spinning wheel icon next to wi-fi indicating network activity

Yes. «For this particular problem of the perpetual network activity indicator, the device can't be completely "virgin" (as someone else put it), because we will need to enter network settings to connect to the internet. I am not sure what other settings we are forced to set up in order for the device to run. The fewer the better.» (Emphasis added)

Great! I am glad the update helped. -- Mine still gets stuck after I use voice to text (which I use a lot) so I just need to remember to keep checking for the sticking data wheel. I hope your luck holds out!

Machine_Ruse, sorry for delay in reply. I guess I was lucky in the context of this discussion - my restore (from backup) worked. So it was not a full factory reset - which I was tempted to do, but because I'd invested a lot (way too much) time in setting up a desktop theme with new icons / shortcuts, I thought I'd try the short route first.

I still got a lot of the usual prompts related to initial device setup - this time I decided not to opt out of some of the system options that I normally opt out of due to privacy concerns - for example I accepted 'hey Siri' voice option (and turned it off later).

So far so good - I have had the spinning icon two or three times over the past week, but clicking the home button and the Siri screen dot at the same time (as I had read about elsewhere) immediately dismissed the spinning network icon and it doesn't come back. Last time I had to do the home button thing was probably four days ago. So thankfully I have not had to go the full restore route! Hope this helps a few people.

I've been on 14.3 for a few weeks and the update did not fix the problem for me.

Also, for clarity, I've been able to get the icon to stop spinning by simply holding down the home button until the Siri globe/oracle/bubble comes up, and then waiting while that globe shrinks back down a little bit and eventually goes away. I've never spoken to Siri, I just let the globe come up and go away. It usually works on the first attempt, but sometimes has taken two or three. It's possible those times were due to background noise.

Until they fix this across the board, I do not believe that returning the device will change anything. The workaround that has worked for me across devices (having traded mine in to no avail) is to hold the home button down until Siri is engaged and the small visual circle that appears changes shape and size a couple of times. Sometimes I have to repeat the task or tap the visual "Siri circle" several times until it stops spinning. That has consistently worked for me.

I am still concerned it is somehow a hardware issue, especially since we haven’t seen anyone with the specific issue (perpetually spinning network activity indicator caused by using Apple’s speech-to-text) report a long-term resolution. Of course, it’s possible it has resolved for someone and they’ve just not reported back.

My purchase was made through Costco, so I think have 90 days to do a return or exchange through them at no cost.

The phone has a one year manufacturer’s warranty from Apple, and tech support already offered me an exchange, but it cost about $30 and you don’t get a “new” phone in return. You’ll receive a “Replacement Device”, and Apple keeps it very murky on whether that means it’s a refurbished phone or a new phone that was manufactured specifically for exchanges. “Replacement Devices” have a specialized serial number which identifies it as such.

Just got off the phone with Apple again they said we are not aware of any problems, I told them they were a bunch of liars I told them to come here to the forums. I spoke to a senior advisor who advised me that they would send me a refurbished phone not a new one. I will come on this forum and bash Apple products to her three times a day because they are absolutely garbage.

Well, I just updated to ios 14.4 and the problem persists same as before. As before a "hey Siri" and "nevermind" stops the spinning. I'm on a 2020 SE. Does anyone know if this problem affects the iphone 12 models? If I can find out for sure that they're not affected I'm dumping this SE. I've had enough of this phone.

I HAVE done this, multiple times, and done a complete reset, AND upgraded from a 7 to the SE AND IT HAS ACTUALLY GOTTEN WORSE WITH THE SE. I cannot use text to talk now (I upgraded to the SE in the beginning of December 2020) without this happening. The only way to stop it is to turn my phone off then back on. Using Siri is a temporary fix.

Same here. 14.4 and the wheel started spinning the first time I dictated a text.

I want to be rid of this SE 2020 but stay with apple. I'm growing to really dislike this phone. Does anyone here know if the iphone 12 models have this flaw?

Thanks

No unsurpassed technical expertise on my part. Just good powers of deduction, and my Google-Fu is strong, lol.

I'm really disappointed in this issue. I think the phone represents a good value otherwise, and the size is perfect for my needs. Since I have three of these iPhone SE phones in my house, and mine is the only one exhibiting this problem, then I'll probably try an exchange with Costco before doing an outright return. If that doesn't work out, then back to Android.

Just another user who has the same issue on an iPad Pro 11 (2018). Have spent hours w Apple Support to no avail. Have tried all the fixes described in this thread and none work. I think it does affect battery life. Does not occur on other iOS devices I have. Hoping there is a fix at some point, as I like using dictation!