Iphone 3GS slow after update to iOS 5

I've been also having the same problem. It's good to know there's possible options to try. I was worried I would have to restore my client's phone (he's amnesic, so I didn't want to take the risk for losing information.

I'll definatly be disabling loads of settings, and seeing how that goes. If I find any tricks, I'll post them here.

Quite disappointing service though.

'I thought Apple was better than PC. 🙂' - Nope, just different. Apple is a design and marketing company (and they're very good at it too). They don't really invent, more tweak and improve(?). The internal hardware is usually cheap stuff from Foxcomm or equivalent. Where Apple scores is ease of use between software and hardware.

Unfortunately, the iOS updates ALWAYS seem to cause problems for thousands of Apple users and Apple almost ALWAYS ignores these customers (I know there has been a recent update but I still know of people having problems). Apple's philosophy tends to be "if you can afford our products, then you can afford to upgrade your hardware", rather than the Microsoft approach of trying to keep all users happy (support is still there for XP!).

Now, I love my iPod but my two iPhone's caused no end of problems (and that's ignoring the fact that you have (had) to use iTunes). I'm the proud owner of a Galaxy S2 which, you know, just works - No need for iTunes (or similar) just drag and drop from ANY computer, all websites available to display video and animations, unlimited battery life (I carry an easy to change spare), unlimited storage (via SD card), and the app store has had a make-over too!

After nothing but dissapointment with iPhones, I've seen the light!

CUE FANBOYS!!!!!!

PS. Since when was turning things off or using your device less a 'solution' to a problem. Jeez!!!

Apple finally speaks and admits to what we've been saying here:

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/story/2011-11-02/apple-acknowledges-iphone-bat tery-problems/51049458/1

I think we may be to a "live with your bandaid approach until it gets fixed at the source" time.

I just "downgraded" to ios5 last night an am very dissapointed. The phone wasn't all that fast to begin with but wasn't slow. Now with ios5 it's pretty much a paper weight. It's not worth the hastle just to get a few changes that most probably won't even notice. I will most definately be getting an android phone next due to the better user interface (customizable pages, real time widgets, etc). The icons only thing isn't cutting it for me anymore. It's pains me to say it as I have a few apple products (macbook, iphone, ipod) but Apple died when Jobs did.

i have just downloaded ios 5.0 too - it froze - had to restore factory settings and none of my apps work now and i just cant get it to work again after all iv read on this discussion, also from what im getting off this discussion mainly is Apple dont give a s**t about anyone just want people to upgrade. When it worked it is a great phone but i think im gonna be with you and get a galaxy S2 or similar next time for all the reasons you just explained above,no memory,drag and drop etc....no hassles!

I mean if people only looked at what there doing on this site right now,hundreds of thousands of people with problems looking for solutions to them. You will not see another site in the world dedicated to a product with so many questions from pc's,xbox,ps3,tv's OTHER PHONE makes its rediculess and i shall never be getting an apple product again

I'm on first page of this thread from 21st October. Nothing has helped fix this. iCloud, Reminder sync are all red herrings. The basic functions on the phone are the slowest - settings, messages, phone. Most apps take 20 seconds or thereabouts to respond following a blank screen.

AT&T suggested I upgrade the phone for $250 since "it is an older and slower phone".

You're hijacking the thread. The original posters is complaining about slow app startup not battery life. This "fix" says nothing about that.

@rp1428 Not necessarily - all these things seem connected. The problems with synchronizing forever with the cloud and other things that cause the CPU usage to go to 100% can all make the phone act very slowly and will also cause the battery to drain quickly.

iOS 5.0.1 update may fix problems noted in this thread.

http://www.cioinsight.com/c/a/Latest-News/Apple-Admits-iOS-5-Battery-Issues-for- Some-Users-Issuing-Fix-205770/?kc=CIOMINEPNL11042011STR3

Same over here. iPhone 3GS is very slow since upgrading to iOS 5.0, nearly unusable. Scrolling through my (music) album collection for example became virtually impossible.

When I try to upgrade to 5.0.1 iTunes gives me a messages saying that due to an unknown fault iTunes can not check for updates.

I've been using macs since the second part of the '80's and I never have been so frustrated with Appe like the last few months.

Thanks for the suggestions. Cleaning up notification services and location services helped me a lot. But I don't like this hard reboot thing. It messes too much up. I like to clean my app stack out and simply do a power down reboot. That seems to work great on both my iPhone and my iPad.

Like yourself I updowngraded to ios5 to give the iCloud a try... My poor little iPhone 3gs is practically unusable! Like a beautiful brick so it is. I have had to disable quite a few features to get it to work "decently".

Now Apple please be good and fix this, all I have been since you launched the iphone is a loyal customer 🙂 I did not get your lovely 4s because my contract does not allow me to so I am waiting on the 5 (like everyone is who has a 3gs). So, be as nice to keep us content, because quite frankly I am at my wits end!

I know you are a company who is geared towards profits (like any other company) but the main reason why everyone is using your products is because a. they are stable and usable b. they are well designed c. the apps are brill! Do not end up like M$ ye are better than that

Good Day

My experience with iOS5 on 3GS has been good, and I'd be the first to complain if it wasn't! I thought that would be worth posting because it says that there IS a solution to the 3GS slowdowns that people are reporting on this thread - it's just a question of finding out what it is.

My experience has been as follows:

1. I have NOT encountered any of the app slowdowns, crashes etc that others have reported, except that:

2. In common with many iPhone users (including 4 and 4S), I AM having problems with slowness of iCloud-related syncing and pushing, which is seriously impacting usability of iCal, Mail etc.

I don't think iOS5 is the problem - I rather think it's iCloud.

Thanks polarbreeze, it is good to know that iOS5 can work flawless on a 3GS and I'm glad it does on yours. Sadly it doesn't on mine and I don't have iCloud activated yet (I'm still on mobile me) so that can't be the cause of the problems on my 3GS.

Cheers

A couple days ago I posed in this thread that I had solved my 3GS problems. Unfortunately, it did not work for long and my phone seemed to go from bad to worse. Feeling frustrated, I decided to go to the Apple Store Genius Bar and get their opinion.

In a nutshell, they said they are seeing this problem not only with the 3GS but also with the 4S. They said there is not much you can do about it until the beta PATCH gets past the beta stage and Apple deploys it for all to use. However, they did say that they tested it internally and believe it is working pretty well.

GOOD NEWS is they kinda fixed my phone while I was there. Before they did anything, they asked me to connect to iCloud and make sure my contacts were sync'd. Once that happened, they basically COMPLETELY reset my phone and WIPED everything off of it. They told me YOU CANNOT THEN do a restore from back up on your phone. If you do, the problem will come back. Instead, bring back your apps one at a time.

Now, its been about 8 hours and my phone is working fine, battery is just fine. I did not turn any services off... its all connected. So for now, I think I am good. But who knows what tomorrow will bring.

Thats the skinny... with Apple Genius professional advice.

Hope it helps someone.