The iPhone 16 Pro Max is currently the most advanced iPhone ever released. The iOS 18.3 is also the last major iPhone operating software released if we overlook iOS 18.3.1, which was launched to fix a few security issues and bugs. Any tech enthusiast can assume the level of user experience the combination of these two can provide. Yet, many users reported their iPhone 16 Pro Max freezing after iOS 18.3 update. Now why is this even happening? And what are its possible solutions? Let’s try to figure them out in this guide, step by step.
What is the cause?
Several causes can be attributed to the issue ofthe iPhone 16 Pro Max freezing after iOS 18.3 update. However, according to reports on various platforms, we have listed the most prevalent ones.
Bugs in software – The issue can be caused by certain unresolved software bugs in iOS 18.3. After the launch of iOS 18, similar incidences were reported.
Insufficient storage – Insufficient storage space can lead to a disruption in the update process and can result in sudden freezing of the device while or after the update.
Incompatible apps – In certain cases, a few apps may not be fully compatible with iOS 18.3, leading to the freezing of the device.
Malware – A certain malware can cause your iPhone 16 Pro Max to freeze abruptly.
Hardware issue – In rare cases, there is a possibility that certain units of the iPhone 16 Pro Max have hardware defects contributing to freezing and lagging issues. However, this has not been conclusively confirmed.
Source: iDrop News
Now, the root of the cause can be anywhere. Though many users are voicing their grievances regarding this issue, as it is not a widespread problem yet, Apple has not issued any statement addressing it.
Read – What’s New in the Apple iOS 18.2.1 Update?
How to fix it?
As per experts, there are a few ways by which this issue can be tackled. Though it seems as a temporary problem, that will be fixed with the next iOS update, unless of course, it is a hardware-related issue, users can try these methods to fix the issue.
Force restart – A simple Force Restart of your iPhone might solve the issue. To do it,
- Quickly press and release the volume up button
- Quickly press and release the volume down button
- Press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears on the screen, then release
Once your device restarts, check if the issue is still there.
Keep your iPhone charged – Make sure your iPhone 16 Pro Max’s battery level is at least more than 20% all the time and check if the issue appears. If the battery is not charged enough, the CPU doesn’t get the power it requires to run the iOS, leading to freezes.
Clear iPhone storage – A shortage of storage can lead to your iPhone 16 Pro Max freezing after iOS 18.3 update. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage. The bar at the top will indicate how much space is available. If there’s a shortage, delete photos, videos, documents or space-consuming apps to free up storage space. After doing so, check if the issue persists.
Delete suspicious apps – If you notice that your iPhone is freezing after the installation of a certain app, it might be due to a malware infection. Uninstall that app and look for other such suspicious apps.
Turn off Background App Refresh – If there are too many apps enabled with Background App Refresh, it will not only consume a lot of data but can also cause your device to malfunction and freeze. Here’s how to turn it off,
- Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh
- If you want to disable it altogether, tap on Off toggle beside the Background App Refresh option
- If you want to disable selected apps, use the individual toggle beside each app name
Source: GSMArena
Some will suggest to factory resetting your iPhone. However, there are reports that iPhones restored with iCloud backup to solve the issue were not helpful. As this problem is expected to be resolved with the launch of iOS 18.4, the public beta version of which is already out, it will not make much sense to lose all your data.
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