Apple
iOS 10.2.1 Problems: 5 Things You Need to Know
iOS 10.2.1 problems continue to plague iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users as we push deeper into the month of March.
Ahead of its official release, Apple released an iOS 10.2.1 beta for developers and those signed up via the free Beta Software Program.
The iOS 10.2.1 beta helped Apple squash a number of issues ahead of the official release. It failed to eradicate them all.
While the iOS 10.2.1 update fixes some lingering iOS 10 issues, its brought its own set of problems to iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users.
iPhone and iPad users are reporting iOS 10.2.1 problems including abnormal battery drain.
Today we want to take a look at the most important things iPhone, iPad and iPod touch owners need to know about iOS 10.2.1 problems as we push toward the next iOS 10 release, a release that could be just a few short days away.
This roundup looks at the current state of iOS 10.2.1 problems, offers potential fixes for the most common iOS 10.2.1 issues, and provides some resources that could come in handy if you start to see trouble with your version of the iOS 10.2.1 update.
It also takes a look at what’s next from Apple in terms of bug fixes for iOS 10 problems.
iOS 10.2.1 Problems
iOS 10.2.1 is a small maintenance update but it’s causing big problems for iPhone and iPad users.
We continue to see complaints about abnormal battery drain, broken Wi-Fi, missing News app, finicky Bluetooth, busted cellular data, issues with lag, crashes, random reboots, email issues, installation problems, and various issues with sound.
iPhone users are also complaining about the “30% battery bug.” Those experiencing the issue say their battery suddenly dies when their device reaches the 30% battery mark. The issue first appeared late last year and it appears to be fairly widespread.
Apple’s discussion forums, Reddit, and social media sites like Twitter are filling up with complaints about iOS 10.2.1 and we expect more complaints to emerge as more people download and use the update on their device.
https://twitter.com/ShannonStendall/status/841641953255141376
iOS 10.2.1 kills the battery life like anything . Hope there would be a patch soon for this
— vivaaji (@vivaaji) March 13, 2017
This iOS 10.2.1 battery bug is killing me. When’s 10.3 coming? I’m ready for APFS anyway.
— Ryan Elainska (@glassblowerscat) March 13, 2017
https://twitter.com/clingey/status/840237723059347456
https://twitter.com/KyleWillemssen/status/838579367592734721
iOS 10.2.1 is officially the worst update ever. iMessage & iCloud calendar problems, and now Bluetooth & Apple Watch issues. I miss Steve.
— Leng Caloh (@lengcaloh) March 6, 2017
It’s impossible to predict what you might run into after you install iOS 10.2.1 on your phone or tablet. This is why we recommend doing some prep work before you download the update on your phone.
A little preparation ahead of the installation could go a long way toward preventing iOS 10.2.1 problems on your device.
At the very least, you’ll want to make a backup, just in case you do run into one of these (or another) iOS 10.2.1 issues.
Where to Find Feedback
As we push into the year it’s important to keep tabs on the iOS 10.2.1 update and its performance.
Digging into iOS 10.2.1 feedback will alert you to potential problems and it’ll help you find potential benefits of the iOS 10.2.1 update.
You’ll find a ton of iOS 10.2.1 feedback to sift through, you just need to know where to look.
To start, we’ve put together some reasons to and not to install the iOS 10.2.1 update right now. If you’re on the fence about the iOS 10.2.1 update, you’ll want to start there.
We’ve also been digging into iOS 10.2.1’s performance on several popular devices including the iPhone 7, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6, iPhone 5, and iPad. Take a look at those roundups if you need some additional feedback.
We also recommend keeping an eye on YouTube, Apple’s discussion forums, social media sites like Twitter/Facebook, and the MacRumors forums for additional feedback about Apple’s iOS 10.2.1 updates for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.
How to Fix iOS 10.2.1 Problems
If you run into trouble with your iOS 10.2.1 update you probably don’t need to make an appointment to see an Apple Genius. At least not yet. There’s a good chance you’ll be able to fix the problem on your own at home (or the office).
If you start noticing issues take a look at our lengthy list of fixes for the most common iOS 10 problems on iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.
Our list includes potential fixes for abnormal battery drain, Wi-Fi issues, Bluetooth problems, and more.
