iPhone 17 Pro Max won’t vibrate, even with all vibration settings enabled

Had the same problem on my wife’s 17 PM. Tried everything. No case so that wasn’t the issue. Took it to Apple tonight. They ran basic diagnostics and replaced her phone on the spot. After her backup finished restoring the problem remained on the brand new device. Making it obviously a software issue. They reset it again to try setting up as a new device.

Meanwhile I did some internet digging and stumbled across this post where someone had an issue with haptics after an iOS update

iPhone Not Vibrating After Update to ios … - Apple Community

The Apple rep returned after a bit and said in stock form haptics worked and suggested we may need to start with a clean version and forego the backup/restore.

We tried loading her latest backup one more time and tried this setting and this fixed the issue. It was this setting that was ultimately identified as the problem and solution:

Accessibility > Touch > Vibration

this setting kills vibration across the device. If Apple was more intelligent it might pop up a warning when you’re trying to mess around with other haptic settings that vibration is disabled so they won’t work. Like dim or disable those settings with a reference to this overall setting.

My guess is that when she loaded her backup to the iPhone during initial setup she was still on iOS18. Something in the process of loading the old backup and iOS 26 must have broke or unticked that setting.

it was a long and painful process that I would have hoped the Apple associates to figure out. Glad we found a solution. Disappointed I had to find it after spending so much time working with Apple to resolve it.

Hopefully this helps others that face the same issue.

I had the same problem and it was driving me nuts. Was it my phone? Was it the new iOS? After a bunch of fiddling around, I realized that it was actually the magnet in my phone case. I talked to a few other people and my assumption is that with the new lightweight aluminum casing that the magnet is strong enough to affect the vibration motor. Once I took the phone out of the case it worked just fine. I don’t know if this is your issue, but just thought I’d throw it out there in case others are experiencing the same thing.

Wish I would have read this yesterday!

was on the phone with AppleCare for 4 hours yesterday with no resolution, and went to the Apple Store, and they swapped out my phone immediately. Phone worked fine in the store (not in the case) I thought I was golden. Got home started playing around and noticed that the vibration wasn’t working again…. I thought I was going to be back at the Apple Store tomorrow. Then I came here, popped the phone out of the case, and the phone works perfectly.

total bummer because I love the Shieldon Folio Cases. I sent them an email giving them a heads up. Total bummer for them, sounds like they are going to have to redesign their cases, and eat all of their built inventory.

seems like a major design flaw on apples end.

total bummer all the way around.

This is my communication to Apple about a problem that occurs with the new

iPhone 17 Pro Max…

NO VIBRATION ISSUE

THERE IS A SOFTWARE DESIGN PROBLEM WITH THE iPhone 17 PRO MAX THAT RESULTS IN THE VIBRATION MODE BEING EITHER DISABLED OR NOT AVAILABLE. 

NOTE: 

     SETTINGS/HEPATICS AND SOUNDS

Internet references to a Toggle to enable Vibrations is PHYSICALLY NOT PRESENT. 

THERE IS NO SUCH TOGGLE 

My replacement iPhone 17 Pro Max has the identical problem. 

The problem appears to be a software issue with the recent iOS 26 and its update(s).

DISCUSSION:

Actions Taken—-

THE iPhone 17 ProMax originally purchased was replaced with a new (not used) iPhone 17 Pro max less than 3 weeks after it was purchased. The replacement IPhone 17 Pro Max has the exact problem as the first. iPhone 17 Pro Max

The original phone had a problem of NO VIBRATION UNDER ANY CONDITION  

  • All Hepatic Settings were correct 

  • Sounds were enabled in Accessibility

  • Phone was Power Reset multiple times 

  • Phone was set up “in and out of case”

  • Phone was restored from Cloud Backup

as well as from old phone sitting 

alongside new phone.  

