Apple finally gave in to market pressure with the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, devices that marked a milestone for the Cupertino firm by being the first to have a larger touch screen than we were accustomed to. And it was a success: these phones were a real success when they debuted in 2014. Although today there are several models and new generations with superior technologies, the iPhone 6 continues to have fans around the world. If you are one of them, but you don’t know how to solve the most frequent iPhone 6 problems, in this guide you will find all the answers.
Problem: iPhone turns off by itself or battery is very short
In 2016, Apple started a free battery replacement program for its iPhone 6S units, a program that would unexpectedly close. People had complained that their iPhones would simply shut down if they dropped below 30 percent of battery power.
Apple did not announce any recalls for the iPhone 6, but a growing number of people complained that their smartphones would suddenly turn off when their batteries drop below 40 percent. Others complained about the poor battery life.
Possible solutions:
- If you are experiencing poor battery life, we recommend that you follow the battery tips on your iPhone to make it last longer.
- If you are one of the unfortunate owners of an iPhone 6 that experienced “blackouts,” there is no replacement program for the iPhone 6 like there was for the iPhone 6S. We recommend that you visit your Apple retail store or contact Apple directly by phone. You may have a hardware problem.
- Battery performance will deteriorate over time, so a battery replacement may be worth considering. Apple offers a replacement service for $ 49.
Problem: iPhone too slow
There were reports of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus phones becoming very slow, especially after receiving an update. If you notice that there are response delays when you touch or slide the screen, or applications that take a few seconds to open, there are a few things you can check.
Possible solutions:
- Start by restarting your iPhone. Press and hold the Sleep / Wake and Home buttons simultaneously, until you see the Apple logo.
- If that doesn’t help, try performing a factory reset and restoring your device from a backup.
Problem: GPS does not work
Many people have encountered problems with the GPS function of the iPhone 6. They may be using Apple Maps, Google Maps, or any other application that uses GPS, but they find that its update is inaccurate or very slow. That being said, it can still work fine when connected to Wi-Fi.
Possible solutions:
- Check in Settings> Privacy> Location Services , and make sure Location Services is turned on at the top. Then check the rest of the settings, making sure you haven’t disabled anything important.
- If you have your iPhone 6 in a case, take it out and retest the GPS.
- You may need to reset network settings via Settings > General> Reset> Reset network settings . Note, however, that you will have to re-enter some passwords and reconfigure your network connections after this.
- There is the (thankless) possibility that your hardware will fail, in which case replacing the antenna or the cable that connects it to the logic board will solve the problem. This has worked for some people, but not for everyone.
Problem: iPhone screen freezes
Some iPhone 6 and 6 Plus users found that their device screen stops responding when using apps. The problem was reported on the Apple forums many times and the same bug was recorded in iOS 9.3.1. The problem occurs multiple times in a single day.
Possible solutions:
- Use the lock button to turn the screen off and on again.
- Press and hold the Sleep / Wake and Home buttons until the Apple logo appears to reset your iPhone.
- Factory reset, restoring your device as a new phone, or restoring it from a backup.
Other possibilities:
- If none of the above solutions fixes the problem, consider contacting Apple or going to an Apple Store. This may be a hardware problem, not a software problem.
Problem: iMessages and text messages cannot be sent or received
Some users had difficulties where one contact or multiple contacts cannot receive their iMessages or text messages when sent from an iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus, although they can still receive text messages from other contacts. Some people can’t send text messages, and for others , iMessages seem to not be processed correctly. This problem has cropped up on various versions of iOS, including iOS 10.
Possible solutions:
- Turn iMessage off and on again, or turn off iMessage to see if you can send and receive text messages.
- Make sure the contact is not on your block list. To do this, go to Settings> Phone> Call and ID blocking , and confirm that the user is not on any block list.
- If you have an old iPhone or other iOS device that you sometimes use for iMessages, try disconnecting iMessages and signing out of your Apple account. You can log out by going to Settings> Messages> Send and receive . Tap your Apple ID, then choose Sign out.
- Delete your current conversation with the problematic contact and start a new one.
- Delete and re-enter said contact (s).
- Press and hold the Sleep / Wake and Home buttons simultaneously to restart your device.
