The 13 Most Annoying iPadOS (15) Problems and Their Solutions

It’s not unexpected for new software updates to have bugs. Yet, no one could have accounted for the magnitude of issues the iPadOS 15 will surprise us. Even the relief of having the M1 chip on iPad Air 5 and iPad Pro is dulled with the iPadOS 15.

The iPadOS 15.4 version is improved on iPad Air 5, but there’s a long way before Apple fixes every issue. When the initial bugs were discovered, Apple updated the iPad Pro 2021 with bug fixes. We might even move straight to iPadOS 16 by then. In the meantime, we can help you with specific iPadOS 15 problems and their solutions.

13 most annoying iPadOS 15 problems and solutions

#1 Storage Full Error

If your iPad storage is close to complete, a notification alerts you of the situation. They will advise you to not download anything else unless you get rid of unimportant materials.

On the iPadOS 15, though, these storage full alert messages are arriving even if there’s plenty of space in your cloud. Some users have gone through the trouble of cleaning the storage and still continue to receive this message.

One way of getting rid of this issue is by waiting  for the latest software update to reach your Phone. Once you download the bug fixes and restart your iPad, this issue should disappear. In fact, those with iPadOS 15.4 don’t seem to have this trouble.

In case you need more help, click here and dedicate a few minutes to reading the guide on cleaning iPad storage.

#2 Battery Draining Too Fast

Not long after upgrading to the iPadOS 15.4, users have been experiencing rapid battery drain on their iPad. According to support, this isn’t a bug but rather normal behavior after a software update. It takes 48 hours before the apps get used to new software.

Yet, the 15.4.1 update had a fix for the battery drain not long after.

If you can’t upgrade to 15.4.1 yet, you might try conserving the battery via these methods.

• Tap open Settings.
• Look for General.
• Find Background App Refresh.
• Turn the toggle off on it.
• Swipe back.
• Find Privacy.
• Tap on it and scroll down to Location Services.
• Toggle it off.
• Again, go to Battery under Settings.
• Look for the most battery-draining apps.
• Tap on it. Turn off the permissions you could do without on those apps for the time being.
• This will limit their working, thus taking less of the battery.

We do have a detailed write-up on this particular issue, make you go through that one, once you’re done reading the other troubles iPadOS 15 users face.

#3 Joining by Phone Isn’t Working On Google Meet

If your iPad has the M1 chip, you’ve been pretty excited about using the center stage feature to get on video calls. If the iPadOS 15 update doesn’t let them join by Phone, that’s a bit of an impossibility.

The issue is mainly present in iPadOS 15.4 and later versions. Some tried to delete Google Meet and install it again to see if the Join by phone feature worked. Unfortunately, the results were negative. However, this issue does have a fix.

Join the Apple Calendar to the Google Calendar account. Users have been reportedly successful in joining by Phone with this mini workaround.

#4 Wi-Fi Related Issues

The latest iPad models promised high-speed Wi-Fi. Yet, the iPadOS 15 bugs don’t allow Apple to stick to its promises. You have probably noticed the slow loading time for YouTube videos or experienced the Wi-Fi disconnecting at random.

One of those cases seems to be fixed with a reset.

• Open Settings.
• Tap on Wi-Fi.
• Turn the toggle off for Wi-Fi.
• Now, look for the connected modem or router name. Tap on the ‘i’ button next to it.
• Select Forget this Network that appears at the top. You will need to input your Wi-Fi password again, so have it ready somewhere.
• Turn the toggle on for Wi-Fi.
• Search for your router connection. Once you find it, tap on it and fill in the password.

If this doesn’t help, resetting the entire Network setting could provide relief:

• Find General from Settings.
• Scroll down to Reset.
• Inside Reset, there will be Reset Network Settings.

You will have to reconnect with every cellular or Wi-Fi network you have used after this hard Reset.

The same method applies to cellular and Bluetooth issues.

#5 Unresponsive Touchscreen

Considering we operate our iPhones and iPads primarily through touch, an unresponsive touchscreen is a different nightmare. It’s a weird issue where you can tap on Settings one second but can’t get into the General options no matter how many times you tap on it.

For iPads without a home button, it’s even more of a nightmare.

Until Apple releases a bug fix, the only thing you can do is force a restart.

• Press the volume up button once.
• Press the volume down button next.
• Hold the power button until the Apple logo pops up.
• For iPads with the home button, you have to press the power and home button simultaneously until you see the Apple logo.

You can restore your device entirely too. This will take your iPad to factory settings. So, if you have any essential items stored, backup your device on iTunes/ Finder.

Related:

• iPad Home Button Not Working? Here’s How to Fix It
• How to Fix iPad Black Screen (11 Ways)
• How to Fix a Frozen iPad – Everything You Need to Know

#6 No Sound on Some Apps

Instagram and YouTube are those given, commonly used apps for everyone. Imagine our surprise when we found out the latest iPadOS 15 updates have been cutting off the sound on them. Or worse, the sound freezes at odd moments and then comes back.

Fortunately, most users reported fixing the issue with basic activities.

• Go to the App Store.
• Tap on your Profile icon.
• Either hit update all for the apps. Or, click on each app and hit update. Ultimately, every app you download from the App store should be updated.

If the sound problem doesn’t solve after the update, delete and reinstall the app.

To delete the app:

• Press and hold on to the app icon.
• Tap on Remove App from the options.
• Select the Delete App option under it.
• Open App Store. Search for the app with the sound issue.
• Tap on Install.