We’ve also put together a guide that walks you through some ways to improve performance if you’re struggling with performance issues like lag, lockups and freezes on iOS 10.2.1.
There are tons of potential fixes for iOS 10.2.1 problems.
If we’re unable to provide you with a remedy for your iOS 10.2.1 problem, you should go to Apple’s discussion forums for help.
If Apple’s official forums can’t help you solve your problem, you can get in contact with Apple Support via Twitter or schedule an appointment to see a Genius at a local Apple Store.
iOS 10.2 Downgrade Closed
Downgrading to an older version of iOS can sometimes help improve performance. Unfortunately, the downgrade is now closed.
Apple’s no longer signing off on iOS 10.2 which means you can no longer drop down to it in an effort to improve your device’s performance.
If you’re on iOS 10.2.1 you’re stuck until Apple releases the next iOS 10 update. That could be days from now, it could be weeks, we simply don’t know.
For more on the downgrade process, take a look at our walkthrough. It’ll help you get prepared for next time.
What’s Next
Apple’s confirmed an iOS 10.3 update and we expect it to be the update that follows iOS 10.2.1.
The iOS 10.3 update is confirmed and the beta delivers several new features and tweaks. It also brings bug fixes and performance improvements.
If you’re dealing with an issue on iOS 10.2.1 or below, we highly recommend monitoring the iOS 10.3 update as it passes through beta. And if you think it might help with your iOS 10.2.1 issues, you might just give the beta a whirl.
We could see more beta updates emerge before the update is officially released for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch though there’s also a chance iOS 10.3 beta 7 is it.
Unfortunately, we still don’t exactly know when Apple will roll out iOS 10.3 and its collection of tweaks and fixes.
The company hasn’t confirmed a specific iOS 10.3 release date but we now know it will arrive before the end of April.
Apple recently confirmed a new Clips application alongside its new 9.7-inch iPad. Clips requires the iOS 10.3 update to work.
Apple hasn’t given Clips an official release date though the company does say the application will ship sometime in April. In other words, expect iOS 10.3 to launch before the end of next month. Sooner, if we’re lucky.
The company’s new iTunes 12.6 update comes with a “Rent once, watch anywhere” feature that requires iOS 10.3.
Install iOS 10.3.3 If You Want Better Security | |||||||||||||
 | |||||||||||||
If you value your security, you'll want to seriously consider downloading the iOS 10.3.3 update on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. iOS 10.3.3 brings 24 security patches addressing vulnerabilities plaguing Contacts, Messages, Notifications, and Safari. It also includes a patch for a potentially dangerous Wi-Fi exploit dubbed "Broadpwn." That patch alone is a great reason to install iOS 10.3.3 right now or in the immediate future. If you failed to download previous versions of iOS, your iOS 10.3.3 update will bring even more security features. If you passed on iOS 10.3.2, iOS 10.3.3 will deliver 23 additional security patches for potentially dangerous issues. If you skipped iOS 10.3.1, your iOS 10.3.3 update will bring its lone security patch. If you skipped iOS 10.3, iOS 10.3.3 will bring its monster list of patches to your device. The iOS 10.3 update delivered over 60 known patches for potential exploits. That's substantial, even for a milestone upgrade. If you skipped the iOS 10.2.1 update and/or the iOS 10.2 update, iOS 10.3.3 brings their security patches with it. The iOS 10.2.1 update had 14 important patches on board. You can see them all right here. If you failed to install Apple's iOS 9.3.5 update, iOS 10.3.3 will also bring the three crucial security patches it delivered last year. These patch up serious security problems that could potentially expose your calls, contacts, texts, and emails. These patches enhance the security on your iPhone, iPad and iPod touch making them ideal for those of you who store sensitive files/data on your device. | |||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
Betsy Greenaker
12/13/2016 at 12:38 pm
Hi,
on my husband’s 7 plus “hey Siri” doesn’t work at all. I’ve done everything I can think of, I’ve even factory reset the phone and still nothing!
Help!
Betsy Greenaker
tmana
12/16/2016 at 10:08 am
My keyboard stopped working when I upgraded to iOS 10.2. The issue: my default keyboard is Swype. The fix: go into Utilities/General/Keyboard. Select “Keyboards”. Select “Swype” (or other third-party keyboard). Select “Allow Full Access” (which had been turned off as part of the 10.2 upgrade. Read the warning (allows the developer of the keyboard to transmit anything you type, including things like credit card numbers and street addresses) and select “Allow”.
