A spinning wheel in the status bar on your iPhone means that there is a network activity like downloading, sending/receiving data etc. This is a small spinner icon (see the image below) located on top of your screen. Several users have reported that they see this non-stop spinning wheel. It just keeps constantly spinning indicating that some network activity going on in the background. You probably want to resolve this because this may reduce battery life. This short article explains how you can resolve the spinning wheel problem.
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Several users stated that they started to experience this program after an iOS update. Some users worried that this is a sign of spyware and that some unwanted and secret activity is stealing sensitive information. This is NOT spyware and you do not need to remove anything. This is likely a simple bug.
According to the Apple’s documentation, the spinning wheel in the status bar “shows over-the-air syncing or other network activity. Some third party apps may also use the icon to show an active process.” If this spinning wheel is appearing constantly, it may mean that something is wrong. Here is how you can stop this:
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- Update your iPhone. Simply go to Settings > General > Software Update and if there is an update available, simply tap Download and Install.
- Force close everything running in the background. If your iPhone has a Home button, simple double press the Home button. If your device does not have a Home button, then swipe up from the bottom of your home screen. This action will display the recently used apps. Swipe up all of the apps.
- Open Siri: Some users have stated that opening Siri will stop this. Simple launch Siri. If your iPhone has a Home button, press and hold. If your iPhone (iPhone X or later) does not have a Home button, then press and hold the side button. And ask something. Anything. Just use Siri.
- If your phone’s Siri is disabled, enable it by going to Settings > Siri & Search and toggle on Siri.
- Restart your device. You can shut down your device by going to Settings > General > Shut Down.
- Disable Hey Siri if it is enabled. Simply go to Settings > Siri & Search and toggle off Hey Siri.
- Disable Background App Fresh by going to Settings > General > Background App Fresh and turn this on.
- Force restart your iPhone. Different iPhone models require different steps to do this. Here is how:
- If your iPhone has a Home button (iPhone 6s and earlier models) then press and hold the Home and Side buttons together for at least 10 seconds until you see the Apple logo.
- iPhone 7 models: Press and hold the Side and volume down buttons for at least 10 seconds until you see the Apple logo
- iPhone 8, iPhone X and later models: Press and release the volume up then volume down buttons then press and hold the side button for at least 10 seconds until you see the Apple logo.
- Reset Network Settings. Note that this action will delete all your network settings like your Wi-Fi passwords etc. Simple go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings.
None of this is working for me. Still have the spinning wheel and it drives me nuts. Stops during a restart but comes back
Yeah my iPhone 8 same exact thing I do all them it stopped for a minute are use my phone for a few minutes and there it is again continuously what do we do
I sent back my I phone se because of a constant spinning circle and battery drain
I asked Siri why the network activity icon kept spinning. It stopped.
Hi all. I agree with what’s been said about the Force restart, but I’m observant enough to have identified the culprit. I just don’t know what it means. The culprit is this, at least for me: sending (text) MESSAGES. I can do all kinds of activities post-restart without invoking the wheel of madness. But sending a message kicks it off.
Any thoughts?
Asked Siri a question and it stopped. Yeah buddy!
I’ve had this issue with multiple phones now over the last 8 months and have been through 3 loaners. Couldn’t make calls, couldn’t send iMessages, couldn’t search online, but it happened randomly. The spinning thing was always there. Would go away briefly if I restarted my phone but it always came back. All of them had the issue. 2 of my siblings have this same issue now so we are looking into a potential issue with an app that we all have that’s the same. First thought was the House Party app. I downloaded it on my current loaner, used the app yesterday, no issues so far. So maybe that’s not it. I’m currently using the X as a loaner but my new phone I bought in May was the SE 2020. So frustrating!!!
Same for me on the same phone
It took me all the way to step 8, but that one worked. First time in a month it hasn’t been spinning. Thanks!
To all,
I have tried all the above steps everyone outline and still no luck, I have an iPhone se 2020 model, the same issue still persists with two different replacements of the same model Apple has provided.
I also have an iPhone SE OK this summer, after the last update that spinning wheel status is always active except when I restart my phone for a brief time
Ditto Todd
Yep. I have the same issue. I don’t understand. And no one at Apple or the phone store and fix it. Ugh!
Same – I have the SE as well – constant spinning!
This is happening on my phone too. Starting Hey Siri always stopped it. I experimented with many things and finally got it to stop by turning off dictation for awhile but I got annoyed at not being able to do talk to text and as soon as I turned it back on it started doing it again. And now Hey Siri doesn’t work, I have to do a soft restart to stop it. So annoying! It’s been like this with 2 different phones and multiple iPhone updates.
This worked for me too! Ridiculous.
I’ve had this problem for over a year! Across 3 different devices as well. It all started right after iOS 12. Drives me crazy. There is no fix. I’ve tried EVERYTHING above. It only fixes it temporarily.
Thank you!
Asking seri the weather temp fixed it immediately
Turned off background refresh for noncritical apps – which is most of them – and it worked!
This also helped but I did some of the others as well. Good cal @Dawn.
Held the side button for at least 10 seconds and then turned the phone off. Waited 1 min, turned the phone back on, Apple logo appeared for a minute and the phone came back on & the spinning wheel stopped! I have the iPhone 8 Plus. Thank you.
Mine does it consistently to the point I have to restate my phone to get it to stop at least once a day.
Mine does the same thing as well, I get it to stop in the morning and by the evening it is on again.
Omg thank you! I asked Serie A question and it stopped. That was driving me crazy!
I wouldn’t do the install an update like you suggested, and the spinning wheel stopped. Thank you
Thank you!! I have an iPhone 7 and had to do #8, force restart (of course after trying 1-7), & it’s finally STOPPED SPINNING! I was going crazy trying to find out why for over a week! Thanks again.
Thank you. Asked Siri a question, and the spinning wheel stopped.
I had to do bvume button up and down the. Hold side button. I have an 8P. This stopped my spinny wheel!
Thanks…
It worked as I followed the guidelines asked by you
Followed your guidance and asked Siri what time it was, and spinning wheel stopped. Thank you!
my iphone 7 as well…..i asked siri what time it was, spinning wheel stopped. thank you….it was driving me nuts!