Technology is supposed to make our lives easier. But sometimes, when tech doesn’t work right, the companies behind it don’t take the blame. Instead, they tell us: “You’re holding it wrong.” That phrase has become a classic example of how tech giants sometimes blame the users instead of fixing the problem. It’s now part of tech PR history, and it’s kind of hilarious.

TL;DR

Some tech products have flaws, but instead of saying “Oops,” companies blame users. The phrase “You’re holding it wrong” famously began with the iPhone 4. Since then, it’s become a symbol of bad tech PR. This article looks back at some funny and strange moments when companies shifted the blame to us.

iPhone 4: The Original “You’re Holding It Wrong”

Let’s go back to 2010. Apple launched the iPhone 4 with huge excitement. It had a fancy new design and a better camera. One big change was the stainless steel antenna band around the edge.

But soon after launch, people noticed a problem. If you held the phone a certain way—like, naturally—it dropped calls. People called it “Antennagate.” The signal went down when your hand touched the lower left corner.

So what did Apple say? Did they say sorry? Nope. Steve Jobs famously told a user: “Just avoid holding it in that way.” The world responded with a stunned silence, then a lot of memes.

This marked the birth of the phrase: “You’re holding it wrong.”

Apple did later offer free bumpers to help with the antenna issue. But the damage was done. It became a perfect example of blaming customers for using a product the way it was designed to be used.

Microsoft Surface and the Lap Problem

Microsoft joined the fun too. Their Surface tablets were supposed to be the perfect blend of laptop and tablet. But users complained it was hard to use on their laps. Unlike a true laptop, the Surface felt wobbly unless it was on a firm surface (see what we did there?).

Microsoft didn’t say “you’re holding it wrong,” but they did suggest people were just too used to traditional laptops. In other words, “You’re expecting the wrong kind of comfort.”

They eventually fixed this problem with better keyboard covers and stronger kickstands. But at first, user comfort complaints were hand-waved as misunderstanding the product.

Nintendo Switch: Drift Happens

The Nintendo Switch became a hit. People of all ages loved it—until something called “Joy-Con Drift” hit large numbers of users.

Joy-Con Drift is when the joystick moves your character even though you’re not touching it. Gamers went nuts with frustration.

Nintendo at first didn’t want to admit to a design flaw. Their early response boiled down to: Try recalibrating. Maybe clean it. You’re probably using it too hard.

Users and tech reporters weren’t happy. Eventually, lawsuits forced Nintendo to offer free repairs. But PR-wise, the damage was done. People still joke about treating their Joy-Cons like fragile glass.

Google Pixel Phones and the Pocket Mystery

Some users of the Google Pixel 6 reported that their phones made pocket calls—or just woke up in their pocket randomly. What was causing it? Magic? Ghosts? Nope, it was Google’s feature called “Tap to Wake.”

Google didn’t exactly say “you’re using it wrong,” but their first suggestion was: “Maybe try disabling that feature.”

It was a feature they created. For convenience. And now users were being told it was their fault for leaving it on. Nice.

Samsung Galaxy Fold Fiasco

Folding phones were supposed to be the future. Samsung’s Galaxy Fold was the first to try. But early review units broke—fast.

One reason was that users peeled off a layer on the screen, thinking it was a screen protector. Samsung hadn’t made it clear that this layer was part of the actual screen. Yikes.

Samsung’s first reaction? “Don’t peel that off.” As if it were obvious. After all, phones have had removable screen protectors for years. Reviewers felt blamed for a problem that came from poor design and lack of instructions.

Samsung corrected the issue in later models, but their early PR response left people laughing—and shaking their heads.

When VR Made People Sick

Early virtual reality headsets were exciting, like Oculus Rift and HTC Vive. But they made some people dizzy or sick. Literally queasy.

The early advice? “You’re probably not used to VR yet.” Or even: “Maybe you’re just sensitive to motion.”

Again, the problem was real. VR engines weren’t optimized. Headsets had display lag that caused nausea. Instead of totally admitting this, companies said the users were just getting used to it.

Eventually, better technology helped. But those early responses made it sound like seasickness was the user’s fault for expecting not to… get seasick. Fun times.

Funniest “You’re Holding It Wrong” Moments

Here are some funny, weird moments in tech history when things went wrong—and users got blamed:

• MacBook’s Butterfly Keyboard: Keys stopped working. Apple said crumbs were the problem. Crumbs from where?
• Fitbit Irritations: Some users got rashes. The advice? “Try wearing it looser.” Thanks, doc.
• Google Glass: People didn’t like it. Google said society wasn’t ready for it. Maybe it just looked weird?
• Roomba Smears “Gifts”: Some robot vacuums rolled through pet messes. The response? “Keep floor clean.” That’s what the robot was for!

Why This Keeps Happening

Why do tech companies blame users? A few reasons:

• Pride: No one wants to admit their baby is flawed.
• PR Strategy: Blaming users means avoiding costly recalls or bad press.
• Cost: Admitting a flaw can lead to lawsuits and refunds.

But it can backfire hard. People remember when they were blamed. Social media makes sure of it. A little humility goes a long way in tech PR.

Lessons Learned (Hopefully)

Not every company keeps making the same mistake. Some do learn:

• Apple eventually started offering free fixes more quietly.
• Nintendo now repairs Joy-Cons for free (even if silently).
• Samsung waited longer with the Galaxy Z Fold 2, after learning from their first goof.

If only all companies admitted: “Yeah, we goofed. Let’s fix it.” That would make everyone’s life easier—and quieter.

Final Thoughts

So next time your gadget acts weird, and some company says it’s your fault—you’re not alone. Many great tech products had bugs that were laughed off as user error.

Just remember: You’re probably holding it right. They just made it wrong.