iPhone X Getting Poor Signal After iOS Update? Here’s How to Fix It

After installing an iOS update, some iPhone X users have reported a frustrating issue—suddenly weak reception or poor signal strength, even in areas that previously had full bars. While it might feel like a hardware issue, it’s often just a case of software conflicts or settings glitches introduced during the update.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you fix poor signal reception on your iPhone X.

1. Toggle Airplane Mode On and Off

Sometimes a quick network reset is all it takes.

To do this:

Go to Settings > Airplane Mode and toggle it ON.
Wait 10–15 seconds, then toggle it OFF again.
Alternatively, swipe down to open Control Center and use the airplane icon.

Next, restart your iPhone:

Press and hold the Side button + Volume button.
Slide to power off.
After 30 seconds, power it back on.

Check your signal once your device has rebooted.

2. Install Pending App and Carrier Settings Updates

Apps or outdated carrier settings can affect how your phone connects to networks.

To update your apps:

Open the App Store.
Tap your profile icon.
Scroll down and tap Update All, or update Facebook, WhatsApp, or any messaging apps individually.

To check for carrier updates:

Go to Settings > General > About.
If an update is available, you’ll see a pop-up to install new carrier settings.

3. Reset Network Settings

If your phone’s internal network configuration is messed up, resetting it can fix signal-related issues.

To reset:

Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset.
Tap Reset Network Settings.
Enter your passcode to confirm.

⚠️ This will erase saved Wi-Fi passwords and Bluetooth pairings, but not your data.

4. Perform a Factory Reset

Still no improvement? Try restoring your iPhone to factory settings.

⚠️ Backup your data first.

To reset:

Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings.
Enter your passcode, then confirm.
After your iPhone resets, set it up as new (don’t restore from backup yet).

This helps rule out deeper settings conflicts or corrupted data.

5. Restore iPhone Using iTunes (Recovery Mode)

If a factory reset didn’t help, use iTunes to reinstall iOS entirely.

To do this:

Connect your iPhone X to your computer using a Lightning cable.
Open iTunes (or Finder on macOS Catalina+).
Put your iPhone into Recovery Mode:
- Press Volume Up, then Volume Down, then hold the Side button.
- Keep holding until the Connect to iTunes screen appears.
Choose Update or Restore from the options on your computer.

Let iTunes reinstall the iOS software. If that doesn’t work, try a DFU mode restore as your final step.

Still Have Poor Reception? Time to Escalate

If none of the above works:

Contact your carrier to check for account or tower issues.
Visit an Apple Store or authorized service provider to rule out hardware damage (especially if the issue appeared after a drop or screen repair).