- Head to Settings> General> Reset> Reset Network Settings . You will have to re-enter some passwords, as well as re-establish network connections.
- You could try to factory reset your iPhone.
- Contact Apple Support, or take your device to an Apple Store to have it checked.
Problem: can’t update to iOS 11
Every time a new version of iOS is released, some users have problems with the update, as discussed in this thread on the Apple forums.
Possible solutions:
- If you are doing an OTA ( Over The Air ) update over Wi-Fi, you will need around 1.5GB of free storage on your device. If you have problems with the OTA update, see Apple’s help page for more information.
- Make sure Wi-Fi is on, and go to Settings> General> Software Update on your iPhone.
- If you can’t update directly on your iPhone, try connecting it to your computer or laptop. Make sure you are using the latest version of iTunes .
- If it doesn’t work, press and hold the Sleep / Wake and Home buttons together on your iPhone 6 while still connected to your computer. Wait until you see the recovery screen – you should see the Apple logo and then the iTunes icon with the cable. Choose the Update option on your computer when it appears.
- If you get an error code, see Apple’s support page on what the different error codes mean and what to do.
- Contact Apple Support, or take your device to an Apple Store.
Problems with the screen, listening to calls and more
Problem: Flashing red screen
Several iPhone 6 and 6 Plus owners reported an issue where their iPhone screen glows (or blinks) red before displaying the Apple logo. Sometimes the problem goes away on its own and comes back later, and sometimes it stays and the screen refuses to turn off.
Possible solution:
- Simultaneously press the Sleep / Wake and Home buttons together for 10 seconds, or until you see the Apple logo. In some cases, the iPhone will restart normally … although the problem may reappear.
Other solutions:
- There is a possibility that it is a software problem, perhaps related to a corrupted backup. You can try the restore process to fix it. Press and hold the Sleep / Wake button to turn off your iPhone 6. Make sure your computer is running the latest version of iTunes and connect your iPhone with a USB cable. Now, simultaneously hold the Sleep / Wake and Home buttons for a few seconds, and when the device turns on, release the Sleep / Wake button while continuing to press the Home button. It should appear on the Connect to Tuna screen. Then, you can release the Home button. Then follow the restore procedure through iTunes.
- It is also possible that it is a hardware failure of some kind, and in that case, you will have to contact Apple, or visit an Apple Store and request a replacement. It may be a good idea to record the red screen with another device, in case your iPhone 6 works normally when you take it for an evaluation.
Problem: Enlarged images or icons
It is quite common to hear reports about enlarged images or icons on the iPhone screen, making it difficult for people to view or navigate properly.
Possible solution:
- Hold three fingers together and double tap the screen and you will see that things return to normal.
- To make sure it doesn’t happen again, go to Settings> General> Accessibility and turn off zoom.
Problem: Can’t hear during calls
Some people have encountered a rather annoying problem with not being able to hear the other caller. They can make and receive calls normally, but they cannot hear the person on the line, or they sound muffled even when the volume is turned up.
Potential solutions :
- Try using the Volume Up button and make sure that the volume appears on the screen when you press it and not the headphones.
- Make sure nothing is covering the speaker. A screen protector, case, or even dust can have a big impact. Use a brush or blow gently on the speaker to make sure it is clear of obstructions.
- Make sure you don’t have anything connected to the headphone port. It may be worth plugging in the headphones and pulling them back out just to test if that helps.
- Try disabling Bluetooth through Settings to make sure you’re not connected to a headset or car system. If you regularly use a Bluetooth device, try connecting to it and then disconnecting it to see if there is a difference.
- You can try going into Settings> General> Accessibility and making sure the phone’s Noise Cancellation is turned off; some people have found this to help.
- Try turning on the speaker during a call and see if the problem persists.
- After you’ve tried the above solutions, press and hold the Sleep / Wake and Home buttons together for 10 seconds until you see the Apple logo to restart iPhone 6.
- If you’re still having the problem after trying all these possible solutions, it’s time to talk to Apple and / or your carrier.
Problem: iPhone won’t charge
Some owners of iPhones 6 complained because they cannot charge their device. They plug it in normally and nothing happens.
