Iphone 3GS slow after update to iOS 5

Andrew_4S

I would upgrade to the 4S if someone else pays for it. Will you?

The issue is that Apple caused a problem and refuses to aknowledge the issue. The iPhone 3GS is still being sold so Apple should provide support. This "upgrade" should not have been supported on the 3GS but Apple appears to not be interested in keeping a satisfied customer base...

If apple refuses to recognize this issue now why would you even want a new iPhone? When/if they come out with the 5,5g and 5gs what's to say all of this won't happen again. I don't like being forced to get a new phone but if I am it won't be a apple and I hope others will agree.

I've been observing this behaviour (iOS5 on 3GS) ever since iOS5 was released. Every time my 3GS seems to get a bit sluggish, I take a look at how many apps I have running in the background, and finding that it's "lots", I close them all. This always works, 100%, every time, no problem Not very convenient but it does work repeatedly and reliably.

Clearly theres some kind of an issue with the way iOS5 handles background apps on the 3GS (probably memory I guess) and no doubt it will be fixed soon.

I saw David's iPhone 3GS running 501... like levi's.. its good, I have my own cloud so wasn't that keen on outing it for $. As to the blooth issues; not sure anybody is going to start manageing your iphone. Run the apps that allow it to run properly. ditto to the off topic remarks on this discussion like pc/mac thang.

thanks to all for this discusssion. i'm staying at ios 4 till atleast 5.1.

Ken

3GS 4.3.5

newton

os9

system 7.1

I think the reason that iOS 5 is slow on the 3GS is because the hardware just meets minimum requirements to run iOS 5. It’s like trying to run Windows 7 on single core processer with 512 MB of RAM. It will work but the computer will “walk it” not “run it”. I have compared the specs of the different models and the main difference is the memory the 3GS has 256 MB and the 4 and 4S have 512 MB.

I would want apple to allow me to go back to an older IOS at the risk of losing whatever it is that is great about IOS 5 but I suspect they won't do anything until there is even more people compalining!! Either they did not test the performance of IOS 5 on a 3gs or they operate just the same way as any other tech company that make money the same way, i.e. expect the consumer to upgrade hardware.

Unfortunately, I am outside the warranty period - otherwise, I would ask them to give me a new phone.

Memory difference makes sense as the explanation. Each app in background takes up some memory and as they keep piling up, the memory is eventually exhausted and the slowdowns begin. Clearing out the background apps would then restore operation to normal. As I said just now, in my experience closing all the backgorund aps is in fact 100% effective in resolving the slowdowns. All Apple need to do is stop the apps piling up into memory-shortage territory (by closing the older ones as necessary). This would seem to be a relatively easy fix, then everyone will be happy. (Just a working hypothesis but it seems to make sense).

This also explains why some people report major slowdown problems, while other have few or none. It depends on how many apps you habitually use and what apps they are.

Same problem here. I thought it was me, but realised that having to wait 10-15 seconds for my diary to load was "not on". I've removed most of the music that was on the phone, in an attempt to free up space, but that made no difference at all.

Bad show, Apple. If you'd warned that updating the software would clobber the phone, I wouldn't have updated.

My iPhone is now slower than any of the PDAs I've used in the last 20 years.

It made me rethink my phone upgrade plans, too.

For what it's worth, my wife, son and daughter all run 3gs' using iOS 5.0.1 just fine with no slow down issues. I realize that doesn't help you with your phone, but it does confirm that the 3gs has the horesepower to run the new OS.

Wow, Jlindah123 that makes your phone 2 out of 72366 "working properly" I would call Apple so they can have an example of a "properly working" 3GS on 5/5.0.1

Some native iPhone apps do start instantly, but the stuff I use day by day doesn't. I need more in the diary than is in the (very basic) iPhone offering, so I use PI. That takes ten seconds to launch with iOS 5.0.1 and was virtually instantaneous before I updated. Quck Office takes about 15 seconds - that's not such a problem because it only delays me, not the person I'm trying to fix an appointment with.

You may not have those apps, but does your iphone start immediately if you open the App store for the first time after a long pause or a switch-on? Mine takes about ten to fifteen seconds before the categories appear.

KeithPJ, removing the music won't change anything because that's not in the working memory so it's not causing the slowdowns. Instead, try the following:

1. Double-click on your Home button, which brings up the multi-task bar at the bottom of the screen.

2. Touch and hold any one of the backgound app icons. This wil make them all jiggle and acquire a red "delete" icon.

3. Touch the red "delete" icon on all of those apps that you're not using right now, to close them (in the limit, close them all).

4. Click the Home button once to get back to normal operating mode.

In my experience this restores the 3GS to normal speedy operation. Hopefully a future bug fix from Apple will make this annoying procedure unnecessary.

It would be great if you'd report back here that this fix was successful (or not!).

I just tested my wife's 3gs and the App Store. It took about 7 seconds to open via WiFi. My 4s took about 4 seconds. Certainly a difference, but not major in my book.

She does generally only use the built in apps, so that may be the reason the phone has never seemed particularly sluggish. There's going to be a diifference in performance between a current processor and a 3 year old one, though.

polarbreeze1, 'Happy New Year!' I read with interest your last post and rushed to try - as you know I have been to the extremes of installing as 'new iphone' which instantly restored the speed - but over the past 2 weeks it has slowly, slowly started to cool up again. Not nearly as bad as before - mainly slow on texting and trying to keep up with my keyboard speed - but the app 'Dragon' has helped enormously there. So, back to closing background apps - yep done that - and it really hasn't made any difference to my phone. Maybe I wasn't slow enough yet for it to have made any difference.....

Yes, I've been doing the "close all running apps" thing, but that's only applicable after a considerable time as more and more apps get started. Mine is still painfully slow when it's just been rebooted and there's nothing running. It wasn't this way with the original software, so it looks as if the usual "bloating" that goes with software updates has taken place. Under one second to about ten seconds to launch a diary isn't good. I don't suppose Apple care.

It's useful to know that the device segregates memory, so there's no point in not filling up the available space with music. Thomas Tallis can return to my phone!