iPhone 6 screen freezes after iOS 10.3.1 update

I previously posted about turning on the analytics as a potential solution, asking others since someone before me suggested it -- did it work? It seemed to help, but my test period was only a couple days -- days where my use was light. I did convince myself that I witnessed a couple glitches, but no freeze requiring locking/unlocking or restart.

arrizaba posted a set of instructions about a DFU restore. I did a search and found the same instructions on a Apple friendly website. I followed them by first doing a full iPhone backup on iTunes on my computer. The restore involves downloading an over 2 GB file then re-downloading all your apps. The website post warns that if your phone has damage of some type, the DFU restore method will take your phone from glitchy to unusable. On the hypothesis that the recent ios update is the cause, then nearly all of us do not have a damaged phone.

Several have mentioned the os update includes a file system change. If that is true, then the restore idea makes sense. I'm not expert on how Apple does it, but in the many years I repeatedly wiped my Winders system hard drive and reinstalled Winders, I learned it restores all the operating system files and puts them in the right places.

So maybe the restore does the same on the iPhone. Again, if true, it suggests the update method caused the problem, not the 10.3.1 update itself.

Two days so far, I've not noticed a single glitch.

Mine started freezing over the last week but not straight after the 10.3.1 update. It started freezing during a phone call, then the phone restarted and since had the freezing issue. Do a soft reset, it may work, it may not. I use my mobile for work and could not afford to be without it. I was receiving calls but unable to swipe to accept them!

I contacted Apple support and ended up in an Apple store same day. Diagnostics were run but nothing was found to be wrong with the phone hardware and of course the phone was working perfectly. Despite showing this thread, the Apple store would not accept it was a software issue and as the phone was out of warranty I was offered a like for like replacement, at my cost although it was discounted. My phone was in excellent condition with no screen blemishes, scratches but I had no choice.

A day into using the replacement phone with fully restored data and apps (most data) not had an issue. But then I didn't straight after the 10.3.1 update. So based on a days use looks like it was a hardware issue.

Still no issues with mine after doing the DFU restore. Went through the whole Apple watch reset, pair and restore thing today. Also did some email and contact work on my iPhone. No glitches or freezes.

I'm going to turn off the analytics now and see if the glitches come back.

My iPhone 6S Plus started experiencing similar issues. I thought it was a bad App, restored the iPhone, hard resets, etc. The screen dims and becomes unresponsive, then goes black, and I have to hard restart to get it working again. This iDevice is getting to feel like a Microsoft computer where updates break as much as they fix. My partners iPhone 6S Plus is also having similar problems.

Wanted to give a final status update on our 6 Plus - Apple offered to repair it for $149 which we declined. The user did not want to wait for the next update to be released so we have replaced the phone with an iPhone 6s Plus. We updated the new phone after it came out of the box to 10.3.1 and so far there have not been any issues. Will continue to follow this thread to see if future updates do fix it as I will be curious to know.

well, shoot... as I usually do, I waited a while before updating. So today I finally went to 10.3.1 without doing any research. Noticed 'password necessary to enable touch id' many times today, didnt think anything of it and just put in my password.

Just now noticed my phone was off! Random restart...

SMH

Back to my oriiganl rule- if it aint broke, dont fix it.

I just want to log my name in on this as well, to maybe one day wake Apple up! I also did the 10.3.1 update and since that minute, my touch screen has been sporatically non-responsive. It goes for hours without working. Then suddenly it works for hours. Then stops again. It just worked for 5 days straight! But now hasn't worked for 2 days. So frustrating. It also restarts on its own automatically. I've tried all options of fixes I've read on here, and so far no luck. I have been using my Apple Watch and iPad to text for now, hoping Apple sends out a fix. I refuse to go to the Apple store and have some college kid tell me its a hardware problem, as I have a temper, and I know I will tell him to F OFF. This is ridiculous of Apple, and as an Apple supporter since day 1, this problem is so widespread, its causing customers to jump ship to you know who! I too feel that this is a conspiracy for Apple to sell more phones. You REALLY think they don't know about this issue???????????

Cannot agree with you any more.

I think the issue should be software issue, since there is no issue at all before upgrade.

However the issue cannot be found on all iphones, it can be treated as an "random" issue, since nobody figure out it will happened in what conditions. That is why apple can say it is hardware issue and ask $149 for the replacement.

Apple already blocked the downgrade and only support iOS 10.3.1 by 5/4/2017, so users cannot downgrade to any one of prior iOS version.

Anyway, keep in mind, Apple is not the Apple before.

My last update (I think). After doing the DFU restore to basically reinstall the operating sytem my iPhone 6 stopped misbehaving. It was doing wierd things with the touchscreen -- jumping around even when I wasn't touching it and occasionally locking up the screen. I turned all the analytics off after a couple days after the DFU restore and it has been almost a week -- still no problems.

