spinning wheel icon next to wi-fi indicating network activity

Yes, the “Siri fix” was working for me on 14.2. Every once in a while I have to use the Siri fix a couple of times, but it normally works on the first try.

Coincidentally, even during the very early reports of this issue from years ago, the Siri fix was reported as working.

Just wanted to reply to this thread to keep it active so it gets more notice. I also have an iPhone SE (2020) with the spinning network activity icon. Only been an issue since updating to iOS 14. My iPad on iOS 14 however does not have this issue. I have done every troubleshooting step in the book. I have talked to senior Apple tech support who even did an analysis on my phone remotely so data could be sent to the engineers. The reply back after analysis was a standard form response about how "many things on the phone use network data and is a normal process of the phone." Really, guys? As a last resort I recently wiped my phone complely and set up as a new phone. It did not change a thing. Here's hoping Apple finally takes this issue seriously and provides a fix in a future update. (Very weird that so many iPhone SE 2020 users are reporting the issue.)

The trouble is, Podgirlfromtheblacklagoon, that posting «on this thread» contributes nothing to «get[ting] it fixed.»

In fact, the more people post «on this thread», without providing direct Feedback to Apple (through their provided Feedback mechanisms), the more strong the evidence that such people aren’t truly interested in «get[ting] it fixed.»

In other words, posting «on this thread» is actually counterproductive.

Halliday, you replied to stein2908 with, "I'm very glad that restoring your iPad to Factory conditions has helped you; at least, so far. This is the sort of test that needs to be performed on the iPhones—before restoring their settings and Apps!". I took that statement to mean you assumed stein2908 restored their device to factory conditions and tested things before restoring their settings and apps, but thanks for clarifying.

Your comments are helpful though in that they remind us there are actually three types of a reset/restore which could be done for testing, or hopefully resolving, problems:

1. A reset to factory conditions, where the device is left in that state, or as close as possible, for whatever testing we're going to do. 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.
2. A reset with a restore from a backup, where the device is reset, but your apps and settings (mostly) are restored. This is what I tried a couple of weeks ago, and which did not work. I believe backups can be created in iCloud or iTunes, but I've only ever done the latter.
3. A reset to factory conditions, and then manually restoring whatever apps and settings you can.

Let me know if I'm missing other options here.

What I am asking of stein2908 is, which of those options did he/she do that has appeared to resolve the issue on their iPad?

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.

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.

UPDATE: so after spending hours talking to Apple support the issue has finally been sent to engineers. If you would like to help escalate the issue please take a few minutes to contact support and let them know that Dictation/the little microphone on your keyboard triggers the wheel!

Thanks. I actually had an engineer call me on another matter but then I transitioned to this subject and although he was very very helpful and intelligent he basically told me not to worry about it.

I’m also sure everybody is aware of the Apple feedback page where you can submit a bug report if that’s what we want to call this.

https://www.apple.com/feedback/

By definition it is a software issue. The fact that it happens on a particular hardware doesn't make it a hardware issue. Its a software spinner. Something is leaving the activity indicator active that the spinner is picking up on. They should be able to patch it with a software patch.

I guess so! By the way, I did ask my electrical engineer son about this. He read the thread and specifically said he agrees with you. He said:

I agree with Machine_Ruse - it’s not guaranteed that the hardware is the same between all phones - the software abstracts away the hardware differences - so the spinning is likely a bug in the software related to not being able to handle something occurring in the underlying hardware

Like I was pointing out earlier, it’s not a new problem. I’d have to go back and find the old comments and threads in order to recall which earlier models it was noticed on though.

The more I think about it, the more I’m convinced it’s a hardware problem. Not because of any technical aspect of the issue, it’s just the most logical conclusion. This issue has existed for at least a few years, and Apple has been aware of it since it started, and the problem is easily recreated for technicians. So if it was a software issue, then a fix would’ve been pushed out already. On the other hand, a hardware issue is a much more expensive problem for Apple.

Note to moderators: The above statements are not speculation. It’s called deductive reasoning.

Not sure if it’s just me or not, but the issue has been especially bad the past two days. It takes multiple times of activating Siri to get the spinning indicator to go away. I’m talking between five and ten attempts before the “fix” works. It normally works on the first try, with the occasional second or third attempt required, but it’s been especially stubborn the past two days.

Update: I couldn’t deal with the constant spinning wheel and the battery drain on my SE anymore so I went into my local Apple Store to ask for a replacement phone since I have AppleCare on it. I realize that the replacement phone may also have the same problem, but I’m taking my chances. If it does, I’ll just have to wait for the fix, if one ever comes. I tested a display SE in the store and it did not do it. And I know two people with an SE and it does not do it. Unfortunately, the “genius” I had was a kid who didn’t even know what the network activity indicator was. At one point he said something like “the phone is searching constantly”. I had to explain to him that it’s not searching, it’s transmitting and/or receiving data. He just looked at me with a vacant stare. Anyway, after running some tests, which of course came back showing no problems, as I told him they would, he pulled the “we will do a replacement as a one time courtesy“, insinuating that of course there’s actually nothing wrong which of course we all know is not true. It’s unfortunate, because having someone like that dealing with this, I don’t feel confident that the information of the problem is going to be given to the right people or given accurately. Even the notes that he put about the symptoms on the replacement order weren’t accurate. They didn’t have my exact model SE in stock so it should take two or three days to come in. I’m hoping that the replacement does not have the problem. I am literally getting 2 to 3 hours of battery on my phone because of the constant network activity, even though my battery health max capacity percentage is 96%.