If you noticed your iPhone lagging or running sluggishly after updating to iOS 26, fret not! You’re not the only one who has encountered the unexpected sluggishness after updating to iOS 26 beta.
As to why this issue has cropped up, it’s due to many factors, such as the post-update indexing, background tasks, app compatibility issues, or bugs within the update itself. In this extensive guide, I’m going to discuss the 10 most effective solutions to fix the slow-moving iPhone and speed up the iOS 26 beta for a smooth-sailing performance. Read on…
1. Restart Your iPhone
It’s important to mention right at the beginning that restarting your device clears temporary system glitches and resets background processes that may be causing lag. So, it would be a mistake to forget this handy solution.
- To get going, press and hold the power button and swipe to power off.
- After that, turn it back on after a few seconds.
2. Allow Background Indexing to Complete
Do you know that right after an iOS update, Spotlight and Photos may re-index your data, which temporarily slows down your iPhone. Hence, I’d recommend you allow the background indexing to complete without causing any roadblock.
- To get it done, let your iPhone remain idle and connected to power for a few hours so it can complete the indexing smoothly.
3. Free Up Storage Space
Be warned that a clogged storage can drastically reduce performance and lead to app crashes or system lag on your iOS device.
- Go to the Settings app on your iPhone > General > iPhone Storage and delete unused apps, media files, or old downloads.
4. Update All Apps
Note that outdated apps may not be fully compatible with iOS 26 and can cause performance issues.
- Open the App Store on your iPhone > tap your profile icon, and update all pending apps to ensure maximum compatibility.
5. Disable Background App Refresh
Bear in mind that the non-stop background activity drains resources and slows down your iPhone.
- On your iPhone, head over to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and turn it off completely or for specific apps.
6. Reduce Motion and Transparency Effects
Though the visual effects powered by the all-new liquid glass design look nice, they can strain older or less powerful iPhones. For times when reducing the unwanted strain matters more than the eye-catching effects, it’s better to take control of the visual settings.
- Navigate to Settings > Accessibility > Motion, and turn on Reduce Motion.
- Then go to Display & Text Size and enable Reduce Transparency.
7. Clear Safari Cache and Website Data
Accumulated website data can slow down both Safari and your phone’s overall responsiveness.
- To wipe out the Safari clutter on your iPhone, dive into the Settings app > Safari > Clear History and Website Data to free up memory and enhance performance.
8. Check Battery Health and Disable Low Power Mode
Poor battery health may force the iPhone to throttle performance to preserve battery life.
- On your iPhone, open Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging. If health is below 80%, consider replacing the battery.
- Also, disable Low Power Mode for smoother operation.
9. Reset All Settings
Corrupt settings after a major update can lead to performance hiccups, including sluggishness.
- Fire up the Settings app > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset All Settings. This won’t delete your data but will revert system settings to the default.
10. Install the Latest iOS Patch
Apple often releases quick follow-up patches to fix bugs and performance issues found in major updates.
- Head to Settings > General > Software Update and install any available updates for potential performance improvements.
Wrapping up..!
And that’s about it! If your iPhone feels unusually slow after the iOS 26 update, don’t panic—it’s often a temporary issue or one that can be resolved with simple tweaks. From restarting your device to disabling resource-intensive features, the fixes above are safe, effective, and easy to apply.
Be patient with your iPhone for the first day or two after the update, as background tasks might still be running. With these optimizations in place, your device should regain its smooth, fast performance in no time.
