How to Deal With the iPhone 13 Pink Screen Problem

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It’s true that the iPhone 13 launched over four months ago. Unfortunately, Apple’s latest generation of smartphones are suffering a colorful affliction. It’s called the “pink screen problem.”
The first Pink Screen of Death was reported this past October, one month after the iPhone 13 was released. In most cases, an otherwise fine and healthy iPhone 13 freezes up in the middle of a task. That includes taking a picture, using the GPS, or connecting to a wireless audio device. It shifts to a bright pink-purple color that covers the entire screen. Many users described a series of crashes following the pink flash. Some reports claim that the phone no longer worked after the initial occurrence.
The pink screen glitch has been reported internationally. It has an especially high rate of occurrence in China. It appears to only affect the iPhone 13 line. That includes the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max). The past four months of increasingly irritated user reports should be a major indication that there are many different ways to trigger the bug. There are also a variety of outcomes that range from “one-off phone crash event” to “brand new iPhone 13, thoroughly bricked.”

How to Troubleshoot iPhone 13 Pink Screen Issues

Apple has repeatedly asserted that this strange glitch is due to a software issue as opposed to a hardware malfunction. But the company hasn’t clarified what exactly is causing the iPhone 13’s pink screen problem. It also hasn’t disclosed what it plans to do about it. In the meantime, there are a few things you can do to manage the issue yourself.
Before you try troubleshooting the issue:

1. Back up your phone’s data. This is good practice any time your phone is behaving erratically. Time is especially of the essence when dealing with this glitch. It might brick your phone with no recourse from Apple.
   
2. Make sure that your iPhone 13 is running the latest version of iOS. Apple is expected to launch iOS 15.3 any day now, which might include a fix for this known issue. But Apple hasn’t offered any concrete evidence to support this. If you’re a member of the iOS Beta Software Program, you should already have access to iOS 15.3.
   To update iOS on your phone, navigate to Settings > General > Software Update.
   If your phone is inoperable, you may need to plug it into your Mac or PC and manually update iOS using iTunes. Once your device is connected, navigate to the Device icon on the top left-hand corner of the iTunes window. Click through Summary > Check for Update > Update.
3. Report the issue to Apple Support or your local Apple Store. The first iPhone users to report the pink screen bug received a quick replacement with little hassle. But the company has been less generous since the issue proved to be widespread.

Take these protective and preventative measures first. Then you can take a crack at solving (or at least mitigating) the issue yourself. There is no guarantee that any of these approaches will fix a pink screen glitch. But there isn’t much to lose when your data is secure and the issue has been reported.

1. Power cycle your iPhone. Power down your device and give it a five to 10-minute breather before turning it back on.
2. Allow your iPhone to charge fully (while off) before turning it back on. This should be done in tandem with a power cycle.
3. Factory reset your iPhone. It’s never fun to deploy the nuclear option. But a full factory reset is the easiest way to ensure that your phone’s operating system is up-to-date. It’ll also be compatible with your apps.

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