iOS 5.0.1 Crashing iPhone 3GS

Apple iphone 3GS, update to ios5: crash all times, battery life 3h

This phone is the WORST i have ever had, a real real PAIN

Spent 2h in Apple Store yesterday, get a "new updated firmware phone", lost all data but anyway

Today: SAME issues starting again

What a NIGHTMARE, this apple story is the biggest RACKET ever

cant waut to switch to competition and nerver bought their horrible product

So no. It still freezes up. When I'm typing a message sometimes I have to wait 30 to 40 seconds before anything will appear on the screen. Flipping around my music is even a longer wait. If I switch to another song or speed through the track, it usually needs a full minute to catch up. Apps still freeze and crash.

The only thing that stopped completely was the power cycling. But that stopped for a little bit after I did a full restore too.

I'm really disappointed. I've only had this phone for a little over a year and it seems like Apple and AT&T's answer is to buy a new phone. Unfortunately, that might be the case but I won't be purchasing a new iPhone. It bothers me that Apple hasn't addressed this issue with so many people complaining of problems. This seems intentional.

Yesterday I tried tot downgrade but i ran in to other problems, so i tried to restore the 3GS as a new phone with the latest ois 5.1

I did not restore a backup, did not install apps, just kept it original. It looked like the reboot issue was gone, but this morning when i checked, it was stucked in a white screen (like DFU mode). The phone did not response on the buttons, so I pushed both the powerswitch and home button for a longer time, en then it rebooted. After the reboot the phone passed the simlock without asking for the the code!?. After I rebooted the phone manuallly, it came up with the simlock message (as it shoot be). A colleague of mine has a 3GS (32GB) with ios 5.1 working like a charm...can't believe that apple has no solution for this. This phone is useless now...

Hmm. I think this is the first report we've seen on this forum about 5.1. I got my 3gs to (finally) behave on 5.01 using many/all of the suggestions on this forum. Working geat now. BUT .... after all that I'm leery to upgrade to 5.1. Now I'm even more leery ...

All good advice. Did most of your suggestions to improve performance. Turning location services off for the zillions of apps I almost never use was a big help. Picked up this tip from another forum: switch e-mail fetching from "push" to manual. All the stuff this old phone is doing while sitting in my pocket takes battery power, after all.

CHANGE YOUR BATTERY. Everything has a shelf life.

I have had the same problems with my 3Gs: its not Apple's fault, the 5.1 software is excellent.

Over the last months I have tried all that has been suggested on this forum, none have solved the problem permanently. Except, changing my battery; which I did myself for $5. Youtube show's how easy it is.

After month's of frustration my phone is perfect again. Thanks Apple for a great product, my paperweigth has been transformed back to a smart phone.

CHANGE YOUR BATTERY.

Have changed the battery by an authorized store. The problem is even worst. Does anyone from apple be able to solve this problem? I two 3GS purchased in same period both updated to 5.1, they only work connected to a plug or a PC.

same here, put in new battery installed new IOS. problem seemed to be solved. it actualy worked well. untill

yesterday. I find it realy annoing that apple does not acknowledge this issiue. Unbelievable that some people actually see apple as their great god. People it's a phone, apple is a company, not a religion.

"IT'S THE BATTERY STUPID!" 😉

I've been plagued with the same problems ever since i updated my 3gs to iOS 5. I have tried every trick in the book including all those aforementioned in this great discussion (special thanks to Mohamed from Abu Dabi). EVERY-SINGLE-ONE. You name it, i gave it a go.

Kudos to Goofbear who identified the real reason. Energy hungry iOS 5 was released when the iPhone 3gs already was past its shelf life, at least its battery was. Indeed it was no match for iOS5 voracity.

So i purchased a new battery and installed it and voilà! My iPhone works like a charm. 19.90€ + 25' of my time made months of crashing, bugging and shutting off a distant memory.

I must add that i put my 3gs though intense usage for a week where before posting this reply.

Hope that help,

Cheerio

I just now started getting this issue. I'll be honest I haven't tried anything other than the restore.

It started when I tried taking a pic of my friend at a concert and it just rebooted every time I tried taking a pic or video. Thought my hdd was full (only 8gig so not hard to do). So I deleted photos, music and apps and for a while it was ok made sure I kept about 1gig free. Note: up until this point i haven't had any issues with hdd space possibly causing issues or battery. And I always thought for the amount of use my phone goes through the battery life was good, AND STILL IS.

A couple of day's went by without issue. Then, out of the blue again it started rebooting almost every time I get a text message or phone call. That is the only time it restarts. Before I go buy a new battery and go through the problems of changing it I wanted to make sure the community (since apple is apparently mute on the subject) thought it was still a battery issue. Note: It also does it even when plugged into a computer or the wall.

Again, I only get the issue on incoming texts and calls. I can make calls and texts just fine.

I really wanted the 4s but if this is a precursor of how it's going to be count me out, I'll learn to love a Droid, iPhone is only apple product I own anyway. As long as I can make the phone a hotspot for my work I don't care I just want a working phone again.

Additional info: the issue started on 5.1 update and has continued over to the 5.1.1 update, if anything with the latest update getting more frequent.

Thanks in advance for the help all you guys are awesome!

@ infirnum.deum, I think you'll find the answers to your problems on this forum. My advice: 1. get a new battery, 2. turn off the location services on the apps you almost never use and don't really care about, 3. turn off all your "push" notifications, 3. Do the mohammad trick.

Enjoy your phone. The 3gs is a fine phone. But the writing's on the wall: I don't think she'll be able to keep up with the next version update. The technology just keeps accelerating!

exactly the same thing here!! wish I would've read this before installing my upgrade last night...now I have to plug in car charger or wall just to use......I am so frustrated!!!!! did you ever get a fix?

can someone help me? I have a 3gs iOS 5.0.1. Here's the thing, My phone is always crashing (even its 100%) after 3-5 minutes you take it off from the charger. When its not in the charger it wont open, It just goes to the apple logo then it shut down itself again. if i want to open it, i have to charge it. soo, i CANT use it outside. PLEASE HELP ME! do i have to replace my battery?

Hi all,

New batteries are not required for fix this problem.

This problem occurs when the following conditions;

- iPhone 3GS

- iOS 5.0.1

- disable "Cellular Data" (use WiFi)

Trigger;

- Shutdown the iPhone (include: out of battery)

Workaround;

- 1. Enable "Cellular Data" (NOT out of service area)

- 2. Wait few seconds

- 3. Re-disable "Cellular Data"

After upgrade to iOS 5.1.1, I was not able to seem this problem.

I tried this and I tried the other guy's thing about restoring neither one has fixed all the crashing, I tried just the celuar data thing too, can anyone please please please help me out? I hope someone can.