2026: InDepth Guide on iPhones (and how to fix)

Index

Who this blog post is for

This blog is for anyone who is new or unfamiliar with Apple, their iPhone, and needs basic help getting started. I cover the basics, how-to advice, my own tips, and steps to fix basic issues.

Basic Information

iPhones are smartphones made by Apple. They have all the features you expect from a modern smartphone. These include phone calls, text messages, a web browser, and a wide range of apps.

Where it all started

Apple’s website

If you want to visit Apple’s website, you can get familiar with everything the company has to offer there.

https://www.apple.com/uk/

How to turn iPhone on or off

This is slightly different depending on the model of iPhone, but this should give you some insight. If not, you can find this out easily by going into Google and searching ‘How to turn off iPhone [model number]’

I would recommend turning your iPhone off and on regularly. This will improve the performance of your device. It resets any background activity which slows your device down.

Setup Information

To setup an iPhone, you will need to have an iCloud account. This is unless it’s a corporate device managed by a platform like InTune. You will usually find a setup wizard. It asks which language and region you are in. It also asks which Wi-Fi network you want to use. The wizard checks if you want to allow location and a few other features you can choose to enable.

If you select a feature like ‘Location’, for example, you can turn it off later. You can turn this feature off in the settings.

https://support.apple.com/set-up-and-activate-new-iphone

Installing apps

To install apps on an iPhone, or an iPad, you use the ‘App Store’. If the apps are managed via InTune, then you will go to ‘Company Portal’ or ‘Comp Portal’.

There you will find a mix of apps and games which are both free and paid. Some apps are free to download. Nevertheless, they incur charges in other ways like subscriptions once you set up an account.

If you are conscious of privacy when installing apps, first look up the app on the App Store. Then, check the permissions to see if they match your expectations.

Domestic devices – https://support.apple.com/en-us/102590

Software Versions

Apple has started naming their software versions to correspond with the year. This change means it’s jumped from iOS 18 to iOS 26. For example, if you’re reading this in late 2026, the next update will be iOS 27 and so on.

https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/apple-confirms-switch-to-ios-26-naming-convention-heres-why-that-matters/

Software Updates

You update your software by going to ‘Settings > General > About’. Even if you have automatic updates enabled, you still could be missing the very latest update.

It’s recommended that you keep your iPhone up to date. This ensures it has the latest features. It also provides security patches. Additionally, it supports some of the latest apps.

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/iphone/iph3e504502/ios

Liquid Glass

Charger Cables

iPhones have stuck using the Lightning cable for quite some time while most Android phones have adopted USB-C cables. It’s only recent iPhones such as iPhone 15 and later which have USB-C charging options.

I would always recommend using official chargers. They are the most reliable. They are the most compatible. They are also less likely to cause any charging related issues later down the line.

https://www.apple.com/uk/iphone/compare/?modelList=iphone-14,iphone-15,iphone-16

Customise the Home Screen

Press and hold on the apps or widgets on the home screen. They will start to wobble. You can then move them around. You will also see the icons to delete them. If delete them from the home screen, you’ll need to confirm deletion for each one.

If there are any apps you don’t need or use, I’d recommend deleting them. This will save on storage, battery life, and mobile data. It will generally make your phone less busy and focused on what you do use.

You can remove any apps from your home screen. If you don’t need them often, search for them as and when you do.

Browsing the Web

The default app on iPhones for browsing the web is Safari. It has most of the features you would expect of a mobile web browser. These features include a search bar, saving favorites, and more.

If you have a preference for another browser, you can install a new one from the App Store. You can also download it from the Company Portal as mentioned earlier.

Using Mobile Data

Mobile Data lets you use the internet on your phone away from Wi-Fi areas at home or work. If you can only use the internet while on Wi-Fi but nowhere else, you need to set this up.

You will need to have a SIM card from mobile network provider. These include companies like O2, EE, Three, Vodafone. There are more companies like Tesco Mobile, Lebara, Smarty, these all piggyback use the same mobile networks.

Once you have the SIM enabled, you need to make sure mobile data is enabled in the settings. To check this, turn off Wi-Fi and see if you can browse the web. If you can’t, either you have run out of data or you will need to check your APN settings. APN settings are the internet settings usually provided by text as soon as you insert the SIM. If you don’t know these, you can look them up or contact your network provider.

