20 Ways to Fix Bing App Not Working on iPhone/iPad in iOS 18

Slowly but steadily, Bing has vastly improved to be a solid alternative to Google. At a time when Google has gone down south and doesn’t seem to live up to the expectations due to a ton of spamming and the inability to show the desired results, Microsoft’s search engine has emerged as a viable alternative. 

Impressed by the ability to deliver a more personalized search experience, I have been using the Bing app on my iPhone for quite some time. Credit where credit is due, it has lived up to my expectations with aplomb. The app is truly optimized and provides a wide range of customization but just like any other software it does run into frustrating issues once in a while. Having been on the receiving end of its tantrums a few times, I thought it would be apt to share the best tips and tricks to fix the Bing app not working on iPhone and iPad. Keep reading to…

Best Tips & Tricks to Fix Bing App Not Working on iPhone & iPad 

So, what has derailed the Bing app on your iPhone? When faced with this issue, you need to keep in mind a number of culprits that tend to impact the performance of the search app and even cause it to crash out or freeze randomly. They include – 

  • Poor internet connection
  • Outdated app version
  • App cache issue
  • iOS compatibility problems
  • Background app refresh off
  • Permissions not granted
  • Server issues
  • Network settings issue
  • Device storage full
  • VPN or proxy interference

Having got a better understanding of the roadblocks that come in the way of Microsoft’s search app, let’s look for various ways to resolve the problem and restore its full functionality. 

1. Check Your Internet Connection

A weak or unstable connection could be the prime reason why the Bing app is unable to load results or function properly. Therefore, make sure to bring your malfunctioning Wi-Fi or cellular connection back on track. 

  • To do so, open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad and go to Wi-Fi.
  • Now, make sure you’re connected to a stable network. If possible, I would recommend you switch to another Wi-Fi network.
  • If you are using mobile data, head over to Settings > Cellular and make sure that Bing has permission to use data.
  • Make full use of the Airplane Mode (turn it on and off) to refresh the connection.
airplane mode on iPhone

2. Restart Your iPhone

Bear in mind that the temporary system glitches on your iPhone can affect app performance. As restarting is able to clear memory and refresh processes, it would be apt to give it a go.

  • To restart your iPhone, you need to press and hold the Power button as well as Volume Up/Down (on modern iPhones) or just the Power button (on classic models).
  • After that, you have to slide to power off and wait for 30 seconds.
  • Turn the iPhone back on and check the Bing app.

3. Force Close and Reopen the Bing App

It’s worth pointing out that the Bing app might have frozen or encountered a minor bug that could be preventing it from working.

  • To force kill the Bing app, just swipe up from the bottom of the screen and hold to bring the App Switcher.
  • Find the Bing app and swipe it up to close.
  • Then, restart your iPhone and relaunch Bing to check if it works.

4. Enable Background App Refresh

Keep in mind that the Bing app might not function properly if it has not been allowed to refresh its data in the background. 

  • Open Settings > General > Background App Refresh and ensure that it’s active. 
  • After that, scroll down to find the Bing app and make sure its toggle is turned on.

5. Disable Low Power Mode

Everyone knows that the Low Power Mode blocks/pauses background activity in order to preserve as much power as possible. If this battery saver is in action, disable it to allow Bing to run without any hiccups. 

  • Open Settings > Battery > Find Low Power Mode and turn it off. 
Disable low power mode

6. Check App Permissions

Make sure the Bing app has the required permissions to access and use specific features on your device.

  • Go to the Settings app on your device > Privacy & Security > Ensure that the Bing app can access features like location and microphone. 
Choose Privacy Security

7. Update the Bing App

Note that the outdated Bing app may have bugs or compatibility issues with the latest iOS version. Hence, updating the app will likely resolve the issue. 

  • Open the App Store on your iOS or iPadOS device and tap your profile icon.
  • Scroll down to Available Updates and check for Bing.
  • Then, tap on the Update button ( if available) right next to it.

8. Disable VPN or Proxy

Beware of the fact that the VPNs and proxies can interfere with Bing’s connection.

  • Open Settings > VPN & Device Management.
  • If a VPN is enabled, disable it.
  • If you are using a proxy, go to Wi-Fi > [Your Network] > Configure Proxy and choose Off.
  • After that, shut down your device and restart it after waiting for a few seconds. 

9. Sign Out and Sign Back In

If the Bing account is faced with an authentication issue, signing out of your account and signing back in may help sort it out. 

