iPhone Stuck on Search Screen iOS 18/17/16? 7 Quick Fixes!

If your iPhone is stuck on the search screen, you’re not alone. Many users have reported this frustrating issue after updating to iOS 18/17/16. When this happens, you may find yourself unable to access your home screen or apps, limiting your device’s functionality. In this article, we will discuss several simple and effective methods to get your iPhone off the search screen and restore its normal functionality.

• Fix 1: Remove search bar from Home Screen
• Fix 2: Force Reboot Your iPhone
• Fix 3: Repair your iPhone with iSumsoft iOS Refixer
• Fix 4: Change the Default Keyboard app
• Fix 5: Reset All Settings
• Fix 6: Install iOS Update
• Fix 7: Factory Restore Your iPhone

Fix 1: Remove search bar from Home Screen

Many users have reported that removing the search bar from the iPhone home screen effectively solves the problem. This is the easiest and most effective way to fix an iPhone stuck on the search screen.

Step 1: Open the Settings app. If you can’t to open the Settings app from the stuck search screen, restart your iPhone. After restarting, your iPhone may temporarily get out of the search screen and return to normal so you can open the Settings app. Alternatively, you can ask Siri to open Settings without having to restart your device.

Step 2: In Settings, scroll down and tap Home Screen, then toggle off the “Show on Home Screen” option under the Search section. If this option is already turned off, turn it on and then off again.

Fix 2: Force Reboot Your iPhone

When an iPhone is experiencing a stuck issue, restarting the device is a common and often effective solution. However, many users have found that this approach does not permanently resolve the problem of the iPhone getting stuck on the search screen, as it may only provide a temporary fix before the issue reoccurs shortly after. In this case, a forced reboot (also known as a hard reset) may work.

Quickly press and release the volume up button, then do the same with the volume down button. Finally, press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears. This may eliminate temporary software glitches or conflicts causing the iPhone to get stuck on the search screen.

Fix 3: Repair your iPhone with iSumsoft iOS Refixer

If the above methods don't work and your iPhone remains stuck on the search screen, iSumsoft iOS Refixer is a quick and effective solution. It’s a simple yet powerful iOS system repair tool that can fix all kinds of iOS problems, including a stuck on the search screen.

Step 1: Download and install iSumsoft iOS Refixer on your computer. After installation, launch the program.

Step 2: In iSumsoft iOS Refixer, choose the System Repair option.

Step 3: Choose the Standard Mode, which fixes your iPhone problems without deleting any data.

Step 4: Click Start to confirm your choice. Then, connect your iPhone, which is stuck on the search screen, to your computer via a USB cable and click Next.

Step 5: The software will immediately detect your iPhone and ask you to download the firmware package needed to fix the problem. Click Download to proceed.

Step 6: Once the firmware download is complete, click on the Repair button and the program will start repairing your iPhone.

Step 7: Wait a few minutes and you’ll get a message that the repair was successful, meaning your iPhone is no longer stuck on the search screen and back to normal.

Fix 4: Change the Default Keyboard app

If you've tried all three of these methods, it's likely that your problem has been solved. If not, here are more possible fixes. Are you using a third-party keyboard as your default keyboard? Third-party keyboard apps can cause potential conflicts, which may be why the iPhone is stuck on the search screen. Switching back to Apple's own keyboard app may solve the problem.

Step 1: Open the Settings app, then tap on General > Keyboard > Keyboards.

Step 2: On the Keyboards page, tap on the Edit button at the top right corner.

Step 3: Locate the Apple built-in keyboard, then touch and hold the three horizontal lines next to the keyboard and drop it to the top.

Step 4: Finally, tap Done in the upper-right corner of the screen to confirm the changes.

Fix 5: Reset All Settings

If the issue persists, try resetting all settings, which can clear misconfigurations causing the iPhone stuck on search screen issue. To do so, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset All Settings.

Fix 6: Install iOS Update

An underlying software glitch could be the culprit for this problem. Some users have reported that their iPhones got stuck on the search screen after an update, which is likely caused by a problem with the update process. So, it is necessary to install or reinstall the iOS update.

Go to Settings > General > Software Update, and then download and install the latest version of iOS for your iPhone.

Fix 7: Factory Restore Your iPhone

If you’ve exhausted all other options and your iPhone is still stuck on the search screen, performing a factory restore using iTunes or Finder may be necessary. Keep in mind that this process will erase all data on your device, so it’s essential to back up your important information first.

Step 1: Connect your iPhone to your computer via a USB cable.

Step 2: Open iTunes (or Finder on your Mac). Once the software detects your iPhone, click Back Up Now to save your data.

Step 3: Click on "Restore iPhone" and when prompted, confirm that you want to restore the device to factory settings.

A factory restore wipes the iPhone clean and reintall the iOS system, which resolves any underlying software issues or glitches that could be causing the iPhone to get stuck on the search screen.

Conclusion:

The iPhone can get stuck on the search screen due to potential software glitches or settings conflicts, preventing you from reaching the home screen and using other apps. This happens on newer versions of iOS such as iOS 18, 17, 16, leaving users frustrated. Fortunately, most of the time, the problem can be fixed with simple actions such as a hard reset and removing the search bar from the home screen. If these methods fail, iSumsoft iOS Refixer is a simple and effective fix that is worth a try. As a last resort, you can restore the iPhone to factory settings to resolve the issue. With these workarounds, your iPhone will get out of the search screen and be back to normal in no time!