You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

💡 Did you know?

⏺ If you can't accept iCloud Terms and Conditions... Learn more >

⏺ If you don't see your iCloud notes in the Notes app... Learn more >

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

iPhone 4S dropping network and data at random

Hi,

I've been using an iPhone 4 on a Vodafone contract for the past 16 month and just bought an iPhone 4S direct from Apple. It arrived on Friday morning and I got it set up correctly as far as I can tell.

When I first turn it on, it works lovely and exactly as I would expect, able to make calls, send texts and access the internet via the cellular network. However, at what appears to be random, the network will disappear (no bars of signal) stopping me making calls and texts, but still allowing me to access the internet. Sometimes, the Internet goes, but I can still make calls and texts. Other times, everything is gone and I get "No Signal" where it normally says Vodafone UK.

So when trying to fix this problem after it's noticed, I try putting it into Airplane mode and back out. The phone scans for a network and goes back to the same state as before I tried this fix. I have tried resetting network settings, but this doesn't change anything. The only thing that actually fixes it temporarily is turning the phone right off and back on again.

At this stage I assume this is a bug with the software, but I wondered if anyone else is experiencing anything like this? If no one is, I will take it up with Apple, but I don't really want to do that as I love the new phone so much!!

Cheers, Stuart

iMac (late 2009), Mac OS X (10.6.3), 27" i7 Quad-Core, 4GB RAM, 1TB HDD

Posted on Oct 16, 2011 2:53 AM

1,022 replies

Nov 13, 2011 3:42 AM in response to Stuart Mchattie

We even don't know if apple is aware of this problem and will adress a fix for this issue. I really dont care about the battery draining, I cant use my brand new +700 euro phone at all because there is no network! Unbelievable!

nesse10

Level 1

0 points

Nov 13, 2011 3:45 AM in response to bushmills

@bushmills

searching like crazy in my web browser history..

Can´t find it,"#¤%&%¤#¤%&/&%¤%

Nov 13, 2011 4:04 AM in response to bushmills

@bushmills - stuxnet was a targeted piece of malware that only affected programmable logic controllers, from one manufacturer, attached to windows PC's in an iranian nuclear plant, using previously unknown zero-day exploits in the operating system. Reference - http://www.symantec.com/connect/blogs/w32stuxnet-dossier - should prove interesting reading for you.

How stuxnet could be related to an apple product is beyond me.

IMO, this iOS5 problem is indicative of apple's lack of quality control in real world situations. Works fine in the lab, but put it out in the real world and problems abound. Another example of this was Lion + corporate grade wireless networks, it would drop out like crazy until the second service pack. Only affected Macbooks who upgraded to Lion as soon as it became available - this issue is only affecting iOS5.

Nov 13, 2011 4:08 AM in response to Stuart Mchattie

wondering if anyone has got a reply from Apple??

I will return my iPhone tomorrow!!

nesse10

Level 1

0 points

Nov 13, 2011 4:14 AM in response to bushmills

Found it

http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2011/11/ios-501-update-causing-contact-wifi-he adaches-for-some-users.ars

but somehow the part about chief designer has been removed!!!!!

What´s that about????

Nov 13, 2011 4:36 AM in response to nesse10

i read in another thread one customer is on his third replacement phone and still same issue.

I have commited to call apple every one hour until i get an answer.

I am glad this is getting more focus, i emailed several techsites to direct them to this thread and ten others on this forum all saying same thing, only thing that will make apple care is bad publisity and loss of sales.

so i encurage all to do the same. Spread the word on blogs etc.

http://www.mostlyblog.com/iphone-4s-network-issues

swedens largets mobile site writes about it here http://www.mobil.se/nyheter/iphone-4s-problem-hos-tele2-och-telenor-1.492148.htm l

Also my carrier told me (TELE2) that their technicians had confirmed it was not a Carrier problem! it is on apples side, they are awaiting an answer from APPLE! they have a list they added my number and sms will be sent when a fix or solution is found.

Nov 13, 2011 4:47 AM in response to christianfromfinspång

If your network trouble is as bad as mine, you'll be lucky to receive that call or SMS telling you that a fix has been found. 😟

manoj k

Level 1

0 points

Nov 13, 2011 4:54 AM in response to Stuart Mchattie

I think he meant cellular data.

And the problem is only with the iPhone 4S. My mom's iPhone 4 is fine and my iPad 2 is also perfectly catching signals.

iPhones' aren't particularly the best when it comes down to the "phone" function. But I think apple have gone a bit too far by eliminating the phone in the iPhone. Maybe they sold me an iPod 4S(I got it unlocked, and mine's the 64 gig one, so they charged me 999 a$ for it).

*******..

vZ10

Level 1

7 points

Nov 13, 2011 4:58 AM in response to Stuart Mchattie

Just have changed sim to another cellular and have the same problem with signal.

jad143

Level 1

0 points

Nov 13, 2011 5:18 AM in response to Stuart Mchattie

This is too much Apple!

Since 2 days, I cannot call or text. It's not a minor issue that we can hold on to.
We need a fix now!!!

sonza

Level 1

0 points

Nov 13, 2011 5:35 AM in response to vZ10

Yeah me too. I'm here in the Philippines and i just got my iPhone4s. Everything was gine UP Until i updated to 5.0.1.

Now my iPhone is a iPod Touch S.

I tried swicthing networks (from Smart Communications) to the telecom company that had exclusive iphone rights before (Globe Telecoms) and that has helped a bit. The signal problem is still there but not as bad as my old sim. Hopefully this gets resolved soon because i need my old number back.

*also tried downgrading to 5.0 which i then gind out to be impossible. Ugh.