iPhone applications no longer work

So I just had the same problem only slightly different...it's some form of corruption not all my third party apps failed. Google earth continued to work also the NY Times app had started acting wierd where the news headers stopped matching the stories. I started deleting apps one by one and checking to see if the remaining ones would work which they did. Something a bit different about my setup is that I used the coporate IT configuration tool to tighten the security configuration which is available from apple.

sstesta wrote:
A quick fix that worked for me was to simply install another app onto my iPhone. I installed a free one. Let's see how long that lasts. At least it's easier than restoring the whole darn phone.

A quick fix that worked for me was to simply install another app onto my iPhone. I installed a free one. Let's see how long that lasts. At least it's easier than restoring the whole darn phone.

This worked for me as well. My scenario:

1. Bought new iPhone, used it all weekend downloading apps.
2. Went home to sync it with iTunes to get my contacts. I hit the restore option. I had a first gen phone before 3gs.
3. My old icons came back and shifted all the new ones leaving a page or two blank in between. All of them did not work. Splash screen would come up then it would quickly disappear.
4. Then I downloaded one app and they all started working again.

*Try this first.*

I'm also having a similar issue with most of the previous posters... I have a fresh 3Gs and downloaded several free apps. Then loaded iTunes 8 and connected phone my PC to put some music on the phone. After the very first sync, all 3rd party apps stopped working. So I uninstalled a couple apps, still no 3rd party app would work. So I reinstalled one of them, then all the 3rd party apps started working.

Then I synced a second time, this time to load a ringtone. After the sync, the 3rd party apps stopped working again. So I uninstalled/reinstalled one of the free apps, then all the apps started working again.

Do I really have to do this each and every time I sync??? Ridiculous. In the iTunes settings (on my PC) for my phone, the only thing I'm syncing are the ringtones and music. My iTunes is not configured to sync the apps or anything else.

I've held off getting an iPhone for years so it's really disappointing to have these types of issues after finally taking the plunge.

Message was edited by: conradw

I started having the issue where after an itunes sync, downloaded apps would open and then immediately close. I found as a work-around fix, if I re-downloaded one of the apps – all of them would start working again… that is until the next itunes sync. For a more permanent solution, I disabled the ‘sync applications’ option on itunes. Since then, I have not had any issues. Hope this helps.
- Iphone 3.0.1
- Itunes 9
- Windows 7 OS

Note: After disabling the 'sync applicaitons' option in itunes, the next snyc may still cause the open/close issue. However, after you resolve it by re-downloading an app on the iphone, future syncing will not cause the problem. Also, the 'snyc applications' option is only available in itunes9 (to my knowledge). It is visible after you connect the iphone along with the 'sync music, snyc movies...' options.

Dear Peter1029: You are now my new favorite person. Your fix worked like a charm! Thanks!

I bought Iphone 3GS only a couple days ago and not even have a chance to sync everything to my computer. (The only one time I connnect it to my computer is that I want to check whether I could use computer to recharge the battery. Then I got notification that my itune and safari need to be upgraded and I follow the instructions to do it. I almost never use itune so that didn't surprise me but I am confused by the fact that safari also need to be upgraded). Then today I found all third-party apps didn't work, which drove me crazy. After read a few lastest post of this thread I installed a new app from apple store and finally get everything work again.

This seems like a major problem, never get complete fixed for more than a year. I am not a big fan of apple, but really like the convenience that Iphone brings me. But this bug is really unbelievable!

The iPhone is designed to work with iTunes. It is not a standalone phone, and if you don't sync regularly with iTunes you are not performing regular backups and you are in danger of losing all of your content. You also must sync with the SAME iTunes every time or content will be erased.

As far as Apple Update is concerned, it checks for all Apple products on your computer and offers to update all of them. You can uncheck the ones you don't want. It's a little sneaky, because it will suggest an "update" to Safari even if you don't have it on your Windows computer. If you don't uncheck it then Safari will be installed on your computer. The Safari in the updater is Windows Safari, not iPhone Safari.

