and HomePod.

No update is perfect, although this particular one is less glitchy than most of the previous ones. Still, some people reported problems with downloading and installing the update, especially in the new iPhone 11, which can most often be solved by a hard reset. Press and release the Volume Up button, and press and release the Volume Down, then continue pressing the Power button until your phone restarts. Or switch your phone off and then on, download iOS 13.3.1, and try to install it again.

There were also scattered complaints about interface lag, app issues for both native and third-party apps, AirPlay issues, Touch ID and Face ID issues, and battery drain, as well as lockups, freezes, and crashes in Exchange, HomePod, iMessage, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and CarPlay.

One way to mitigate those issues is to actually prepare for the download, which is a fairly hefty 200MB for a dot update from 13.3, and even larger for those who skipped previous updates. Make sure you have enough free space on your iPhone to install the update, and as always, be sure to back up your data before getting started.

This update gives parents even more control over their kids’ online interactions within the Screen Time feature, with even more limits on who kids can call, FaceTime chat, or send messages to. The update also provides new layouts in Apple News+ stories, creates a new trimmed video clip instead of saving over the original, and facilitates FIDO2-compliant (the Fast Identity Online open standard for passwordless authentication), NFC, Bluetooth, and Lightning security keys with your iOS device. Gmail, Dropbox, Twitter, Outlook, and Facebook all support security keys, so this is useful for owners who prefer a physical security key. Oh, and if you’re not wild about memoji stickers, you can make them vanish from the emoji keyboard.

Alongside new features, iOS 13.3 addressed many nasty bugs found in earlier versions. If you were having issues with the Mail app on your phone, it’s likely this iOS version will fix issues that prevented you from downloading new messages or deleting messages in Gmail accounts, and also resolve issues that caused errant characters to show up in messages or duplication of sent messages in Exchange accounts. Both iOS 13.3 and iPadOS 13.3 include a dozen security updates in addition to other features and fixes.

The new iOS version does not fix the Ultra-Wideband and location sharing issue reported for iPhone 11 series, though Apple has stated its intention to provide a dedicated toggle switch for the feature in an upcoming iOS update — just not this one. Overall, there seem to be fewer new general bug complaints reported for iOS 13.3.

A brand new feature was felled by a brand new bug — this time in the 13.3 Communication Limits feature that lets parents control who their kids can text, FaceTime, or call. CNBC initially revealed the bug lets the little ones communicate with anyone they want, and even offers a conduit for strangers to communicate with your kid. A child should not be able to add a contact to an iPhone address book without a parent entering their PIN first. But kids can get around restrictions if contacts are not synced with iCloud or by using an Apple Watch and Siri, which will obligingly call or text anyone the child asks, whether or not they are on a contact list. The new feature does not work with Facebook Messenger, Snapchat, and Skype. Apple says the issue only occurs on devices set up with a “non-standard configuration,” and has promised a total fix in future upgrades. It suggests the following interim solution.

Battery life issues are a perennial problem with iOS upgrades. Some iOS 13 users noticed that battery life seems degraded after the upgrade to Apple’s latest mobile operating system. That’s partly because the new OS must cycle through a number of major system-level operations to integrate with your device, such as indexing with Spotlight, Photos, and various iCloud activities.

Various users reported that with the installation of iOS 13.3, they lost mobile cellular service, and some even report losing Wi-Fi and are unable to make phone calls or send normal text messages. A similar issue was also reported for iOS 13.2.2 and 13.2.3.

For iPhone X or 11: Press and hold a volume button and the side button simultaneously until the power off slider appears. Drag the slider to turn off your phone. Turn your phone back on by pressing and holding the side button (on the right side), until the Apple logo appears.

For iPhone 8, 7, or 6: Press and hold the side button until the power off slider appears, and drag the slider to switch off your device. Then, turn it back on by pressing and holding the side button until the Apple logo appears.

For iPhone SE, 5, or earlier: Press and hold the top button until the power off slider appears, and drag the slider to turn off your device. To turn it back on, press and hold the top button until you see the Apple logo.

The release of iOS 13.2 brought several new features, including the Deep Fusion camera tech on the iPhone 11, which added additional layers to iOS computational photography capabilities. The Announce Messages with Siri option let Siri read incoming messages aloud while you had AirPods plugged into your ears. Other improvements included listening history for the Music app, improved Siri & Dictation that let you opt out of sharing recordings with Apple, and a wide selection of diverse new emojis that included the ability to choose various skin tones.

With iOS 13.2, Apple appeared to introduce a serious memory management bug into the multi-tasking environment, where many users reported apps like Safari, YouTube, Mail, and others closing and being reopened when switching back and forth from different apps, and sometimes causing data loss. With the release of iOS 13.2.2, Apple addressed the issue, “that could cause apps to quit unexpectedly when running in the background.”

Apple released iOS 13.1.3 and iPadOS 13.1.3 with additional bug fixes and performance improvements for all devices to address issues in the Mail app, Bluetooth connectivity, and launch performance for Game Center apps. Most of the dot upgrades are maintenance updates designed to squish bugs, not to add any new features.

