Q: ios7 keeps refreshing apps after switching

I have had this problem since "updating" to iOS 7 on my iPad mini. The iPad was my main computer at work, now that multitasking is shot, the iPad just causes frustration. I just discovered this thread tonight, but already tried the basics: turn off the background app updates and restore my iPad. Nothing has helped.  I was excited to upgrade from the iPhone 4 (which is still running iOS 6) to the 5s, but this has made it so that I can't stand iOS 7. I miss Scott Forstall. Jony Ive has killed his reputation now that he is involved with software.

I will add to this discussion my observations. The iWork apps are essentially worthless. Every time I go to Numbers or Pages, I get a splash screen for about three seconds which shows an image of something I was doing in the past. Sometimes a day or two ago. Then the screen goes white for about a second, and finally the app reloads. Until iOS 7 was releaaed, I would use these apps on a daily basis for work. I have seen it on my iPad 2 and iPad mini. Because of iOS 7's clunky behavior, I have not updated my iPhone.

Hugoniot, welcome to the thread.  You're absolutely right -- because of this bug/design flaw, iOS7 has severely degraded the experience of using an iPad.  It's horrible and it's tragic.  The scariest part about it is that Apple has been completely silent on the whole issue.  I've contacted them, both through a visit to the Genius Bar at my local Apple store and by opening a help ticket on Apple's corporate web site.  The technicians I've dealt with there have initially seemed like they want to help but at some point the interest seems to stop.  Most recently, I was told I'd get a call back from the person I'd been working with, but never did.  Two subsequent phone messages I left for him about my case have gone unreturned. 

I think our only hope is that every single person on this thread does four things: 

• Open up a help ticket either by phone at (800) 692-7753 or online at https://expresslane.apple.com/LocaleChange.action
• Describe the problem and send it to Apple at http://www.apple.com/feedback
• Talk to the Genius Bar at your local Apple Store
• Maybe most importantly at this point: find tech writers for national tech web sites and ask them to write about this.

Rick7-

Good ideas. I will follow through and give Apple a call and visit a genius in the next few days.

I have tried to reproduce this with my Mom's iPad 3, but I can't. Her iPad seems to work like it should.

I also wanted to point out that one of the earlier "genius" comments was that Background App Refresh needs to be on. None of the iWork apps show up in the Background App Refresh options, but they all reset almost every time I use them. Just another datapoint to show that the genius was no Einstein.

I've just seen an email re a post to this thread by Merid but when I tried to follow it it said I wasn't authorised. Not sure what's happening. In case this authorisation is a problem for others, I'll repeat the gist of it. He referred to a post that suggested the problem may be solved in 7.1

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1684239

This could be excellent news but I remain guardedly optimistic.

Rick7, thanks for laying out all the options for increasing the awareness of this problem. I could add one more: link to this thread from other iOS bug threads. As we all know iOS 7 is riddled with problems and I was on another thread taking about the auto-correct mess with apostrophes:

https://discussions.apple.com/message/24241727#24241727

In my comment, I added a link back here to encourage more to this thread. While I know that not everyone has the time or inclination to formally log the problem, the more that are on the thread the higher that number will be.

Additional thing anyone who eants to help is pray Jobs keep doing his job from wherever he is nowadays. I am sure this was simply not possible to occur on Jobs' times. Period. UX was worshiped like God.

Well, at least it's something positive. Although this is seemingly good, I certainly will reign in my hopes. Knowing Apple, they'll only allow the fixed version to be installed on the very latest devices while the rest of us who were foolish enough to prematurely jump into iOS7 will be stuck with it as is.

Cautiously optimistic.

Yep my post was removed because they did not like me posting about beta versions what a joke I was just pointing out that it looked like it was fixed. I would not have to if they had this 3 month old problem sorted out by now.

I am getting sick of using my apple devices now becaus of this problem and if it's not sorted out soon I am going to look at other types of products. Removing my post has annoyed me even more.

I have herd iOS 7.1 is not even coming out for another 3 months and I can not live with it in this state now so they better release a 7.06 version or something to fix this problem as I am getting trick of it now.

Apple instead of removing posts fix your buggy iOS 7 software.

"I have tried to reproduce this with my Mom's iPad 3, but I can't. Her iPad seems to work like it should."

Hugoniot, that's interesting that you couldn't reproduce our problem on another iPad.  One of the biggest mysteries for me in this whole issue is whether we're only a small subset of iPad owners or if it's a universal problem that other iPad (and iPhone) owners just don't seem to notice or care about or conceptually understand.  If as you suggest it's not universal, then ... I don't even know where to go with that information.  It certainly does seem that Apple is treating this issue (if they are in fact dealing with it) like it only happens on some devices and not others.

Is it possible that the apps on the other iPad are in fact resetting just like on our iPad 2's but that the resetting happens much more quickly on the iPad 3 because of it having more memory?

The issue isn't the speed of the reset only, it is also the data loss that happens when Safari refreshes and you have a form partially completed.  If it happened instantaneously, ipad 3 users would still lose their spot and likely notice the bug as some point.

One poster in the beta forum said that iOS 7 is working exactly right when it refreshes after another app launches or you go to the home screen & back.  That is absolutely wrong but that guy is so entrenched in that position it is worthless to argue. If that were the case, then I would have noticed in iOS 6 that every time I left Safari to look up a username/password in another app, Safari would have refreshed upon return...but it absolutely did not. I bounce between applications all the time.  iOS 6 worked as expected.  iOS 7, no.

I'm facing the same problems here on my iPad2 and iPhone5 with iOS7. Without multitasking and in combination with the forced refresh the device is unusable.

General question though... Is it actually possible to downgrade the OS? Maybe something worth considering until v7.1 comes out and might fix that problem?

I too suffer from this problem on my iPad 2 (Verizon 16GB) w/ iOS 7.0.4.  I went into settings and turned OFF the Background App Refresh (BAR) completely and did a hard reset (home and power button for 10+ sec until Apple logo appears).

I then loaded the following Apps:  Gmail, Safari, Messages, Chrome & Settings.

So far, no resetting between apps.  This leads me to believe it is a progressive memory 'leakage' problem that might be managable (w/ resets) until a proper fix is made.

I'll keep you all posted here...

I have the same issue with my iPhone 4S

Now on iOS € multitasking is not exist. Only works on GPS app.

The other apps always reset.

I think that is only a low memory issue. And there will be a solution.

Please give us the possibility to downgrade.

After years of iPhone supremacy. I love iPhone.

I think that if the problem will not been solved as

soon as possible my next phone will be Android :

I need Multitasking !

This is my email sent to feedback, copy and do the same.

Object: multitasking iOS 7 - my last IPhone - next one Android

After upgrading to io7 I lost multitasking on my iPhone 4S !

Now on iOS € multitasking is not exist. Only works on GPS app.

The other apps always reset.

.

Please give us the possibility to downgrade, I need multitasking.

I have tried all solution of apple community support.

The problem remain. All my friends have the same issue. With 4/4S/5 IPad

Before iPhone was a computer substitute now I can't do anymore it

After years of iPhone supremacy. I loved and I love my iPhone.

I think that if the problem will not been solved as

soon as possible my next phone will be Android :

I need Multitasking !

Lasted most of the day w/ no resetting.  Noticed a couple blips on Safari at Apple.com (irony).  Did another hard reset and things are quiet again.

Will keep testing...