Fixing iPhone XR Swipe Up Not Working After iOS Update

Many owners of the Apple iPhone XR reported that shortly after updating their devices to iOS 13, they noticed that the Swipe Up function from the bottom of the screen is no longer working. Such function serves as the Home button, which allows users to go back to the Home screen in just one swipe. It also allows them to display the previews of the apps running in the background. Without it, the device would be almost unusable. 

Resolving iPhone XR Swipe Up Issue After iOS Update

But the thing is, the problem is temporary. I personally encountered this after updating my device but it gets fixed easily. That said, it’s not really a serious problem and I think it’s just one of the temporary effects you may encounter after the update is installed. Some owners however, encounter a more serious problem as the issue persists. 

So, in this post, I will walk you through in fixing the problem. We will look into all possibilities and rule them out one after another until we can determine the cause and hopefully be able to fix it. If you’re one of the owners of this device and are currently being bugged down by the same issue, continue reading as this post may be able to help you. 

Before we move on to our troubleshooting, if you happen to find this post while looking for a solution to a different problem, then visit our iPhone XR Help Guides page for we have already addressed some of the most common issues with this device. We may have already published articles that could help you fix your problem. Find issues that are similar to yours and feel free to use our solutions.

Possible Causes of the  iPhone XR Swipe Up Not Working Issue

There are several possible causes that can lead to the swipe up not working issue on iPhone XR. Some of the most common ones are:

  • Software Glitches: Like any complex software system, iOS can occasionally encounter glitches that affect certain functionalities. A temporary software bug or conflicting app can disrupt the swipe-up gesture on your iPhone XR.
  • Incorrect Settings: It is possible that the swipe-up gesture is disabled or modified in the settings of your iPhone XR. This can be unintentional, such as accidental changes in the accessibility settings, or deliberate changes made by the user or a third-party app.
  • Hardware-related Issues: In rare cases, a malfunctioning or damaged hardware component in your iPhone XR could be causing the swipe-up gesture to stop working. This can include problems with the touch screen, home button, or other internal components.

Troubleshooting an iPhone XR with swipe up function that’s not working

The swipe up function is a very important gesture on new iPhones that’s why you need to address this problem immediately the moment you notice it doesn’t work. With that said, here’s what you need to do: 

First solution: Force restart your iPhone XR

Force restart your iPhone XR

If you’re on a certain screen and you can’t close it or go back to the home screen because the Swipe up function doesn’t work, then the forced restart will come into play. You only need three physical buttons to perform it and regardless of what screen you’re on, your device will reboot once it’s performed correctly. Aside from that, this is also a very potent solution against this problem, which seems to materialize due to a firmware issue. Follow these steps to force restart your iPhone XR: 

  1. Quickly press and release the Volume Up button, and then quickly press and release the Volume Down button. 
  2. The moment you release the Volume down button, press and hold the Side or Power key until the Apple logo shows on the screen. 

Once the device has successfully rebooted and reached the Home screen, try to see if the Swipe up function now works. If it still not working, access Settings and then enable the virtual home button via Accessibility. This will prevent you from being stuck on a certain screen. 

Second solution: Reset All Settings

Reset All Settings

If the first solution failed to fix the problem, the next thing you have to do is to reset all the settings of your iPhone XR. This too, is an effective solution against minor firmware-related problems. Here’s how it’s done: 

  1. From the Home screen, tap Settings
  2. Find and tap General
  3. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen, and then touch Reset
  4. Touch Reset All Settings. 
  5. If prompted, enter your security lock. 
  6. Tap Reset All Settings at the bottom of the screen, and then tap Reset All Settings again to confirm. 

Your iPhone will reboot after this, once it has finished rebooting, try to see if the swipe up function works now. If the problem persists, then move on to the next solution. 

Third solution: Factory reset your iPhone

Factory reset your iPhone

If the first two solutions failed to fix the problem, then a factory reset will be necessary at this point. Usually, the iOS 13 installation would be seamless but that is if there are no issues after the download and installation. If possible, create a backup of your important files and data, or sync the device to the iCloud. After that, follow these steps to reset your phone: 

  1. From the Home screen, tap Settings
  2. Find and tap General
  3. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen, and then touch Reset. 
  4. Tap Erase All Contents and Settings. 
  5. Tap Erase Now. 
  6. If prompted, enter your security lock. 
  7. Tap Erase iPhone at the bottom of the screen.  
  8. Tap Erase iPhone again to proceed with the reset.  

After the reset, set up your iPhone as a new device. I’m sure the swipe up function should already be working now. 

I hope that we’ve been able to help you fix your iPhone XR with swipe up function that’s not working. We would appreciate it if you helped us spread the word so please share this post if you found it helpful. Thank you so much for reading!

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We are committed to helping our readers fix the problems with their phones as well as learn how to properly use their devices. So, if you have other issues, you may visit our Help Guides page so you can check by yourself the articles we’ve already published that contain solutions to common problems. Also, we do create videos to demonstrate how things are done on your phone. Visit our Youtube Channel and please subscribe to it. Thanks.

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