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Phone app freezes/gets stuck since iOS 12

Good day,

I am using an iPhone X with 256 GB storage, updated to iOS 12.0 (16A366). Since the update my Phone app freezes on the contacts screen. It's quite particular, because when the Phone app freezes, then the photo in "My Contact Card" disappears, the screen becomes unresponsive, I can force quite the Phone app and when I open the app again it launches straight into the same screen and is unresponsive. During all this time, all other apps on the iPhone work correctly. The issue is strictly limited to the Phone app, which is kind'a crucial to the iPhone.

The only solution is restarting the iPhone which brings relief for a couple of days, before the same symptoms return.

I would love to hear anybody who has the same issue and, better yet, has found a solution.

Best regards

Apple II was my first ...

Posted on Oct 6, 2018 7:43 AM

Top-ranking reply

i_rina

Community Specialist

Posted on Oct 8, 2018 8:08 AM

Hi there, Valentinissimo!
Thanks for reaching out to the Apple Support Communities! It sounds like you have issues with your Phone app freezing and I am happy to help! You’ve tried excellent steps so far and, at this point, it would be a good idea to be sure there is not a software issue as the root cause of this for you.

Check out this article for the steps for How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
Use this article for the steps to Use iTunes on your Mac or PC to restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod to factory settings.
Once that is done, set the device up as new and test to see if the issue is still going on. Then, follow this article to Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch from a backup

Let me know the results and take care!

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175 replies

Oct 18, 2018 6:57 PM in response to Miscellaneous Items

Solution!!! Great work. This fixed my issue with a 6plus. Took me a few tries but key was to keep holding the buttons UNTIL the message appeared that there is a problem, not just when it appeared to reboot. Scary to do, but worked completely. E sure to back up per the instructions in case of some failure. Great work! Hope Apple can find a software fix for all those thaybdont read these updates!

mharlou

Level 1

4 points

Oct 18, 2018 7:41 PM in response to Valentinissimo

Mine too. Done all troubleshooting but the problem still persist. Contacted apple support but they blame it on the battery health. *** battery health has nothing to do with it. I am really frustrated. I almost throw my phone. Apple should release an update within the day.

Oct 18, 2018 8:16 PM in response to Halfpint in Cumming

Hi, Halfpint.

Thanks for the tip about holding the buttons until the iTunes message appeared. I did that, got the message, downloaded and applied the update.

Unfortunately, it changed nothing about the phone app on my XS Max. Maybe after another update.

Oct 19, 2018 3:55 AM in response to Valentinissimo

I posted on this early on and my phone still does it. Been watching the chain of messages and it boils down to Apple has to fix. 12 is awful on the core feature... the phone. Siri is the only work around that is consistent and that’s frustrating. I basically have the latest model... the i.... because the phone doesn’t work.

Oct 19, 2018 5:02 AM in response to Valentinissimo

I have the same issue with my iPhone SE. It's a serious inconvenience and what if this happens during an emergency!? I feel like I'm being cheated from having a full functioning iPhone. They never put these bugs on the list of iOS update features . Android users definitely aren't experiencing this mess. No more updates for me.

NYC Jim

Level 1

11 points

Oct 19, 2018 5:13 AM in response to darin_ingo

So I tried and tried to ge the "full monte" reload to work. I pressed and held my buttons with a death grip, but never got the prompt to install from iTunes. The funny thing is, ever since my failed attempts to reload via iTunes, the phone app has worked without freezing up. Hmmm... another case of devine mantainence, or just coincidence? I also live in an area where my cell network is very weak, so it could be something about the phone going on and off the cell network. Hard to tell, but it surely did not happen before I upgraded to iOS 12.

Oct 19, 2018 9:16 AM in response to BPitt888

Resetting my network settings seems to be working for now since I reset it about 3 hours ago. Hopefully this is a permanent solution. So nice not having to reboot my phone every few hours a day. Thanks so much!

👍-1F3FE;

Oct 21, 2018 2:12 PM in response to darin_ingo

So far the phone app has remained functional (unfrozen) since I reset the network settings for a day now. This is the longest it hasn't froze since I did the iOS 12.0.1 update. So, no I haven't had to as of yet.

Oct 23, 2018 8:35 PM in response to dcheng

I had the same issue on my iPhone XSmax right out of the box.. I’m not happy with it.

I called apple a few times and they told me to reset.. reboot.. delete and reinstall all software..

I’ve been through all.. AT THIS TIME I MAKE MY PJONE CALLS THROUGH SIRI..(tip ask Siri for contacts). This will bring your contact info and u can make phone call temporary till it freezes again.. or if u had text that person earlier u can also get their contact info through sms..

We’re all on the same boat till apple comes up with a solution..

Oct 24, 2018 12:50 AM in response to dcheng

Same here. Worse, i chose not to update, and it launched into automatic update-- now it wont run several apps: instagram, most location setting tabs in general (Settings>General...), compass, voice memo (huge issue since i'm a writer)....

hundreds of similar complaints. no fix from apple?

may be time to get andriod.

please help asap. loved the phone until i was forced to update (i chose Not Now, and update took over in middle of important business call, leaving me unreachable for extended time)

SES31

Level 1

14 points

Oct 25, 2018 10:25 AM in response to Valentinissimo

This has been plaguing my 7 since iOS 10. I was hoping it was just a software issue but they recently updated my iOS to 12 and it happened again. It’s random. Often doing something else then switching back to phone app when it happens. Power off/power on “fixes” it but the unpredictable nature of the issue is problematic. So based on the wide range of comments, I am starting to rule out device and iOS.

Oct 26, 2018 4:46 PM in response to SES31

I have an iphone SE. It has continued to freeze in the phone app multiple times ever since the 12.0.1, requiring a power off/on to get it to unfreeze since then. I'm not a "power user", but if I'm getting this right, Apple grossly impaired our ability to use our phones as phones through an AUTOMATIC update, and they have taken no action whatsoever to AUTOMATICALLY fix the bug for the last month. Apple needs to fix this universally, and fast. No excuses.

Oct 26, 2018 5:25 PM in response to quinnmobile

Hi - ever since I did the full iOS 12 reinstall by tethering to iTunes plus the network settings reset this has only happened to me once in the past 2 weeks. Check out my earlier post with the exact instructions on what I did.

Oct 26, 2018 6:13 PM in response to darin_ingo

Hello Darrin,

When you did the network settings reset, did you lose any of your information? I apologize for the silliness of my question but I am terrified of losing my text messages and I heard that some resets may do that. Thank you in advance for your response.

Oct 29, 2018 5:22 PM in response to Valentinissimo

Same problem here with an iPhone XS, 12.0.1. The only fix is to restart the phone and it works for a while. Eventualy, though, it will happen again. And again. I've been powering down and restarting every few days since I got the phone.

Phone app freezes/gets stuck since iOS 12