To those that think Apple has some conspiracy going on, I'm sure I can't dissuade you. But having worked for a manufacturer for many years I've learned that it takes a lot more than you think to get a product right. And we can't just fix a problem overnight (ususually). And we usually have many other things to do at the same time. And our employees have lives too. That's the hardware which I think is most likely not behind these problems for most of us. When it comes to software, bugs are fun. "No software program is fully debugged. Attempts to debug software inevitably introduces new bugs that are even harder to find."

Apple, I've noticed, does not pre-announce fixes. Why would they? It's like your doctor saying, "hey, we got this cure for cancer that will be ready in 9 days -- just wait until then." And when 9 days go by and you hear nothing, you might ask. Then you get, "well, we ran into a problem ..." And so it goes. How long does it take to cure cancer? Come on! Tell me everyone! Apple does not know how long it will take to fix it. Or even how. Not until they are done. Which is on the last day.

The DFU restore fix -- if you haven't tried it -- makes the most sense to me. OS 10.3.1 doesn't screw up everyones iPhone 6. Why? I'm guessing the update process doesn't work so well for some of us -- maybe those with a 32 bit app still. Or a set of option combinations on and off. And so on. But reinstalling the operating system from the ground up works in fixing many computers that were working but stopped working well after an operating system upgrade or patch.

So try the DFU restore. See an earlier post for instructions or do a web search.

Good luck all!

I've been having the same as well, touch stops working and phone starts behaving on its own after updating to 10.3.1. Side note: I recently replaced my shattered screen.

I took the phone to a genius bar. They ran some tests and discovered that the screen was indeed receiving commands without physical touch. It was happening at multiple touch points at the exact same time causing physical touch by the user to not respond. The genius didn't know the cause but offered the following solutions: 1) replace the screen ($149) 2) replace the motherboard ($300+) 3) get a new phone. I declined.

So I want back to where I got my screen replaced. It was a reputable shop so they replaced my screen again for free. So far the phone is working fine. For me, it might have been the screen or maybe it was a coincidence.

To all users here; this issue is definitely a software issue and having all of you confirm the exact same touch screen problem just adds insult to Apple's response to this. I took my phone in to the Apple store as well and the technician refused to acknowledge this to be a software update issue. Also suggested the $150 repair and even replacing the phone. This has now driven me to the point of going with samsung galaxy; if apple begins to lie about bugs in the OS release then it is not a good sign of future services to come. I was looking forward to the iphone 8 release but no longer. I wish I could take this up with some legal action but guessing that with my warranty and contract conveniently also completed, it would be a wasteful and unsuccessful venture.

A full reset and factory reset did not resolve the issue and I am guessing that if the next update is release and we happen to still have our phones; the issue may just be resolved. Unless APPLE engineers are just bargaining on us purchasing new phones.

I just finished a DFU restore.
On the very first screen, the language screen, the touch screen was unresponsive. All hardware buttons still worked fine.

As of now, I still believe that iOS 10.3.1 contains something that caused touchscreen problem to my phone and over a thousand other users' phones.

to all here having this issue; does anyone suspect an update to certain phones only that would have allowed discreet screen snapshots and app usage? Just a thought. In all the years of using an iphone I have never encountered a software update error of this type and with all the security surveillance discussions the last year, it could be just that as not everyone who has updated to 10.3.1 has the same issue. Any thoughts? Also is there a licensing law or something that clarifies the liability in the event the software manufacturer causes errors in updates...I mean to simply ignore any responsibility and pass this off as a hardware issue cries foul play. Even microsoft has always fixed bugs with either releases or patches.

I am following up to my post, which you will see not too far above. I finally got tired of this issue. My touchscreen would work for 1 hr, 5 hrs, sometimes 3 days with no issue, then it would suddenly not work AT ALL for 1 hr, 5 hrs, or 3 days. Very annoying, knowing this was all software problems, and caused by an update. After doing all options mentioned in this thread, including a complete DFU restore, nothing worked. SO, enough was enough, and I used my insurance thru AT&T, paid my $112 deductible, and got a new 6+. I restored it from the backup of my old phone. Guess what? MY NEW PHONE IS ALREADY DOING THE SAME THING! It FORCED me to do the 10.3.1 update to be able to restore my phone from my backup by the way. So far its not near as severe as my old phone, but its happening! Could it be that my restore transferred over an infected file? Who knows. All I know is, this one should be under warranty, so as long as it holds me til the new 8 comes out, I will deal with it the best I can!

I took mine into the Apple store after two days of being unusable. I did a fresh restore and it took 15 minutes to get my icloud password in correctly since the phone was going insane with phantom touch. By the time of my genius appointment my phone was perfect again and all their diagnostics read it was fine. Maybe 10.3.2 will help?