The most common iPhone 16 Pro Max issues and how to fix them

Some iPhone 16 Pro Max users are experiencing issues. Most problems have software fixes.

The iPhone 16 Pro Max comes with the latest software in iOS 18, along with the expected upgrades to the processor and camera capabilities. Unfortunately, like any new smartphone, the iPhone 16 Pro Max has its fair share of issues. While Apple has done a good job of squashing some of the more prevalent bugs, users still encounter issues. Here’s a look at some common iPhone 16 Pro Max issues and how to fix them.

iPhone 16 Pro Max issues: Camera

We’ve seen a few reports that the camera app on iPhone 16 Pro Max is not working properly. Several people have claimed that in iOS 18, the camera app can glitch or become very stuttery, especially when recording video. One Redditor reported that the camera app opens with controls, but the "image’ is a black screen. They claimed that closing the app made the iPhone "super sluggish" and other apps failed to load. Another said the camera app was stuttering when recording video and wouldn’t even record.

There have also been accounts where the iPhone 16 Pro Max Camera app crashes when opening it from the lock screen via the Camera Control, or just after taking a photo.

Potential solutions:

For all issues, it was suggested that resetting the phone or rebooting would help. The affected owners reported that a reboot helped, but the issue eventually crops up again.

Finally, the other issue we’ve seen reported is how finicky the slide controls on the new camera control button are. People have said that the sliding can accidentally go off, inducing unwanted zooms in or out. However, this one may be user error, and we found in our testing that the new button takes some trial and error to understand how sensitive it can be.

iPhone 16 Pro Max issues: Charging

One of the biggest issues with the iPhone 16 Pro Max has been charging. The issues range from slow charging or random reboots while charging to the phone not charging at all. Users also report problems with the optimized charging not working properly.

Potential solutions:

The first thing to try if your iPhone 16 Pro Max isn’t charging is a forced restart if a simple reboot doesn’t fix the issue. Keep in mind that you have to go through the following sequence rather quickly, and you might have to start over if the timing isn’t correct.

Press and quickly release the volume up button, and immediately press and quickly release the volume down button. Then press and hold the side button and only release it after the Apple logo appears on the screen.

The wrong combination of the charging adapter and cable seems to cause the issue for most users. However, it’s a difficult solution to pin down because different combinations seem to work for different people. Some say that the official 20W Apple charger is the best option, along with the USB-C to USB-C cable that comes with the phone. Others say that the first-party cable doesn’t work, while a few people say that the phone only charges with third-party iPhone 16 Pro Max chargers when using a USB-A to USB-C cable. You shouldn’t have to buy multiple chargers and cables to find what works, so there’s hopefully a software fix soon. The best bet is still Apple’s first-party accessories.
One specific charging gadget to avoid for now, though, is a power bank with a USB-C port. Most portable chargers with USB-C ports also use that port to charge the power bank itself. It appears as though the iPhone’s reverse charging feature interferes with this and makes it impossible to charge the phone. Users say that using the power bank’s USB-A port works as expected.
Issues where the phone seems to stop charging after gaining just a few percentage points of battery life have to do with optimized charging. Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health and Charging > Charging Optimization and select None. Setting it to Optimized Charging or 80 percent Limit will stop the phone from charging fully, but is better for battery health long-term.

Most users report facing no problems with wireless charging. If that’s an option available to you, it’s a decent temporary workaround until a permanent fix is available.

iPhone 16 Pro Max issues: Display

As per a 9to5Mac report, many iPhone 16 Pro users are experiencing touchscreen issues when trying to interact with their devices. The problem is presumably due to the thinner bezels, which cause some users’ palms to rest on the display’s edge. This would trigger the palm rejection algorithm and block further input across the screen.

Potential solutions:

It appears that the touchscreen issues on iPhone 16 Pro models stem from the palm rejection algorithm rather than the hardware itself. So, Apple could potentially optimize and make the algorithm less sensitive to these accidental touches through a future iOS 18 update.

Until then, users experiencing the problem will have to adjust how they hold their iPhones to avoid accidentally touching the screen’s edges. Alternatively, they could apply a protective iPhone case, as the material tends to isolate the display and human skin.

