How To Explore iOS 26 Features on iPhone 14 Pro: A Comprehensive Review

Getting into the iOS 26 beta on an iPhone 14 Pro can be exciting but also a little chaotic. If you’ve already installed it, you might be noticing some bugs, weird UI glitches, or just overall instability. This isn’t surprising since it’s a developer beta and not meant for everyday use. That said, if you’re trying to test out the new Liquid Glass UI, updated messaging options, or improvements in CarPlay, it’s good to know how to troubleshoot common issues that pop up. Sometimes, it’s just a matter of tweaking some settings, clearing caches, or even reboots to get things running smoother. So here’s a rundown on some fixes you can try if things feel laggy or buggy—things that actually worked on a few different setups, though no guarantees in beta land.

How to Fix Common iOS 26 Beta Problems on iPhone 14 Pro

Method 1: Restarting and Resetting Settings

If the UI feels sluggish or some features aren’t behaving, restarting the phone is often the first move. Press and hold the Side button + Volume Up until the slider appears, then slide to power off. After that, turn it back on. Sometimes, especially on betas, a simple reboot can clear out temporary glitches.

Not sure why it works, but on some machines this fails the first time, then works after reboot. If that doesn’t help, try resetting your settings. Head over to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset All Settings. This resets Wi-Fi, wallpaper, and preferences without wiping your data, potentially fixing weird UI freezes or animation bugs that crop up. Expect to re-enter Wi-Fi passwords afterward. It’s kind of annoying, but sometimes necessary to clear out misconfigured options that aren’t playing nice with beta code.

Method 2: Clearing Cache and Data of Beta Apps

Some beta features, like the new Liquid Glass UI or updated iMessage backgrounds, may be cached or corrupted. If those elements aren’t showing up correctly or causing crashes, try deleting and reinstalling those apps, especially if they’re from test profiles or beta sources. For system cache, there’s no direct way to clear cache like on Android, but a hard reset can sometimes do the trick — essentially turning the device off, then in again.

To do a proper power reset, press and hold Side button + Volume Up until the slider appears. Drag to turn off, wait a few seconds, then power back on. After reboot, check if your UI feels snappier and the features like messaging or CarPlay load correctly. It’s a hit-or-miss, but worth a shot, especially if new UI elements don’t render properly.

Method 3: Check for Additional Updates or Roll Back to Stable

If stability stays flaky, sometimes you need to verify if the latest beta build is installed correctly. Connect your iPhone to a Mac with the latest Xcode or use Apple’s beta profile to force check for updates. Alternatively, if things are too broken, consider downgrading to the latest stable iOS release. To do that, you’ll need to use a PC or Mac with iTunes (or Finder if on MacOS), download the appropriate IPSW file, and follow instructions from Apple’s developer portal.

Because of course, Apple’s beta process isn’t perfect, and if your device is bricking or freezes during restore, it’s usually emergency reload time. On some setups, the restore process resets everything, and on others, it might hang — patience is key.

Method 4: Disable or Reconfigure New Features

Sometimes, new features like the updated screen calling or custom iMessage backgrounds mess with other services. Try toggling those features off to see if stability improves. For example, head to Settings > Phone > Screen Calling or Settings > Messages > Custom Backgrounds. Turning off these extras can sometimes reduce crash loops or lag. Also, check if CarPlay widgets are enabled via Settings > General > CarPlay and disable them temporarily to test if that improves responsiveness.