Apple iPhone 13 pre-orders are live, which means we’re starting to hear about some of the early pre-order issues buyers are facing.
The iPhone pre-order process has improved over the years, but we’re still seeing hiccups during the initial rush to order. Unsurprisingly, people trying to pre-order the iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, or iPhone 13 Pro Max are running into some of the same issues we see year after year.
Customers who want to buy one of Apple’s new flagships face errors and other issues when pre-ordering the model they want. If you’re here, you’ve probably encountered an issue with Apple’s website, the Apple Store app, your carrier’s website, or a retailer like Best Buy.
Here’s what you need to know about iPhone 13 pre-order issues and what you can do to pre-order today so you can get your new iPhone on or near September 24.
Pre-ordering requires you to be quick, so we’ll keep these tips as short as possible. Seconds and minutes can mean weeks of waiting for your phone to arrive.
iPhone 13 Pre-Order Issue: Website Issues
If you’re having trouble accessing the website where you’re trying to order your iPhone 13 or iPhone 13 Pro, here are a few steps to take.
Instead of trying to pre-order the iPhone 13 via the web browser on your phone or computer, open Apple’s Store App or your carrier app and try and do it that way. This will help you get straight to the order process and avoid website issues.
If that doesn’t work, try turning off Wi-Fi and using your phone’s LTE connection. Or if you’re using a computer, try connecting to your phone’s hotspot. If that fails, try refreshing the page or closing your browser to try again.
Make sure you don’t waste time trying to tweet or call Apple, your carrier or the seller over the phone. You’ll want to act quickly and use another device, app, or internet connection instead.
iPhone 13 Pre-Order Issue: Upgrade Issues
Some of you may log into your account, get to the checkout, and find that you have to pay more to upgrade. This usually happens when you are on an annual upgrade plan or have to complete a certain number of payments.
If you encounter an upgrade problem, you should quickly check your iPhone upgrade status. Here’s how to do this with operators based in the United States:
If you’re sure you’re eligible but are still having problems, you may need to pay for the device and take care of it later. When you call or chat with the support team, you will be waiting a long time to receive your new device. If you are not in a hurry, you will want to contact support before purchasing your device.
iPhone 13 Pre-Order Issue: Payment Issues
Payment issues are extremely common when pre-ordering a new iPhone. This can happen when the payment isn’t completed or processed properly, or your card is declined.
You should always have a backup payment option and you may want to have a plan to buy the iPhone 13 without a payment plan in case something goes wrong down the road.
Some of you may find that payments were declined due to fraud. Visa and MasterCard often do not know that you have made the purchase before it can be marked.
If this happens, you won’t be able to pay for your iPhone until you talk to your credit or debit card company. If this happens, use a different card if possible.
How to Quickly Fix iPhone 13 Pre-Order Issues
If you run into a problem with your iPhone 13 pre-order, you need to act fast if you want your phone on or near September 24. Again, we expect supply issues to affect these devices for weeks.
If you’re having trouble with your phone, try another device like a laptop or tablet. You should also try using LTE instead of Wi-Fi again.
You can also try another vendor. Apple, Best Buy, and all major US carriers are selling the iPhone 13 at the same time, so you have a ton of options at your disposal. Note that you can buy an iPhone 13 for any major carrier from most third-party retailers.
If you’re trying to purchase an iPhone 13 using the Apple Store app and are having trouble with it, try force closing the app and reopening it to see if it works.