If you are having other touchscreen issues on your iPhone 16 Pro Max, press the volume up button, then the volume down button, and finally hold down the side button until the Apple logo appears on screen.

iPhone 16 Pro Max issues: Wi-Fi

More and more iPhone 16 Pro Max users are complaining about Wi-Fi issues. The issues range from slow or fluctuating Wi-Fi speeds to the phone showing a “no network connection” error.

Potential solutions:

With slow or fluctuating Wi-Fi speeds, users say that a simple restart or toggling the Wi-Fi off and on temporarily fixes the problem. They say that while they need to do so a couple of times a day, the Wi-Fi speeds return to expected speeds.
Some users say that iCloud’s Private Relay feature seems to drastically slow down Wi-Fi speeds. Private Relay works like a VPN and routes your Internet traffic through two separate relays to encrypt traffic and hide your IP address. If you have an iCloud Plus subscription, the setting is enabled by default. Go to Settings > iCloud > iCloud > Private Relay and toggle it off. You can also do so by going to Settings > Wi-Fi > Information (“i” icon next to the Wi-Fi name) and toggling off Limit IP address tracking.

You can also try other fixes like restarting your device and router and clearing the cache.
The final issue is limited to a few users and isn’t a problem as such. A few iPhone 16 Pro Max owners say that the Wi-Fi turns back on automatically overnight when they turn it off. This happens when toggling off Wi-Fi using the phone’s Control Center. In this case, it’s set to automatically enable the next day. To keep the Wi-Fi off for longer, you’ll have to go to Settings > Wi-Fi and toggle it off there.

iPhone 16 Pro Max issues: CarPlay

Plenty of iPhone 16 Pro Max users face problems with Apple CarPlay not working as expected. It either doesn’t connect at all or is laggy, slow, and freezes occasionally.

Potential solutions:

The cable seems to be the culprit here. Not all USB cables are created equal, and you need one that works for data transfers and not just charging. Apple’s first-party cables are the best option, and there are plenty of third-party cables to consider. If you need a USB-A to USB-C cable, the Belkin cable is a good choice.
Users also say that wireless adapters, to use CarPlay wirelessly even if the car doesn’t support it, don’t work properly. Your best bet is to switch to a wired connection until a software update is available to fix the problem.
If your car has the option, go into the settings and erase the preset connection to your previous phone. You can also go to Settings > General > About > Name and change the name to something different from your previous iPhone.

iPhone 16 Pro Max issues: Notifications

Some users say that notification alerts tend to remain even after reading the message or email or checking the call log for missed calls and voicemails.

Potential solutions:

Go to Settings > Notifications > (app name) toggle off notifications. Restart the phone, and then go back and enable notifications again. The persistent notifications should disappear, and users say that the problem seems to go away after this simple workaround.

iPhone 16 Pro Max issues: Face ID

Some iPhone 16 Pro Max users say that they can’t find the Face ID and Passcode options in the Settings menu.

Potential solutions:

This isn’t so much a bug as a settings error. Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content and Privacy Restrictions > Passcode. If this is enabled and set to “Don’t allow,” you won’t be able to access Face ID on your phone. Set this to “Allow” or remove any restrictions to get back the security feature.

iPhone 16 Pro Max issues: Chassis

The iPhone 16 Pro Max come with a titanium frame. Users report that the frame is a huge fingerprint magnet, and some are also seeing some discoloration after a few weeks of use.

Potential solutions:

Apple says that the oil from your skin might temporarily change the color of the titanium frame. They suggest cleaning the phone with a soft, slightly damp, and lint-free cloth to restore the normal color. With it being a fingerprint magnet, you will have to regularly clean the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max to keep it in pristine condition.

The iPhone 16 Pro Max is great but not perfect

There’s always hype surrounding Apple’s new iPhone releases, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max is no exception. It seems to be a commercial success, but that doesn’t mean it’s perfect. As you can see, there have been several issues with the devices already, and it’s only been out for a few weeks.

The good news is that most of the iPhone 16 Pro Max problems are pretty easy fixes that you can remedy yourself.