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iPhone 4S random shutdowns?

Can anyone explain to me why my iPhone 4S keeps randomly shutting down during random parts of the day? This is the third time it's happened since the day I got it on its release date. I don't think its overheating because its just in my pocket and its not hot outside. Could I have possibly not closen specific apps correctly and so inturn eventually shuts off to turn the apps off?

iOS 5

Posted on Oct 24, 2011 5:18 PM

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94 replies

Oct 30, 2011 12:25 AM in response to 21gocubsgo11

I have been experiencing the same issue.


I recieved my iPhone 4S the day of release and a few days later it randomly rebooted and has done so about three for four times since then.


Tonight it shutdown completely. I thought perhaps the battery had drained but I remember it being at half charge moments before. I used a combination of home and sleep/wake buttons and it did not boot up until I plugged it into the charger. I unplugged the iPhone from the charger immediately and the battery charge was were I expected it to be, at about half. I've tried reseting the device and starting out fresh, as I did from day one, but the issue still persists.


If this is a hardware issue it would be nice to have it confirmed so I can replace it as soon as possible. I may pay a visit to the local Apple Store if it worsens.

Oct 31, 2011 6:30 AM in response to 21gocubsgo11

I'm not sure if its a hardware issue, I just assumed. One thought I had was I had to many apps running at one time? like if their loading or in the middle of a game and you just hit the home button, does that stop everything? or is the app still running... and if you do that enough times the phone will just shut off because theres so much its tryint to do and a shutdown is the only way to stop them all? You guys following me? its just a thought.. :/ my phone hasnt done it for a while though (a week)

Nov 10, 2011 6:58 AM in response to TUD

Same here...

Brand new iPhone 4s (32Gb).


Happened to me first time couple of hours after activation:

Took it out of my pocket, pressed the HOME button, and got the Apple logo. Few seconds after, got to the home screen and everything worked fine there (no need for hard reset as other users experienced).

Happened to me twice since (all during "sleep")...

As other already said, "panic" records are logged (Diagnostics).


I really hope its not a faulty device, since it was bought overseas (UK)...

Nov 18, 2011 6:29 AM in response to 21gocubsgo11

*knock on wood* but after calling apple support, they suggested restoring it. First: plug it into iTunes and back up the iphone on your computer so you don't lose anything (except your notes and possibly text message?) then: click restore ... after it is restored: when you set it up again apply the material that you backed up... Since I've done that, it has only randomly shut down once. and that was a about 2 weeks ago.


C00perS:: Can you post back here what Apple told you please..

Dec 4, 2011 12:49 PM in response to C00perS

Just got my iphone4s 1 week ago, since i got it, its been shutting down randomly and now i got to reset the phone everyday!! Been to apple shop who has restore the iPhone but it still shutdown randomly, what did you guys do beside replacing the phone or is this a hardware issue?


Bought the phone from apple online store so i cant go back to a physical apple store to return......

Dec 5, 2011 12:18 PM in response to 21gocubsgo11

Go into Settings/general/about, scroll right to the bottom, touch diagnostic & usage, then diagnostic & usage data. If there are any entries in there that are PANIC.PLIST, then your iPhone has a hardware issue and will need to be replaced.


My first 4S would randomly shut down and then restart, when I checked the diagnostic data on it, there were PANIC.PLIST in there. I made a genius bar appointment and the 4S was replaced with a new one.

Dec 5, 2011 12:27 PM in response to 21gocubsgo11

I'm having the same issue. I bought my 4 in July and took it into the apple store in August. They replaced the entire thing incase it was a hardware issue. I was fine up until about 2 weeks ago and it started doing it again after I updated to 5.0.1. I went into the store yesterday and they restored it to factory settings for me and told me to just back it up when I got home. I did, and same problems persist. I am taking my macbook with me to my appointment tonight and am going to have them back it up for me incase I did something wrong. I only synched my contacts and nothing else. So frustrating, I have to plug my phone into the charger once it gets to 66% or else it will power off and tell me it needs to be charged.

Dec 9, 2011 11:04 AM in response to bht-kevin

bht-kevin wrote:


My 3 day old phone just did this exact same thing. Very annoying.

Go into Settings/general/about, scroll right to the bottom, touch diagnostic & usage, then diagnostic & usage data. If there are any entries in there that are PANIC.PLIST, then your iPhone has a hardware issue and will need to be replaced.

iPhone 4S random shutdowns?

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