#7 Unable to Receive or Make Calls On FaceTime

Oddly enough, most of the bugs with iPadOS 15 appear to be centered around video and sound issues.

Some people can’t make calls on FaceTime no matter how many times they press the green call icon. Others can’t seem to receive any calls. The last thing we want to do is miss out on talking to a loved one because FaceTime won’t work.

Sometimes, it’s the cellular data that are unable to take the load of FaceTime. Turn off cellular data by:

• Press the Settings icon.
• Look for Cellular.
• Scroll down and look for FaceTime.
• Turn the toggle on for FaceTime if it’s off.

FaceTime should be turned on your iPad to work over Wi-Fi.

• Tap on Settings.
• Select FaceTime.
• Is there a pop-up with the message ‘Waiting for activation’? If so, turn the toggle off for FaceTime.
• Restart your iPad.
• Go back into FaceTime settings. Turn the toggle back on.

If any of these hacks doesn’t fix your FaceTime issue, the only thing you can do is wait for a new software update.

#8 Wrong Email Notification Sound

If your work involves constantly replying to and sending emails, you are a fan of the email notification sound feature. When your iPad lets you know you have received an email with an audible sound.

Usually, you can choose a specific sound for email notifications. This way, you don’t mistake it with the message sound. Yet, some users have been receiving the Apple standard alert sound for emails after changing it.

It’s not a big issue, but it’s definitely annoying.

What can you do?

For most people, a restart seems to put things in order. After restarting, the notifications appear with the sounds you chose again.

#9 Can’t Turn off Read Receipts

The read receipts feature in messages effectively keeps track of who is ignoring you and who can’t wait to reply before you’ve hit send. A timestamp with the exact second they clicked open your message makes you anticipate their reply.

The downside of this feature is that the receiver gets receipts for when you read their message. The only way to not let them know is to turn off read receipts. Nor you or the other party would be able to get a peak on when a message is read this way.

Here is how you can turn it off:

• Go to Settings on your iPad.
• Find Messages.
• Turn the toggle off for the Send Read Receipts.

However, after upgrading to the iPadOS 15, people reported that their read receipt is still on even after turning off the feature. The receiver of their text has informed them off, taking away the sender’s chance to quietly read the message and go about the day instead of hitting reply.

Unfortunately, this is a bug with no known solution. Some people have reported that restarting the device fixes the issue temporarily but persists after some time.

Related: How to Recover Deleted Text Messages on iPad (and iPhone)

#10 Apple Map Keeps Crashing

Now, you probably are not using your iPad to navigate the streets. You would instead use your iPhone for those purposes. However, the iPadOS 15 appears to have dealt some odd damages to the Apple map.

So, whether you are using Apple Maps on your iPhone or iPad, you notice the number of times it keeps crashing.

The OS 15 also came with many beautiful features for the Apple Maps. This is the crux of the issue. At present, you should simply close the app. Try opening it again.

If that doesn’t work, force stop the app. Press on the app until you see the I icon. You will find the force stop option once you open it.

Then, tap open the app again.

If even that doesn’t help, restarting your iPad is in order.

#11 Gboard Crashes While Searching for Emoji

One of Google’s apps, Gboard, is a popular keyboard despite not being the default app for many Apple devices. Users can search for emojis, and GIFs, change languages, use predictive text, and even Google search directly for the keyboard.

The iPadOS 15 upgrades have somehow caused the Gboard to crash every time you tap on an emoji or use the search to look for GIFs or stickers.

The users have come up with temporary fixes such as:

• Tap on Settings.
• Scroll down to Keyboard.
• Tap on Keyboards under it.
• Find Gboard.
• Turn off the toggle to Allow full access.

#12 Siri Shortcut Notification

Users have been seeing this notification “Allow to share data with (null)?” every time they use Siri Shortcut.

This is more annoying than a big issue. However, the point of using Siri Shortcut is to allow the use of data without giving permission every time.

What can you do?

• Change the Siri prompt for the Shortcut to something that cannot be read easily. For Example, turn Siri, read mode to Siri, rdmd.
• Change the name of the original Shortcut too.
• Make a new Shortcut. Make it run the renamed version of the original Shortcut.

Related:

• iPad’s Magic Keyboard Walkthrough and Shortcuts
• How to Create Keyboard Shortcuts on iPad for Typing Faster

#13 Carplay Not Working with Music Apps

It’s safe to say the only time we listen to music on our iPad or iPhone is when we’re in the car. Imagine the surprise of iPad users when they couldn’t connect their car system to Spotify, Apple Music or Amazon after the update.

Now, it’s debatable whether it’s because of compatibility issues with your car or a genuine mishap on Apple’s part with the update. However, if it’s a problem on their end, they will release an update with fixes soon.

In the meantime, you can:

• Head to Settings.
• Find Music.
• Tap on EQ in it.
• Toggle it off.

If the problem persists, pull over somewhere and turn off the carplay. Restart your car and see if it works.

Update the carplay app.

If you use USB to connect to carplay, check it’s a compatible version. If you use wireless connection, check your Bluetooth and Wi-Fi is turned on.

As a last measure, check there isn’t a permission issue.

• Open Settings.
• Look for Screen Time.
• Tap on Content & Privacy Restrictions.
• Press on Allowed Apps.
• Check the toggle for Carplay is on. If not, turn it on.

Final words

The first round of OS updates from Apple always leads to some significant bugs. Thankfully, Apple is usually quick to fix those. But until they bring the latest bug fix updates to your Phone, we hope our guide on 13 iPadOS 15 problems and solutions could help you out.