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User profile for user: bridgetb1991
bridgetb1991 Author
User level: Level 1
0 points

Iphone 3GS keeps shutting down.

I know there are lots of topics in here about this, but I just wanted to explain my own situation and see if it's any different.

As of late my Iphone 3Gs has been shutting down. I will be using the phone as normal, and it will have a decent amount of battery life left, but it was just crash. I'll be in an app, playing a game/chatting or safari and the phone will suddenly return to the home screen. The little battery will go red and show 0% (when my battery life was 80% just seconds ago) and then shut down.

I will have to turn it back on normally and everything will be fine again and my battery life will return to what it was previously.

This used to happen just once or twice a day but now it is happening frequently and it's really starting to frustrate me. I thought maybe it was my phone overheating because I had too many applications open and so I now make sure to keep all of my applications closed but the problem is STILL happening.

I have 4.2.1 software and I am always making sure to keep it updated.

I haven't dropped it or gotten it wet or anything.

I am going to do a reset and see if that fixes the problem, but does anyone have any other suggestions or are you experiencing the same problems?

It frustrates me that I pay all this money for a phone that is now barely serving it's purpose. I shouldn't have to worry that it's going to shut down on me in the middle of a call or while I am doing something important.

Help!

3GS, iOS 4

Posted on Jan 1, 2011 5:58 PM

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43 replies
User profile for user: Jhopk4
Jhopk4
User level: Level 1
12 points

Feb 8, 2011 9:02 PM in response to bridgetb1991

My 3GS also began shutting off after I updated to iOS4. It got progressively worse. As you described, it would snap off with a ghost image still on the screen, no matter what battery % was. Worked like normal when plugged in.

I took it to the Christiana, DE Apple Store and the genius confirmed a hardware issue by doing a clean restore of the iOS. He acknowledged he was aware of the issue, but refused to replace the phone or repair it.

I removed the battery, cleaned the contacts, no improvement. The issue wasn't the SIM card or ATT network. I confirmed this by removing the SIM card, putting it in Airplane mode and then turned back on WiFi. In this (sim-less) WiFi state with battery, 3GS would still shut off. The phone always worked like normal when connected to power and never shut down.

I ordered a replacement battery from iFixit. It is exactly the same model as the original, obviously a different serial number. It works FLAWLESSLY! User uploaded file Maps, GPS, games!! Like new. Period.

Further research shows the problem is there are a few series of the batteries and the battery actually has a little circuit board on it that is apparently the cause (incompatible with iOS4)

Shame on you Apple for refusing to help with such a minor fix. Thank you iFixit for providing the solution.
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User profile for user: tundrastang200
tundrastang200
User level: Level 1
0 points

Feb 10, 2011 6:11 AM in response to Jhopk4

I have the same problem. It started about a week ago and got progressivly worse. The pjone works fine if it is plugged in. If you unplug it and jump around on apps it shuts off and will read 90% or better power. It wont even check webmail or internet with out shutting down very anoying. I am going to take it back to the apple store and ask for a new phine I have 1 month left on my warrenty and dont want this one to work for a month then break again when out of warrenty. It really ***** because you will be in the middle of doing something or talking to someone and it shuts down.
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User profile for user: Angry Narwhal
Angry Narwhal
User level: Level 1
8 points

Feb 11, 2011 5:00 PM in response to tundrastang200

Bump - Any Apple people here watching this thread?

Just to pile on.... I'm seeing the same. No rhyme or reason. No problems with my phone physically, never got wet. Running the latest and greatest software.

I've noticed that it crashes the most when on the cellular network, but it shuts itself off on my wifi.

And what annoys me the most is, it makes me go into a cycle of un-usability for hours of my day. It powers off, I turn it boot it back on, try to use an app, and it powers off again. And then starts the vicious cycle which frustrates me for the next 4-6 hours until I decide to just not pick it up again.

Message was edited by: Angry Narwhal
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User profile for user: Angry Narwhal
Angry Narwhal
User level: Level 1
8 points

Feb 11, 2011 8:05 PM in response to diesel vdub

diesel vdub wrote:
Angry Narwhal wrote:
Bump - Any Apple people here watching this thread?


No. This is a peer to peer forum, there is no official Apple presence here.
If you are still under warranty, take it to an Apple store.


Oh I wish I was under warranty still. 4 more months until my 2 yr ATT contract expires before I can re-up with verizon or a cheaper att plan. (hopefully)

Hopefully this summer the iPhone 5 will be out.
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User profile for user: phillycheez
phillycheez
User level: Level 1
0 points

Feb 11, 2011 8:16 PM in response to bridgetb1991

4.2.1 is bad.

I have an iPhone 4; I just upgraded to 4.2.1, then my phone started doing the same thing. I noticed first with the iPod app, it would play a couple min then go to the home screen. Then Pandora, play a couple min then go to homescreen; I had it on a dock at work and it would stop, then a couple min later turn on and start playing the iPod song from the beginning, same cycle over and over. Next with texts and Safari. I don't make a lot of calls, but went to get a # from my contacts and the phone app would not open.
I tried soft reboot, hard reboot, resetting the stuff in settings. The people at the AT&T store said they hadn't seen it yet. They put me on the phone with Apple; I guess I had way too many 'multitasking apps' open. I shut them all down, but it would still not allow me to access the phone.
Apple said to restore to factory settings, and then try to use phone app. I just did and it allowed me to call someone. I'm now loading it with the back-up just before 4.2.1- wish me luck.
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User profile for user: diesel vdub
diesel vdub
User level: Level 7
22,178 points

Feb 11, 2011 8:27 PM in response to phillycheez

phillycheez wrote:
4.2.1 is bad.

I have an iPhone 4; I just upgraded to 4.2.1, then my phone started doing the same thing. I noticed first with the iPod app, it would play a couple min then go to the home screen. Then Pandora, play a couple min then go to homescreen; I had it on a dock at work and it would stop, then a couple min later turn on and start playing the iPod song from the beginning, same cycle over and over. Next with texts and Safari. I don't make a lot of calls, but went to get a # from my contacts and the phone app would not open.
I tried soft reboot, hard reboot, resetting the stuff in settings. The people at the AT&T store said they hadn't seen it yet. They put me on the phone with Apple; I guess I had way too many 'multitasking apps' open. I shut them all down, but it would still not allow me to access the phone.
Apple said to restore to factory settings, and then try to use phone app. I just did and it allowed me to call someone. I'm now loading it with the back-up just before 4.2.1- wish me luck.


1) Ideally you should use the device for several days without restoring your backup to prove the issue is truly resolved.
2) If restoring as new corrects the issue it is NOT an iOS 4.2.1 issue, it is a problem with your backup.
3) There is no reason to restore from your backup, you are simply re-introducing the problem that you were trying to correct.
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User profile for user: SGRAINGER
SGRAINGER
User level: Level 1
4 points

Feb 12, 2011 8:52 PM in response to bridgetb1991

My iphone 3GS has the same problem, the apple store were unable to help me under warranty. I will never buy another apple product, if this is the kind of service and product apple deliver. My battery crashes to zero charge, phone cuts out, upon reboot battery fine. This happens no matter what level of charge is in the battery. Interestingly I can use iphone all day as a music player and this never happens, it only happens when I'm on a phone call.
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Iphone 3GS keeps shutting down.

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