I had the same problem after updating my iphone with a new software update. None of my apps worked that I had downloaded (free and paid) after the update, except for the default ones that were on the phone when I initially purchased it.

I got the apps to start working again by going to the app store and downloading another (free) application, then once the new application had been installed and opened i exited the app, and the rest of my apps resumed working. If any of you are having similar tech problems you should try this prior to losing your mind/going to the Apple store.

-Guy

I still haven't read or found a cure for this. Apps crashing to the desktop I presumed was a removal of these apps as FREE software or perhaps a bug/conflict.

I decided to remove lots of apps, including all those I paid for and I noticed in iTunes that these apps were unticked in the applications window of iTunes. Therefore the link between my laptop and iPhone was active but the updating of installed applications was only appearing on my laptop!

Updates to the Calendar worked fine but with very few apps now on my iPhone its no longer has the same appeal. My next step will be to take it to the Apple Store in London to get them to remedy the situation.

None of my 3rd Party apps work since the 3.1.2 update. They were fine before that. All of them crash immediately.

I've tried downloading a new app, rebooting, and restoring the iPhone. None of it has worked. Is there anything else I can try?

I spent the day trying to resolve this problem and tried to find out exactly what apps were purchased from my account as opposed to that of my daughters and my wife's. These seem to be the ones that don't work. I removed as many apps as I could without getting a result via my laptop so I took my iPhone into work, synced it and then plugged my iPhone back into my laptop. Bingo! All the apps started installing on my iPhone.

So, if you have your iPhone synced with another computer you might want to try the above. Good luck

Sadly I also have had the same issues with both Purchased and Free Apps not working.

I was running iPhone OS 2.2.1 for a long while with no problems at all. Then I decided, against might gut feeling and better judgemnet with unproven OS Software Updates, to update to the latest iPhone OS 3.1.2. What a bad choice and complete disaster. After updating and rebooting, none of my Apps worked. Free or Purchased. except for the Apple provided Software. I regretted my choice but knew somehow I would be able to get everything sorted out and fixed one way or another. I always have been able to fix problems, some that weren't even my own. Relying on my 32 years of Computer Experience dating all the way back to Large Mainframes, I decided to revert to a previous version and upgrade again as many times as it would take.

1st. I downloaded the IPSW for iPhone OS 3.1 filename=iPhone1,1 3.1_7C144Restore.ipsw

2nd. I plugged in my iPhone with the Apple supplied cable and ran iTunes 9.0.1.8 on my IBM Lenovo Notebook with XP SP3 and did a <SHIFT> Restore and opened the IPSW and let it run.

3rd. I checked my iPhone Apps which still would not run.

4th. Next I try everything all over with iPhone OS 2.2.1 which would not Restore because the Carrier Settings had been upgraded with iPhone OS 3.1 and iPhone OS 3.1.2.

5th. I decided to try using my MAC Powerbook. Cabled the iPhone, ran iTunes 9.0.1.8 <SHIFT> Restore with the same iPhone1,1 3.1_7C144Restore.ipsw file. This time I told the Restore to Set up as a New Phone instead, knowing I would lose my Contacts etc. but decided it might help make the Apps run.

6th. I upgraded to iPhone OS 3.1.2 using the iTunes download feature since the IPSW is not available anywhere else that I could find.

7th. I Restored my iPhone with the first Backup in the list (Oldest Date). Apple should really rename one of the Restores so people don't get confused between <SHIFT> Restore and just Restore.

8th. I tried running my Apps. VOILA, to my amazement they finally worked. All 10 pages of my Free and Purchased Apps work perfectly. Yeah sure I have to re-enter my Contacts manually, but my Apps are all FINALLY working again.

I knew I could fix it, I just didn't know exactly how long it would take.

I hope this helps someone out there if your willing to Bite the Bullet and do the steps.

Try what I just posted if you have the MOXIE.

Good Luck, it worked for me. I don't think you need 2 computers though. I haven't wanted to do it all over again just to see.

P.S. I forget one step that I was reminded of by reading another post.

When on the Apple MAC PowerBook I did a De-Authorize and Authorize.