The iOS 13.1.3 update featured bug fixes and improvements for issues that could prevent a device from ringing or vibrating for an incoming call or prevent you from opening a meeting invite in Mail. The update was designed to solve Bluetooth problems such as disconnecting on some vehicles, as well as improving reliability for hearing aids and headsets. It fixed an issue that could prevent pairing with or receiving notifications on an Apple Watch. It also addressed issues with iCloud backup problems for Voice Memos. It also resolved a daylight savings time Health app data issue.

In the iOS 13.1.2, 13.1.3, and 13.2.3 updates, users encounter a “Game Center unavailable, Player is not signed in” alert.

You have several choices on how to proceed. First, try changing your Wi-Fi to see if it’s a network issue. If your network is OK, then here are some other possibilities.

Your iPhone’s Bluetooth does not connect to your other Bluetooth devices.

Some iPhone 7 users reported that they could not set up Apple Pay even after resetting all settings in iOS 13.2.2.

There were widespread reports that iOS 13.1.2 caused calls to drop within a minute of being placed. Said one user on Apple’s Twitter support account: “Dropping calls like crazy after iOS 13 update. Really bad after 13.1.2 update. Call will drop after 30 seconds to a minute. I use phone for business…not a good impression. iPhone X. … My network still drops despite the new update 13.1.3.”

Apple suggested the following sequence to get your phone calls back on track.

Check your settings:

Update your software:

Try a network reset:

Go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. This eliminates all current saved settings, Wi-Fi passwords, preferred networks, and VPN settings.

Try to make or receive calls in a different location:

After updating to iOS 13.1.3, some iPhone users found their Contacts app malfunctioning. Some have contact names but no content in them, while others just show up as empty. This issue underscores the importance of backing up your devices.

Apple’s forums have revealed some issues with Siri and phone calls. “Since updating to iOS 13, I have noticed that whenever I ask Siri to make a phone call for me, the call is placed using speakerphone every time by default. I am not asking to put the call on speaker and I have tried restarting my phone with no luck. Every time I say something like, “Hey Siri, call Jim.” The call is placed and put on speakerphone. I then have to tap to turn speak off, and then continue the call.” This is especially troublesome if you’re driving.

Here is a workaround that may or may not work depending on your iPhone model: Accessibility > Touch > Call Audio Routing > Bluetooth Headset. If you prompt Siri by holding the power button this may also work, but it involves your hands leaving the steering wheel and handling your phone while driving, which is a no-no.

Apple had issued a special security warning about third-party keyboard apps in iOS 13. You could run third-party keyboards such as Gboard or SwiftKey, or a slew of others as stand-alone apps, or they can request full access to your OS to communicate with other apps on your device to provide additional features. A bug in iOS 13 could cause these apps to gain full access even without your approval. The bug only affected keyboards that feature full access, which means that Apple’s built-in keyboard or any other keyboard apps that don’t seek full access are not affected. With full access, keyboard developers can capture keystroke data. With full access, Gboard lets you perform Google searches directly from the keyboard that are sent to Google. You may trust Google or not, but do you trust another lesser-known third-party app with the same information?

Numerous issues were reported with iOS 13 Mail performance. These included the iPhone Mail app not updating, crashing, failing to sync on iPhone or iPad, not opening, failing to send messages, opening draft messages upon launch of the app, failing to load email and third party mail accounts, mail notifications failing, failing to allow new accounts to be created, push not working, and a no sender issue where you cannot see who sent an email to you. One user stated on Apple’s Twitter support account: “Not being able to see who the sender is, is one thing. But if you tick reply, the recipient field is empty. Also, you can’t search on subject. My Mail is now sending duplicate emails to recipients. Really annoying how do I stop this?”

There are numerous solutions to a misbehaving Mail app in iOS 13. Here are a range of issues and solutions related to Mail app dysfunction.

With iOS 13, Reminders got a fresh new interface, new organizational features, smart lists, a new quick toolbar, and the ability to add photos, weblinks, and documents. But some users reported problems with syncing notes, missing lists, deleted reminders, list names reverting to defaults, wrong dates and times, and other syncing issues.

Apple acknowledged that Reminders wouldn’t sync properly unless all your devices were running the latest software, including your Mac. According to Apple, “Upgraded reminders aren’t compatible with earlier versions of iOS and macOS. If you upgrade your reminders on your iPhone with iOS 13, your iPad and Mac using the same iCloud account can’t access your reminders until iPadOS and macOS 10.15 Catalina are available.” Apple says you’ll be able to access your complete Reminders on iCloud.com and also allows users running iOS 13 to delay a full upgrade of Reminders until after macOS Catalina is released. Here’s how users can stay out of Reminders trouble.

There have been various network issues, both Wi-Fi and cellular reported with iOS 13. The Apple support Twitter site got this message: “I’m having issue access the App Store via cellular. Hasn’t worked for me on iOS 13, 13.1, and 13.1.1. Have to keep constantly refresh it just to get it to work. I’ve factory reset my phone and that didn’t work either.” Connection problems can include an alert that you cannot connect to the iTunes Store when you try to launch the iTunes Store, App Store, or the Apple Books. Sometimes the store won’t load anything or hangs in the middle of a download.

Apple provided some hints on how to fix a cellular connection issue for the App Store, iTunes Store, and Apple Books.