New iPhone 4S unresponsive, requiring a hard reset on several occasions

The point about a potential power issue is interesting mindog69. My lockups / panics + reboots tend to happen at similar times each day; one possible reason for that would be if the voltage from the battery became unstable at a certain level of discharge (because I tend to unplug the phone at the same time each morning, so charge level at a given time would be similar day-to-day).

I'm pretty sure this must be at least PARTLY a hardware issue, because I've seen an iphone 4 and iphone 4s that have both been restored from backups on ios 5, and don't have any panics at all. Good luck with your replacement!

After the having the same unresponsiveness issues one too many times, I restored my iPhone 4S yesterday from iTunes and set it up as a new phone without any extra apps.

Things seemed to go well today and I thought my problems disappeared until late in the afternoon. Same unresponsive behavior requiring a hard reset.

I immediately called AppleCare and they are sending me a replacement (I also have AppleCare+). The AppleCare advisor was very informative and logical. There are 4 million plus iPhone 4S's out there and if there was a software issue, this forum thread would be on its 1000th page by now. However, since this thread is only 5 pages long, it makes sense that we are looking at a defective hardware issue here.

The power issue would seem to make sense to me as well because this has never happened when the phone is plugged in to a power source.

Hopefully, the replacement iPhone 4S will be problem free. Good luck to those out there having the same problem!

A happy ending (hopefully) for me. After filling in the online feedback for my Genius bar appointment (pretty negatively seeing as I'd been told to wait a week for replacement), I had a very apologetic call yesterday from the store manager, saying if I came in then they would sort it out.

This morning I have a new iphone, which so far (touch wood) shows no problems of any kind (no panics, battery life is fine), and a free bumper to compensate for wasted time. Fair play to Apple for putting things right. If I have any more problems the manager will be getting a call!

I have to say that none of the store staff seem sure how to investigate iphone problems - they obviously hadn't been trained how to access the ios 5 diagnostics menu and interpret the contents - hopefully they will be at some point.

I'd suggest that anyone else who's getting these lockups and panic messages should ask for replacement sooner rather than later - there's no reason why you should put up with dodgy hardware.

Add me to the list. I've got a white 64GB model that, two nights ago, locked up totally on me. I was going to ask Siri a question, pressed and held the home button, and the microphone appeared and then my phone froze up. No button would work. I tried the sleep button, the home button, every button but the screen simply would not change. After about 5 minutes of trying every button possible and being on hold waiting to talk to an Apple rep at my local store I purchased it at, the screen changed to black with the white progress wheel, though it was not spinning at all.

The Apple tech told me to do a hard reset by holding down the home and sleep buttons for a while until the Apple logo appeared. She told me that it was likely an app probably caused the freeze and she recommended that I do a full shutdown and restart for the phone often to keep it running smooth and avoid freezes like that. The ONLY app I had running at the time, however, was Siri.

I'm going to keep a close on on this thread.

Just finished at the Apple store (actually typing this on one of their iMacs while I wait for my phone to back up to iCloud). Basically got the it could be a software or hardware issue but we can't tell. He asked if I restored my phone from a back up (which I did from my 3GS) and said it could be a corrupt back up causing the issues on my iPhone 4S and suggested I back up my phone to iCloud then restore the phone and set up as a new phone and restore my contacts and photos, etc from iCloud. He told me to definately not use the iTunes back up as the bug could be in this... Not particulary pleased with that as I'll loose all my app data etc 😟

If the problem then continues after this they'll then replace it.. . As mine doesn't do it daily or regulary like anyone else on this thread, I'm not really sure whether to restore it or just leave it 😐

hopefully my last update...

the phone worked fine for a grand total of one day following the restore to factory setttings and then setting up as a new phone.

the phone completely shut down last night requiring the usual hard reset, and today i happened to glance at my phone when it was in the middle of a reboot cycle (it just came back on it's own, and i didn't need the hard reset). i called in the issue, and the CSR said they'd process a repair on this. the replacement is being processed now and will hopefully be shipped soon... i'm hoping that'll be the end of this.

good luck to everyone experiencing this. i'd be very curious to know if anyone has successfully fixed the issue by restoring factory settings and setting up as a new phone (assuming you had previously set up the phone from a backup).

Well done brumeye, hope you're sorted mate.