Frank
01/25/2017 at 9:59 am
“It’s not unclear when Apple plans to address the issue.”
It’s not clear when Apple plans to address the issue.
or:
It’s unclear when Apple plans to address the issue.
Either way, it sucks.
Dave Pattison
01/27/2017 at 7:05 am
I updated my iPod Touch to iOS 10.2.1 and now it will not play on my Panasonic docking station.
Rilley
01/31/2017 at 1:46 am
After I updated my ios to 10.2.1 i cant video all the other things seem to work properly but i cant video!! Plz help
Gary
02/04/2017 at 3:30 pm
My iPhone 7s is now charging painfully slow so i have to put it into energy saving mode and flight mode while charging, i can no longer use it while charging because the battery goes nowhere. This is a joke from Apple! I never had the 30% bug problem in fact before this update i had no problem at all. They need to get it sorted ASAP
shaz
02/08/2017 at 5:15 am
My Iphone 6 WiFi is almost non-existent after latest update. It is 3 bars within 1m of my router, however 2-3m away it drops down to 1 bar & any further away drops completely! All my other devices work perfectly with the router. I am tech savvy & safe to say non of the fixes out lined anywhere on the i-net work. I am left with an Iphone with no access to I-net. Unless i live my entire life in a 1m radius :( Apple why can you not roll back to previous update??? When is 10.3? Need it now…
Chetan
02/09/2017 at 6:53 am
I have the same problem and was hoping that 10.3 would resolve it, but even after 2 beta version of 10.3, the problem persists… the worst part, if you go to 10.3 beta, you cannot downgrade to 10.2 as the filesystem has changed… really frustrating…
a
03/02/2017 at 12:53 pm
same here
Jim
02/08/2017 at 8:12 pm
I have gone through literally hundreds of apple product updates since 1987 on 25 Mac and IOS devices. I can still safely say we are still not approaching the 450 documented bugs with one Microsoft Word update of the early 90s. What worries me though is how close we are getting. We laugh no more at their plight.
And no i wont upgrade til they fix it.
Mahmood Alavi
02/08/2017 at 11:07 pm
After updating to iOS 10.2.1, at times if someone calls me, I don’t receive the call & caller gets a ‘busy’ tone. I do get a missed call notification.
How to fix it?
tanvi
02/18/2017 at 3:12 am
im having the same problems. please assist
Saroj Maharana
02/09/2017 at 4:42 am
Hey guys. I’m currently using a 5s and after the iOS 10.2.1 update my phone is not playing any videos except for the ones in Facebook. Not the downloaded ones or on YouTube and also not through any website in the browser. Is there any ways to fix this.
Dennis Flaherty
02/10/2017 at 9:00 am
After downloading ios 10.2.1 my 5s now goes directly to email when i get a call. Do not disturb is turned off. If i toggle airplane it will work properly for obe call, then reverts back to problem. It also will not let me call out unless I toggle airplane mode. I have reset the network and restored the phone, problem still exists. Help!!
nmlokesh
02/13/2017 at 5:33 pm
Free up space with iCleaner Pro for iOS 10 without Jailbreak, its works also iOS 10.1.1 and iOS 10.2 versions also on iPhone, iPad.
https://iostract.com/icleaner-pro-ios-10-no-jailbreak/
sabrina
02/15/2017 at 2:07 am
i lost my files on iBook after upgrade iOS 10,… help!
Lisa Sorensen
02/18/2017 at 8:51 pm
I have 10.2.1 on my I Pad Pro. All of the sudden when I open the Facebook app it immediately shuts down unless I leave a finger on the screen of the Facebook app. Is there a fix?
Vishal
02/19/2017 at 9:35 pm
assestive Touch problem… does anyone having it ? suddenly it stops at one place and after few seconds/minutes it becomes normal
Zamokwakhe
02/20/2017 at 7:04 pm
I think it’s my last time I’m using apple’s product. I can’t work like this. I can’t update my apps. Some apps are crashing, it is overheating and drains the battery. I’m stucked This latest update is like a virus on it’s own.