Potential solutions :
- Make sure you are using the cable and wall charger that came with your iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus. If the charger or cable you’re trying to use isn’t certified by Apple, that could be your problem right there.
- Try using a different wall socket, a different cord, and a different charger.
- Take a look at your cable connector and the port on your iPhone. Make sure they are clean and free of dust. You can blow on the port to clean it or use a soft bristle brush.
- There are reports that if you keep the Lightning cable in a humid environment, the connector can corrode. If it’s wet, you should never plug it in, as it could damage the iPhone port as well. If it looks corroded or there is something on the connectors that cannot be removed with a microfiber cloth, then it is worth taking the cable to an Apple store to see if they might just have a replacement.
- Try restarting the device while it is plugged into the charger by holding down the Sleep / Power and Home buttons for about 10 seconds until the Apple logo appears.
- There is a possibility that your battery is in its last stages. Take the iPhone to an Apple Store and ask to have it checked out.
Problem: SIM card
Some people have come across a glitch or bug where the iPhone 6 keeps complaining about the SIM card. It might say “Invalid SIM” or “No SIM card installed.”
Potential solutions :
- Try turning airplane mode on and off.
- Restart the iPhone by turning it off and on again.
- If you recently inserted the SIM card and started getting the error, there is a possibility that it is damaged or dirty. Try taking it out, having a look at it, and cleaning the gold contacts and then removing the residue.
- If you have dropped your iPhone 6 or it is damaged in any way, then there is a possibility that the SIM tray is loose. Some people have had success by placing a small, thin piece of packing tape on the back of the SIM card and then reinserting it.
- Make sure your software is fully up to date in Settings> General> About.
- Try the SIM card in another device if you have a compatible device or try a different SIM card in your iPhone 6.
- If the problem persists, contact your carrier or Apple customer service.
Problems with bent iPhones, cracked screens, and more
Problem: iPhone 6 Plus has been bent (curved)
The bent iPhone 6 Plus problem sparked a storm of online coverage, although Apple claimed it wasn’t a massive hardship, rather few users contacted the company to complain that their iPhone 6 Plus was buckling.
The slimmer design and larger body obviously make it much more likely to bend than other models, but if you take good care of it (and don’t try to bend it, obviously) nothing will likely happen to it. And if it happens to you, well:
- If the iPhone is slightly bent and you have no other issues, a good case can help with the stiffness. Take a look at our picks for the best iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus cases.
- If your iPhone 6 is slightly bent and has no other problems, you can prevent it from getting worse by being more careful with how you carry it. If you always keep it in the back pocket of your jeans, that could be the reason for its curvature.
Problem: Touch ID does not work
We have seen many threads on the Apple forums about iPhone 6 owners who cannot use Touch ID. Sometimes it stops working after a software update and occasionally trying to delete and re-add fingerprints can lead to a situation where Touch ID settings fail over and over again.
Possible solutions:
- Press and hold the Sleep / Wake and Home buttons to trigger a force restart (the Apple logo will appear).
- Clean the area around the iPhone Home button with a soft microfiber cloth.
- Go to Settings> Touch ID & Password , remove your fingerprints, and tap Disable Password . Turn your iPhone off and on again, then go back to Settings> Touch ID and password and set it up again.
- Create a backup using iTunes and restore your device using that backup. If the problem persists, try a factory reset, but don’t restore the backup. Set it up and test to see if Touch ID is working properly.
- If you’re still having trouble, you may want to contact Apple.
Problem: Bluetooth doesn’t work
Many iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus owners have had trouble connecting with Bluetooth devices, particularly in their cars. Some people can’t get the car system to work, while others have trouble making any connections. It doesn’t seem to be limited to any specific automaker. We’ve seen reports on a wide range of car models, including Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Honda, Acura, BMW, Jeep, and more. There are reports that the connection works well with older iPhone models.
Possible solutions:
- Remove all pairings from your car or other Bluetooth device. Then go to Settings> General> Reset> Reset network settings on your iPhone. Press and hold the Sleep / Wake and Home buttons until you see the Apple logo on your iPhone. Make sure your car or device is discoverable, and try setting up the connection from scratch.
- Some people reported success after a factory reset. See here how to do it.