A lot of issues with iOS 26.1

• Do you have a VPN installed on your device?

That certainly can interfere with the verification process your carrier is attempting to do.

• Have you tried a Force Restart. Make sure in the last step that holding the side button until the Apple logo appears could take up to 15 seconds and you have to ignore anything else on the screen during that time until you see the Apple logo. If you do not see it, try again as it may take a couple of attempts to get the speed and sequence correct.

Force restart iPhone - Apple Support

• And finally, go to Settings > General > About, and tap on Carrier until it changes to IMS Status. If you don't see RCS there, then Verizon will need to provision your SIM again.

Yes it is your carrier that provides the RCS service to your device. Same is true for an Android phone, where users on the Android support site have reported the same thing.

• https://support.google.com/messages/thread/256800436?hl=en&sjid=10503871314636221682-NC
• https://support.google.com/messages/thread/292854214?hl=en

26.2.1 solved the issues. Thanks all!

rodger219 wrote:

I am totally disgusted with this iOS 26.1 definitely my battery power is drastically being used up.

iOS 26.1 is now old news with iOS 26.2 being released today. It may take some time for you to see it propagate to your device, but for most it is already available. Before all we had to rely on was from the beta testers noting the improvements in battery life, but now you can check yourself. Note that any app can still drain your battery and those will be identified in the Battery Settings for you to choose what you want to do with them.

Hawgzilla wrote:

Should I install iOS26.2 to see if any of the bug fixes apply to my concerns/issues?

Yes, I would install 26.2. I have seen previous reports where the Compacts tab was greyed out and could not be selected, but there never was a specific reason where I had found that was the case for some and not others. Those previous posts from users have not been updated with additional information so it is difficult to conclude if they found a solution or even if 26.2 resolved the problem. I have seen the Text Size mentioned previously, which is why I suggested it here, and also switching between top and bottom and a Force Restart, but honestly it is still not very clear.

Same situation here! Still use an iPhone SE (2nd Gen) because it has worked just fine for my needs. Updated to iOS 26.1 and multiple problems surfaced. If I answered a phone call, my microphone didn’t work. If I made a phone call, the calls never connected… wouldn’t show it ringing and other person didn’t get ring. Removed and reinserted SIM, but issues remained. Then did a full reset. That has gotten the phone to work. But now Messages is a mess. I can text other iMessage users, but can’t text anyone using Android. Have tried to adjust the Messages settings (MSM on, then MSM off, retry as text message on) and also did a reset of network setting… still can’t text android. Only thing I still see to be a possibility is that when

i go into RCS settings, it’s turned on but still shows “activating”. It’s been activating for a long time… but doesn’t change. Anyone know how to address that? Really don’t want the hassle of calling Verizon and getting useless support for hours, so something besides “call your carrier” would be preferred, although at this point I’ll do whatever needed. Makes me want to switch from iPhone to Android

lauriefromwyandotte wrote:

Everything you are saying is in settings is embedded in something else and cannot be separated out. No VPN. popping out sim didn’t do anything. Have hard started many, many times. It was a horrible update. Just admit it and return it to useable.

https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/884610a9-534d-439f-94c9-ebc0245e83a1

https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/ffca3ad4-0547-407f-87cf-6b39cd44cb7c

Did you realize the post you responded to was a reply to CompetentFogey wholeheartedly has now followed up with "26.2.1 solved the issues. Thanks all!"?

Have no idea what your are referring to with "Everything you are saying is in settings is embedded in something else and cannot be separated out", the point was to check under IMS Status and if you don't have RCS, then the carrier will have to re-provision the SIM. That is obviously not the case for you since you can clearly see RCS in yours.

You also did not provide any details on the issue you are experiencing, so don't know if it is a RCS messaging issue or something else. Feet free to create a new post where your specific issue can be addressed, otherwise when others say their issues have been resolved with 26.2.1, most will just move on and quit following the thread. It is not likely you will get the attention you deserve here.

Me too!

I have a lot of Apps that either won’t open and just hang or behave weirdly under iOS 26.1.

Amongst these are the Nationwide banking app which just hangs, Idmobile app where the entry of Id and password causes it to loop and finally tumblr which just hangs.

Apple need to fix this version of iOS 26.1 as soon as possible. Everything seemed to be relatively ok under just iOS 26. But this is terrible.

vaughn34 wrote:

His screenshot also shows he’s using wifi, probably in the office or house I’m guessing, so wouldn’t the phone prioritise data etc via wifi and only commit to a cell tower when a call is required?

Your cell antenna is not shut off when connected to Wifi, it just means the data is being sent over WiFi. The power required to maintain the cell signal is still being used. You can turn on Airplane mode to shut off the cellular antenna and maintain the Wifi connection and that is a good troubleshooting step. It will affect your SMS messages and voice calls though.

If Face ID isn't working for you, there is most likely something wrong with your TrueDepth camera. First, look at these two articles for help. If that doesn't fix the issue, then make an appointment at the Genius Bar to have your camera issue diagnosed.

If an alert says Face ID has an issue on your iPhone or iPad Pro - Apple Support

If Face ID isn't working on your iPhone or iPad Pro - Apple Support (AZ)

Make an appointment at the Genius Bar to have it diagnosed.

Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

The recent call history was not showing, after long long time it was showing also we have to close the app and open again and again. Phone is fully hanging some apps are automatically closing. This type of issues not expected from apple.

It's not clear if Photos is "turned on" on the phone. Do you mean is "sync this phone" turned on? It isn't.

Your answer seems to imply that I'm now required to sync my photos to iCloud if I want to download them to my iMac. Is that true? That was not the case in previous iOS versions. I don't have "sync this phone" on because I don't want to pay for extra storage.

tbells27 wrote:

BS. The app store wont even open, it will not connect to the internet with very few exceptions.

You may not believe it, but the person you responded to did provide factual information. We know why your App Store won't connect and you have found the solution. Apple is not telling you to install the VPN and the third party developer has the opportunity to test their software on the beta versions of the OS far earlier than when it is released to you.

I really really hate IOS 26.1

it totally messed up my interface.

buttons and fields where I don’t want them to go or even less accessible like hidden in menus.

very very disappointing.

Windows **** is coming…..

I play a set of 3 games called Mind Arcade to improve my brain. It will now let me play first set but when it goes onto second set it just freezes. I can’t go any further. I can’t go onto third set until second set is completed. I’ve tried restarting my phone

I was responding to someone who posted about a game called Mind Arcade, I have no idea where you came up with Safari or what it has to do with my post.

I couldn't care less about what you think of my response