  • Apple Tech Support was involved

  • Apple Service Center, at Best Buy was

also involved 

The consensus of all parties was that the phone was defective, and I paid $31 for a replacement phone expedite service, and had a $2,000 hold placed on my credit card.  The hold should be released upon receipt of the original iPhone 17 Pro Max

It is very significant that the referenced Toggle in the Hepatics and Sounds is MISSING, and is not available on the screen, and combined with multiple Internet based instruction guidelines on how to configure the Vibration Mode that specifically call for setting that particular Toggle supports the theory the the issue is Software Related. 

I, and other iPhone 17 Pro Max users await Apple’s response. 

Everyone should understand that the iPhone 17 Pro Max is a new design and is a very complex device.  While unfortunate, the reality is NEW TECHNOLOGY usually has “bugs” and operational issues should be anticipated. 

It is my desire to provide Apple and other customers usable information to help identify the Vibration Problem and develop a subsequent fix.

To all:  Hang in there… 

                      Friday’s coming !

So glad I found this because it has been driving me nuts, I could not get vibration active at all! I must have spent 2 hours searching and checking, all seemed to be right. Then I found this thread, took it out of the case and hey presto, vibration woks again. I always have my phone on silent so I rely on vibration.

This is replacing a 13 Pro max, so I tried to squeeze it into the old Shieldon Wallet case with the magnetic closure, and vibration works! Software update 26.1 did not fix it, and putting my old 13 Pro Max into the new case vibration again did not work. I got my partner to send me a message on Messenger (because obviously I cannot receive calls on it now), vibration for message alerts works without the case, but not when it is in the case.

Now curiously, vibration on the 17 Pro Max works in the new case when it is closed, but not when it is open. I cannot remember if this was the situation before I updated firmware, but it certainly works now when it is closed. I guess this is fine because I don't really need it to vibrate when it is open, it means I am looking at it anyway.

I also discovered my wireless charging stand does not work with the case, but it does when placed sideways, so I can live with that no problem.

I cannot work out if the issue is the case, or with the new unibody design of the phone.

Has anyone tried the Sheldon wallet case with the removable section? I imagine this will just compound the problem because the magnet in the back must be stronger?

I'm so glad to have found this topic as I have new Shieldon magnetic case for my new iPhone 17 Pro Max. Since I'm deaf and really depend on my vibration alerts, it was driving me crazy not getting any vibration out of this iPhone in this Shieldon case. When I took it out of the case and did some tests, vibration motor started working again. I have contacted Shieldon for any possible fix or solution.

I had a Shieldon case for my old iPhone 13 Pro with no problems.

Update

I emailed Sheldon yesterday outlining the issues. They replied that it is indeed a defective case and a new updated version will be available soon.

I only noticed last night that haptics also do not work when the case is open, but they do when closed, demonstrated by plugging it in to charge and a haptic vibrate playing. It makes sense if vibration doesn't work. I just do not understand why it doesn't work when open but does when closed. Still, we know it is an issue with the case and not the phone.

I just started having this issue after updating to iOS 26.1 on my iPhone 17 Pro. I have all haptics enabled in settings, but my “Vibration” settings are nowhere to be found.

I’ve been in contact with a senior advisor at Apple. He admitted that the vibration settings should be visible in settings, and that this has been an issue with the new iOS 26 update. They ran a diagnostic test and everything is working fine. I have a Genius appointment on Monday as well as a follow up call with the senior advisor.

Ultimately, it seems like a glitch in the new iOS 26 software that somehow disables and removes the vibration setting. Apple is aware of the issue for many users, but no updates as of right now.

I realized that when I use anything MagSafe the haptic just stops working entirely system wide, when I remove my MagSafe wallet (both third party and Apple works the same), and the haptic is back… like what? Seems like an IOS26 issue, I’m using iPhone air.

Updated on Nov 20; Shieldon company send me a new revised case and it did the trick. The vibration motor worked with their revised cases.

I bought both of the Shieldon Cases. They both have the same issue.

i think any case that has any type of magnetic closure is going to have this issue.

i did get an email response for Shieldon.

Are you referring to the vibration function not working when the phone is in a case? If so, yes, we are aware of the issue and are working on a fix. If the phone case you received also has this issue, we will send you a free replacement when the improved version arrives. Please provide your order number for Registration.

We expect the update version phone case get available about 30 days.