Jason
02/21/2017 at 9:53 am
The major problem I have come across is keyboard lag, massive massive keyboard lag. Sometimes nearing 10 seconds. I traded in my 6 thinking it was a hardware problem after tons of trouble shooting, I went to the 7 plus and slowly the lag problem has begun to creep up again. Phone is 4 days old! Doing a restart seems to help fix it but wipes a lot of your personal settings. As you start adding them back the problem starts again
jelle
02/22/2017 at 6:13 am
I Have updated to IOS 10.2.1 and my iphone 5s has keeps randomly rebooting. I would like it if you wouldtake a look at this bug.
Edward
02/24/2017 at 1:32 am
I updated my 6 plus ,and my phone is crashing like a PC from 1990
All kinds of problems,what a shame a company of this magnitude
release a crappy update like this,tomorrow I’m pulling out my back up flip phone to use,until the genius at apple get their act toghther.
norm wheeler
02/25/2017 at 3:17 pm
I can’t seem to get autoplay on my desktop or laptop to download pictures from my iphone 6 since I installed 10.2.1….anybody else?
John Proctor
02/28/2017 at 11:13 am
I’m over the ‘New APPLE’! I’ve switch to Windows 10 and a Surface Pro 4. That is not without its problems but Jony Ives and his mad addition to ‘thinner is better’ has destroyed Apple for me. And my next phone will not be an iPhone either! I’m over Apple breaking things with each new release. My bluetooth headset Jabra Style has worked well in the past but 10.2.1 broke it. Cannot connect after initial pairing and can’t access SIRI! Somewhere in Apple’s labyrinth there are some regression testers that need to be fired! Apple has become a joke! This is from someone who has Macs since the Mac Plus days and has done IT support professionally on Macs!
Richard Steven Patterson
03/06/2017 at 7:36 pm
Finally had to give up on iPhone after a month of crashing, bricking, perpetual rebooting, video problems, locking ups, etc., after installing iOS 10.2.1, on a new, 3 month old replacement iPhone 5 International (the original 5 International went into a battery thermal runaway and blew out the screen shortly after T-Mobile forced me into OTA updating to iOS 10).
No help from Apple and got tired of reinstalling every week. No company should expect their business or other customers to wait, with a problematic or non-reliable phone, until a new OS release, e.g., iOS 10.3, while at the same time blocking them from going back to a prior stable version, e.g., iOS 9. Simply makes no sense to stick with Apple.
Switched to a fantastic Google Phone, and even got a discount for dumping T-Mobile and going with the new Google Project Fi International cell phone network, with its fantastic cheap domestic and International voice, data and WiFi coverage. Must admit, I really should be thanking Apple for screwing up my iPhone, otherwise I would have probably stuck with T-Mobile for another 12 years and never discovered all the benefits of Googles Project Fi network.
Still really ticked off that because of iOS 10.2.1, I can’t even use my iPhone as an alarm clock anymore.
Mervin Molina
05/08/2017 at 5:24 am
Having problem with iOS 10.3.1 my phone 5s always turn off It takes an hour to open again, since I updated this IOS , in 1 day it takes 10 times turn off automatically. It takes long to on again!
Paul B.
05/09/2017 at 4:46 pm
I can’t even get through the welcome process. First it was stuck on enter pass code. (I don’t want one)…..but after I did enter one, the screen went black. (power was still on)……..plugged it in, and held the power button for about 2 minutes. Got the start apple, and made it through the pass code. It let me pick my network, but hangs at the enter apple ID…….can’t bypass it or get results if I enter it…….stuck at ‘updating I cloud settings’. With the dreaded spinning wheel ! This is frustrating, and has really soured me on apple products.
Lisa Walsh
07/08/2017 at 1:51 pm
I am frustrated beyond belief. My iPhone 5s keeps crashing, randomly closing apps and the lag time with talk to text is infuriating. It shuts down at the 30% and I have to wait forever for it to boot up again. At the moment my phone is completely black and won’t boot up. Have used an iPad and IPhone for a long time. Not anymore.
Apple, you suck!!!
Gerald Scartiong
09/11/2017 at 3:52 am
And what about safety? I’ve heard, that new iOs verions are vulnerable to the spyware and tracking apps. Any solutions to protect our privacy?