Well I went in to Southampton apple store for my 10am appointment, was told they had no record of my appointment when he searched his iPod, I even tried showing him it on my iPhone. So he booked me in, listened to problem of locking up. Said he wanted to try a dfu reinstall. Before he started I told him there were loads of error reports on the phone - wasn't interested. So he did it anyway, left me to it. Came back about ten mins later and said to try it for a week and see if it's ok. Said to do as a new phone, not from a restore. So spent a couple of hours syncing and foldering my apps and will see how it goes.

Yet another 32GB 4S to add to the list. Happens maybe every couple days or so, but sometimes multiple times in the same day. Same deal as everyone else - leave the phone in sleep mode for a while, come back, and it's unresponsive. Reset, and things are okay. Have turned off as much as I can without seriously crippling my normal usage.

I had a 16GB 3GS that had iOS5 on it, which is the backup I restored from when I activated my new 4S.

I think I am going to see if my local AT&T store can swap the phone for me.

Well after the reset at the apple store, lockups last night at 1am, then this morning at 0902, 1100, 1131, it's going back :(

hi all,

i also get this problem.

i have the 4s 16gb and i restored it from a 16gb 3gs.

i booked myself in to the Basingstoke (UK) Genuis Bar and he said that i could swop it out with one they had there, but they use referbs, i didnt pay £499 for a referb, so he said to phone the website, which i did and they said to send it in for repair.

i dont want it repaired, i want it working right in the 1st place. you dont buy a pair of jeans and find a rip in them and return it to the shop and they repair it for you.

so i phoned apple again and tech support are sending me a new one. finally.

fingers crossed this one doesnt do it either as just sold my 3gs 😟

Hi all

Please help ive just purchased the Iphone4s a few days ago and now im having the blackscreen problem and nothing is working. i cant even hard reset it

ZZZ

Hi -

I have the same issue. Phone dies requiring a hard reset. I have had the phone 9 days on a Vodafone contract in the UK. I tried the new phone restore without success.

Vodafone have been less than helpfull as I have had the phone more than 7 days. They intend to send if off for 2 to 3 weeks! They also sent me to Apple but I need a Genius Appt - booked for next saturday. Again though the phone needs to go off for exchange.

This isnt on with a phone less than two weeks old! I am an Apple adict and own numerous items of theirs, this is the first time I have run into problems and would have expected better from them.

Back to Vodafone Camberley tomorrow. If anyone resolves this please post!

Well, absolutely fuming here now. Been back to the Southampton Apple store for my 2:30 appointement. Checked in, waited like a lemon for 45 minutes. Asked a lady if there was a delay, she said they had "called me" already and moved on - no alert on the phone !!!

Saw the "genius", explained problem and that I had been in Friday for DFU restore. He was useless. I told him there were loads of panic errors in the diagnotics screen. Showed him one, he looked and said all a load information that meant nothing to him.

Said they would retail swap it, did I buy it there instore ??? No I said, online.

OH we'll do nothing with it then, you have to contact them online.

2 wasted trips to town, parking, time, Fuming !!!!! Waiting for a callback from Apple Store online now.

Adski - sorry to hear your "Genius" experience was even worse than mine! My replacement was a refurb as i'd originally bought from Vodafone so they wouldn't give a new replacement - but i think at this stage all 4s "refurbs" must in fact be new, they won't have had time to rework any returns yet.

Sounds like Apple stores are really inconsistent which is a shame - mates have had good experiences at the Southampton one in the past. One thing I did notice is that there seems to be NO communication or continuity beween the phone support team and the apple store; the "genius" had no information at all about what i'd discussed with tech support at length, which came as a surprise.

All i can suggest is doing the same as me and giving really bad feedback if you get an email asking for it; that did the trick. Hopefully tech support will sort you out without having to do that though.

On the upside, my replacement refurb is still absolutely fine after a few days, with no panics or other problems.

Mine has also died a death here in Lincoln -UK.Got the phone last Saturday ,activated Sunday , worked 5 days and now cant make any phone calls, receive any calls and the same with texts .

The signal bars have just disappeared altogether .

Spent all weekend trying to sort out (Vodafone) tried everything and now said phone is faulty , but no idea when they have any more is stock or coming in either .

Add to that they sent the wrong phone out in the first place -another 3GS which i have had 2 years ! Sent back -Royal Mail have lost it !

Now until this is sorted they cant process a refund for this one either !

Vodafone and Apple are a bloody shambles !