I’m having problems with the Apple Arcade app. It doesn’t work. I open it and it’s just a black screen with a grey wheel constantly cycling.
Have I deleted the app and reinstalled it? Yes!
Have I checked my settings? I did try, but I get a black screen when I try to check them in Settings.
iPhone 16 Plus, iOS 26
Hi there! A black screen with a spinning wheel in Apple Arcade (and even in Settings) points to a deeper system issue, likely related to iOS 26 or a corrupted system cache. Here are some targeted steps to try:
1. Force restart your iPhone: For iPhone 16 Plus, quickly press and release Volume Up, then Volume Down, then press and hold the Side button until you see the Apple logo. This clears temporary system states without losing data.
2. Check your internet connection: Apple Arcade requires a stable internet connection to load. Try switching between Wi-Fi and cellular data to see if one works better.
3. Sign out and back into your Apple ID for Apple Arcade: Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Subscriptions > Apple Arcade, then go to Settings > App Store and sign out of your Apple ID, wait a moment, and sign back in.
4. Reset network settings: Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings. This can fix connection issues that cause endless loading spinners.
5. Free up storage: If your iPhone storage is nearly full, apps can fail to load. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage and ensure you have at least a few GB free.
6. If Settings itself is showing a black screen, this may be an iOS 26 bug. Check if an iOS update is available via iTunes/Finder on your Mac/PC, or try restoring iOS while keeping your data ("Update" option in recovery mode).
Given that even Settings is affected, I'd suggest starting with the force restart — that's the most likely fix. Let us know how it goes!
Apple Arcade app displays black screen with spinning wheel