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/102483

Storage on an iPhone

iPhones do not come with expandable storage like many Android devices. Instead you will either need to remove the files you don’t need or back them up with iCloud. If you run out of storage, you will need to upgrade your plan. You can also back up and extend your storage with other providers too including OneDrive, Dropbox and Google Drive.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/108366

The latest iPhones on the market

The latest iPhones are the iPhone 17/Pro/Air, with the Air being the stand out model as it’s so incredibly thin!

Here is a video from one of my favorite Youtubers MKBHD. I’ve been watching for well over a decade now.

How do I fix a frozen iPhone?

Try force restarting your iPhone.

For iPhone 8 and later: Quickly press and release the Volume Up button, then quickly press and release the Volume Down button. Finally, press and hold the Side button until you see the Apple logo.
• For iPhone 7 / 7 Plus: Press and hold the Volume Down button and the Power/Side button at the same time until the Apple logo appears.
• For iPhone 6s, SE (1st gen), and earlier: Press and hold the Home button and the Power/Top button at the same time until the Apple logo shows.

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/iphone/iph8903c3ee6/ios

What should I do if my iPhone won’t charge?

Look for fraying, bent connectors, or exposed wires on your Lightning/USB-C cable.
Try using another official Apple cable and adapter to rule out damage.
Plug your charger into a different wall outlet.
If you’re charging via a computer, make sure it’s turned on and not in sleep mode.
Avoid using low-quality third-party adapters that may not provide enough power.

How can I reset my iPhone to factory settings?

Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings. Make sure to back up your data first.

Why is my iPhone running slowly?

There are a few common reasons why iPhones start to feel sluggish over time, and most of them are fixable without too much hassle. Here’s a structured breakdown of what might be happening and what you can do:

⚡ Common Causes of a Slow iPhone

Too many background processes – Apps running in the background can eat up memory and CPU.
Low storage space – iPhones slow down significantly when storage is nearly full.
Outdated software – Running an older iOS version can cause performance issues.
Browser/app cache buildup – Safari and other apps store temporary files that can bog things down.
Battery health issues – If your battery is degraded, iOS may throttle performance to prevent unexpected shutdowns.
Too many apps or widgets – A cluttered home screen and unused apps can drain resources.
Background refresh & location services – Constant syncing and GPS tracking can slow things down.

🛠️ Quick Fixes

Restart your iPhone – A simple reboot clears temporary memory and background processes.
Free up storage – Delete unused apps, old photos, or offload to iCloud/OneDrive.
Clear Safari cache – Go to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data.
Update iOS & apps – Check Settings > General > Software Update and update apps via the App Store.
Check battery health – Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging. If it’s below ~80%, performance may be throttled.
Disable background refresh – Settings > General > Background App Refresh → turn off for apps you don’t need.
Reduce visual effects – Settings > Accessibility > Motion → enable Reduce Motion.
Reset settings (last resort) – Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset All Settings (doesn’t erase data, just preferences).

🚨 When to Seek Help

If your iPhone is still slow after trying these steps, it could be a hardware issue (aging battery, failing storage).
Apple offers battery replacements and diagnostics, which can restore performance if throttling is the culprit.

How do I retrieve deleted photos?

Open the Photos app, go to the Albums tab, and look for the Recently Deleted album. You can recover photos from there within 30 days.

What to do if an app keeps crashing?

Corrupted app data – Temporary files or cached data can get corrupted and cause instability.

Outdated app version – Developers often patch bugs in updates; running an old version can trigger crashes.

iOS compatibility issues – Some apps may not play nicely with your current iOS version.

Low memory or storage – If your iPhone is nearly full, apps may fail to load properly.

Background conflicts – Other apps or services running in the background can interfere.

Buggy update – Occasionally, the latest app update itself introduces new problems.

🛠️ Step‑by‑Step Fixes

How can I free up storage space on my iPhone?

Delete unused apps, photos, and messages. You can also use iCloud to back up files and remove them from your iPhone.

Why can’t I connect to Wi-Fi?

Make sure Wi-Fi is turned on in settings. Restart your router and your iPhone. If it still doesn’t connect, forget the network and reconnect.

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