iOS 26 update causing text message, location sharing, and bookmark issues

Keep in mind that it caused YOU the most difficulty. Not the hundres of millions of other users who updated. So rather than wait for an update you should troubleshoot the problems you have.

Are the text messages iMessages to other iPhone users, or SMS/MMS/RCS messages to non-iPhones?

Do you have a 3rd party VPN installed, even if you are not using it? If so, delete the VPN profile in Settings/General/VPN & Device Management/VPN, then restart your device. Don't just turn it off; delete the profile. If that fixes it, you can try reinstalling VPN, but probably shouldn't.

Have you tried force-restarting your iPhone:

1. Press and quickly release the volume up button.
2. Press and quickly release the volume down button.
3. Press and hold the side button until you see the Apple logo (this might take longer than 10 seconds).

The operative word here is QUICKLY for the first two buttons, then a long hold for the SIDE button; and try it a couple of times, the timing is a little tricky. If done correctly this will always work unless the phone has a hardware problem. 

parzoti wrote: "...my iPhone 13 Pro Max..."

parzoti ~ Your iPhone 13 Pro Max could be 4 years old and the long process of applying a major iOS upgrade to an iPhone with a weak, aging battery can be the proverbial "straw that broke the camel's back." (And a degraded battery can cause various issues.) So...

Does your iPhone 13 Pro Max still have its original battery?

And what's the Maximum Capacity % here?...

Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging

õ¿õ¬

the only reason I am reading this is because I had the same issue. None of the basic troubleshooting steps help. The update is the issue. Brand new phone which (unfortunately) came with iOS 26 pre-installed

I have the latest gen iPad Pro with OS 26.1 installed and I can’t even get into my messages. No VPN, and force restarting or kindly restarting the iPad has no effect. Also, when I go into settings then try to go to the messages settings, the settings freeze and I have to force quit that app. Everything was working fine before the OS 26 update, so it’s nothing I did. Unfortunately 26.1 didn’t help.

I have reached out to Apple to diagnose the issue instead of “waiting for an update” and their reply is “it’s a known issue and they have a dedicated team working on it” so it could very well be affecting millions of users and not just me. I am currently waiting for a call-back from this dedicated team.

Remember, Lawrence Finch, not everything Apple puts out is silver & gold, mate.

philhansen wrote: "iOS 26.1 doesn't fix it."

phil ~ What model of iPhone is it?...

Settings > General > About > Model Name

õ¿õ¬

Texting and email worked this morning sent a couple of texts and checked my email. Sent another text and it froze. Same as before. Now my email doesn’t work either. Looks like my iPhone 13 Pro Max can’t login to my iCloud account. “This has been the worst iOS update experience ever.”

philhansen wrote:

iOS 26.1 doesn't fix it.

Why would you expect a new release to fix a problem with your iPhone, that is not on millions of others. You need to troubleshoot what is wrong with your phone, or contact Apple support for troubleshooting guidance.

In your case specifically, isn’t low available free space?

iMessages only work through iCloud on my iPhone. I don’t want others knowing my iCloud email! …With this issue, my iPad and computer won’t send or receive iMessages because they can’t connect to my iPhone. I tried working with the cellular carrier but they don’t have a solution yet.

parzoti wrote:

iMessages only work through iCloud on my iPhone. I don’t want others knowing my iCloud email! …With this issue, my iPad and computer won’t send or receive iMessages because they can’t connect to my iPhone. I tried working with the cellular carrier but they don’t have a solution yet.

iMessages do not require a cellular network connection, and thus have nothing to do with your carrier. They can use either Wi-Fi or cellular data.

iMessages can use any email address or your phone number; you choose which you want to use by going to Settings/Apps/Messages/Send & Receive. You can choose your phone number or any other email address you use.

To use Messages on other devices, on your iPhone go to Settings/Apps/Messages/Text Message Forwarding and add your iPad and your Mac (you cannot use Windows).

This is not accurate apples iOS environment is gone to sometimes I have to actually lock my iPhone in the microwave. As it is at home, I cannot have Wi-Fi or Bluetooth turned on on my phone or my watch. Otherwise, neither one of them can make calls send a received text to android and sometimes not even to iOS. And why every time there is an update is it my responsibility to restart reset spend my time searching the net for solutions… Not that it is excusing the problem, but maybe Apple could send us all a notice when these bugs occur after their updates… And you know what Apple if you’re not completely competent or sure of the update don’t, don’t, don’t subject us all to it

. I after 20 years am giving away over $10,000 worth of recently bought iOS devices and switching to android

[Edited by Moderator]

Piperfirewalker wrote:

This is not accurate apples iOS environment is gone to sometimes I have to actually lock my iPhone in the microwave.

Well, that's not likely to end well.

I after 20 years am giving away over $10,000 worth of recently bought iOS devices and switching to android

Okay. We all know Androids have no issues, so that seems like a great idea.

Didn’t correct the issues. Just restarted the iPhone.

Apple apps are not working, email and texting. How can I revert back to the old iOS? I can’t use my iPhone the way it is.