iPhone iOS 16 occasionally freezes on app open. Have to reboot (side keys stop working too!)

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Level 1

17 points

iPhone iOS 16 occasionally freezes on app open. Have to reboot (side keys stop working too!)

Does anyone else get this?

Installed fine: iOS16 on iPhone XS

This has happened 2x in the last few weeks:

Opening an app (such as Mail or Messages) I get a blank white screen. So, I fully close the app and retry with the same result.

I try to reboot the iPhone using the simultaneous press of power / up volume. Does nothing. Same with the Up then Down volume and power!

The only way to turn off I use the Settings / General / "Shut Down"

After reboot, all works as normal (including the side button method to shut down)

I suspect there is something wrong in iOS16 which builds up over a week or so and causes this app open freeze. In programmer terms this would be caused by something like a "memory leakage".

I am putting this out in hopes that others might have this problem too so Apple will address this.

I would like to stress that this only started after the iOS 16 iPhone update and did not happen before. I have not added any new apps or changes to my iPhone, so it is definitely related to the upgrade as to timing of the issue.

iPhone XS Max, iOS 16

Posted on Sep 21, 2022 11:19 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

ProustGiulio

Level 10

209,820 points

Sep 21, 2022 11:34 AM in response to C_iphone

Reading the troubleshooting steps you already performed (to no avail), I suspect something could have gone wrong during the latest update procedure.

I would try to install a fresh copy of iOS/iPadOS. To do this, create a full backup of your iPhone/iPad (1), then restore it to factory settings (you need a computer to perform this step) and, in the end, set it up as new (2).

When done, restore data from your previously made backup (3).

Follow the instructions provided in these support articles:

(1) How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch – Apple Support

(2) Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod to factory settings – Apple Support

(3) Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch from a backup

If the issue still persists, contact Apple Support directly using this link:--> Get Support or, even better, make an appointment (*) and have your device inspected at an Apple Store or AASP (Apple Authorized Service Provider) among this list:--> Apple – Location Selector. After checking it out, they'll give you all the available options.

Regards

Giulio

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Answer 2

LD150

Level 10

100,149 points

Sep 21, 2022 11:36 AM in response to C_iphone

Nothing that I have detected over months of beta testing

First try a Forced restart

Force restart iPhone – Apple Support (UK)

If no better

Backup, restore to factory, and test, then restore from backup:-

(If the phone needs attention you will have to do this anyway)

If you can import your media to Photos or iTunes in a computer and copy important documents to a cloud server it will give you some resilience in case the restore from backup fails, or you need to ditch the backup and start as new.

(1) How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

(2) Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod to factory settings - Apple Support

(3) Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch from a backup - Apple Support

If the problem remains then do step (2) again but set up as new without restoring any backup.

If it fixes it then it is probably a rogue app.

Otherwise arrange a repair

iPhone Service & Repair - Apple Support

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Answer 3

C_iphone Author

Level 1

17 points

Sep 25, 2022 10:40 AM in response to ProustGiulio

It's now 4 days later and while opening the Apple Photos App (with no other App running) I got a blank black screen.

I'm doing a full factory reset and restore from backup.

Hopefully this works.

It is still strange to me that:

1) This started after iOS16 was installed (which I assume has checks to make sure it was installed correctly)

2) It happens when an Apple App is opened (with no other apps running)

3) Finally, how can iOS16 allow a "rogue app" to affect the OS or tamper with memory space outside it's sandbox?

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Answer 4

C_iphone Author

Level 1

17 points

Sep 21, 2022 2:48 PM in response to ProustGiulio

I will try a full restore from factory if this happens again.

One question: I thought that during the OS install there were CRC checks etc. to make sure the software was downloaded correctly and also checked after install that it was complete. Since it's only been a few weeks since I upgraded to iOS16, how could it be that the install had a problem? Isn't that prevented by the checks that happen during the install?

Thanks

Sorry - another thought - is there some sort of log that gets created when the phone has a problem?

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Answer 5

C_iphone Author

Level 1

17 points

Sep 21, 2022 2:49 PM in response to ProustGiulio

I will try a full restore from factory if this happens again.

One question: I thought that during the OS install there were CRC checks etc. to make sure the software was downloaded correctly and also checked after install that it was complete. Since it's only been a few weeks since I upgraded to iOS16, how could it be that the install had a problem? Isn't that prevented by the checks that happen during the install?

Thanks

Sorry - another thought - is there some sort of log that gets created when the phone has a problem?

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iPhone iOS 16 occasionally freezes on app open. Have to reboot (side keys stop working too!)

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