  • Open the Bing app and navigate to Settings > Sign Out and confirm.
  • Close the app > reboot your device > relaunch the app. 

10. Disable Content & Privacy Restrictions

Ensure that the parental controls or restrictions are not blocking the Bing app’s functionalities on your device.

  • Open Settings on your iPhone or iPad > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions.
  • Disable Content & Privacy Restrictions and restart your device. 
Enable content restrictions

11. Check for iOS Updates

It’s important to mention that your older iOS versions might be causing compatibility issues with Microsoft’s search app. 

  • To update your iDevice, open Settings > General > Software Update.
  • Now, wait for a few seconds to check if an update is available.
  • Next, tap Download and Install.
  • Make sure to restart your iPhone after updating and check the app.
Update Software in iOS 18

12. Reinstall the Bing App

Should the Search app continue to malfunction, there is a high chance that its files are corrupted. Reinstalling can let you fix the issue.

  • Head over to the Bing app > Press and hold the Bing app icon on the home screen.
  • Choose Remove App > Delete App and confirm
  • Launch the App Store > search for Bing, and reinstall it.

13. Clear Safari Cache and Cookies

Is the Bing app unable to work through Safari on your iOS device? If the answer is yes, clearing the browser cache and cookies may resolve the issue.

  • Open the Settings app on your iDevice > Apps > Safari.
  • Tap Clear History and Website Data > Choose All history and confirm.
  • Then, restart your iPhone and try using Bing again.
How to Clear Safari History on iPhone and iPad 1

14. Reset Network Settings

If your iPhone is going through certain network-related issues, it could be hurting the functionality of the Bing app. Restoring the network settings to the default state may get rid of the problem. 

  • To get it done, pen Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
  • Tap Reset > Reset Network Settings.
  • When asked, do not forget to enter your passcode and confirm.
  • Next up, you have to reconnect to Wi-Fi and see if the Bing app has returned to form. 
Reset network settings on iPhone

15. Check Bing Server Status

Be sure that the Bing servers are live and running without any technical glitches. 

  • Open a browser and go to downdetector.com.
  • Enter Bing and check if there are reported issues.
  • If Bing is down, you can’t do anything but wait for Microsoft to fix it.

16. Free Up Storage Space

If your iPhone is running low on storage, the cluttered storage might be causing the app to crash, freeze, or behave abnormally. 

  • To check your device storage, launch the Settings app > General > iPhone Storage.
  • Take a glance at the available storage and wipe out the unnecessary files.
  • Once you have cleaned your device, restart it. 
Check storage on iPhone and iPad

17. Use an Alternative DNS

Do not over overlook your ISP’s DNS as it could also be causing connectivity issues with Bing.

  • Fire up the Settings app > Wi-Fi.
  • Tap [Your Wi-Fi Network] and select Configure DNS.
  • Now, select Manual and input 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 (Google DNS).

18. Try Using Bing in a Different Browser

No luck as yet with the Bing app? It would be a good idea to test it in a web browser to determine if the issue is app-related.

  • Launch Settings app > Apps > Safari/Chrome/Edge.
  • Look for the Search Engine section and choose Bing.
  • Then, head over to a website (360 Reader) to check if it loads properly.
  • If the search engine works in the browser but not the app, the problem is related to the app.

19. Reset All Settings

Misconfigured settings might be at variance with the Bing app.

  • Dive into the Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset All Settings.
  • Input your passcode and confirm.
Reset All Settings

20. Contact Microsoft Support

If nothing has worked in fixing the Bing app on your device, the issue may be related to your account or the app itself. Now is the right time to contact Microsoft Support. 

  • Open a browser > navigate to support.microsoft.com and search for Bing app issues.
  • After that, contact Microsoft support for further assistance.

Wrapping up…

There you go! Hopefully, the Bing app is back in full swing and so is your smooth-sailing browsing experience. Let me know the tricks that have let you sort out the search engine. 

Posted by
Rajesh Mishra

Editor-in-Chief: Rajesh Mishra is a Shakespearean poet at heart who turned a tech nerd while having a secret rendezvous with iPhone 4. When that rendezvous turned obsession, he let go of his hard-core political journalism in favour of the lifelong love-affair with technology. In a career spanning one and a half decades, Mr. Mishra has crafted over 8K articles and produced more than 3K videos for YouTube. When he is not at his desk, you may find him either engrossed in a Deathmatch or chasing Wordsworth!

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