How to fix problems with iOS 11 on your iPhone or iPad
For some, iOS 11 has proven to be problematic -- but not for everyone, and not on every device. Here are a few things to try to (hopefully) clean up some issues before Apple issues a fix in software.
While some of these steps may seem obvious, when a device you rely on for whatever the reason is not functioning well, you might skip a step. Here, in order of least to most intrusive, are some troubleshooting steps to try to clear up iOS 11 issues.
If it's only been a few days since your last update -- be patient. It might clear up on its own.
Inside Settings, tap General and scroll down about halfway. Tap Background App Refresh.
In our case as seen here, nearly everything had seen an iOS 11 update -- and everything was turned back on. Toggle off apps that you're fine with waiting for a few seconds when you load for content updates.
Instant messaging services should be left alone, as they don't function well when they can't update in the background.
Tap the Settings app. Tap the General settings menu, and scroll down to Shut Down.Slide to power off.
Tap the Settings app. Tap the General settings menu, and scroll all the way down to Reset All Settings. Enter your passcode to confirm.
As a side effect, you'll have to re-enter stored passwords, and other account information. Plus, any preferences you may have set in Accessibility or other parameters have been reset to default.
There is a last resort for users to try -- Recovery Mode and a reinstall of iOS 11.
First, to simplify the restore, sign out of iCloud. Tap Settings, then tap your name. Scroll down and tap Sign Out. The iPhone will demand your Apple ID password -- enter it, and hit Turn Off.
Then, plug the device into a computer, and launch iTunes.
On devices with a mechanical home button, press the Sleep/Wake button and the Home button at the same time past the Apple logo, until you get the recovery mode screen.
On devices with a solid state Home button like the iPhone 7 and iPhone 8, press the Sleep/Wake button and the volume down button, again past the Apple logo, until you get the recovery mode screen.
Following the iTunes connection, hit Restore.
Following the restoration process which will install a new copy of iOS, the device will be able to be set up and used either as a new device, or reinstated from a backup -- we recommend the former, if you've made it all the way to the fourth option. However, since Apple removed easy app reinstallation through iTunes, there may be a lengthy download period where your apps are not available.
While some of these steps may seem obvious, when a device you rely on for whatever the reason is not functioning well, you might skip a step. Here, in order of least to most intrusive, are some troubleshooting steps to try to clear up iOS 11 issues.
Wait
After an iOS update, the hardware can take from hours to days with background tasks and reindexing. This can start even with "sub-point" updates, like the recent updates culminating in iOS.If it's only been a few days since your last update -- be patient. It might clear up on its own.
Background App Refresh settings
After the iOS 11 update, some applications have reset their background update status. Whether or not this was a function of the OS update, or the onslaught of app updates before and after is irrelevant -- but apps like Facebook can wreak havoc on battery life.Inside Settings, tap General and scroll down about halfway. Tap Background App Refresh.
In our case as seen here, nearly everything had seen an iOS 11 update -- and everything was turned back on. Toggle off apps that you're fine with waiting for a few seconds when you load for content updates.
Instant messaging services should be left alone, as they don't function well when they can't update in the background.
Restart
If you're a long-time Mac user, you might remember the need for frequent reboots in pre-OS X Apple operating systems. In the last decade, Apple has made remarkable steps in overall system stability, but sometimes, things just need to be flushed out.Tap the Settings app. Tap the General settings menu, and scroll down to Shut Down.Slide to power off.
Reset all settings
To be honest, we're not sure why this one works sometimes -- but it reportedly does. Possibly, some vestigial setting has remained, and this purges it.Tap the Settings app. Tap the General settings menu, and scroll all the way down to Reset All Settings. Enter your passcode to confirm.
As a side effect, you'll have to re-enter stored passwords, and other account information. Plus, any preferences you may have set in Accessibility or other parameters have been reset to default.
Start fresh with a new install of the operating system
This is the most dramatic. If there is something left over from a previous install causing a problem somehow -- this will clear it out.There is a last resort for users to try -- Recovery Mode and a reinstall of iOS 11.
First, to simplify the restore, sign out of iCloud. Tap Settings, then tap your name. Scroll down and tap Sign Out. The iPhone will demand your Apple ID password -- enter it, and hit Turn Off.
Then, plug the device into a computer, and launch iTunes.
On devices with a mechanical home button, press the Sleep/Wake button and the Home button at the same time past the Apple logo, until you get the recovery mode screen.
On devices with a solid state Home button like the iPhone 7 and iPhone 8, press the Sleep/Wake button and the volume down button, again past the Apple logo, until you get the recovery mode screen.
Following the iTunes connection, hit Restore.
Following the restoration process which will install a new copy of iOS, the device will be able to be set up and used either as a new device, or reinstated from a backup -- we recommend the former, if you've made it all the way to the fourth option. However, since Apple removed easy app reinstallation through iTunes, there may be a lengthy download period where your apps are not available.
Comments
Oh well, at least there are also exciting new swipe gestures that will keep things interesting. But we need a shortcut gesture to "erase and restore from backup", apparently.
* I wait before upgrading. I've done this for years when a new version of iOS is released.
- Then I check out websites for the new iOS version's problems.
When these issues are resolved by Apple, I upgrade.
- Also, with an older device that's having trouble on iOS 11, consider going back to iOS 10, if that's an option.
- Of course this doesn't apply to new iOS devices like the iPhone 8 which have to run iOS 11.
Crikey, this in spades on watchOS. One of the updates to my Apple Watch reduced the battery life to like 2-3 hours. I tracked it to the workout app. If I didn't launch or use the workout app, the battery life doubled to like 6-8 hours. About 3 weeks later...it all resolved. My watch now easily goes 16 hours independent of use of any apps.
Go. Figure.
And, it will do so after you've locked the phone for a time, consuming the battery unnecessarily if FaceBook isn't the reason you use the phone.
Plus, like I said in the article, either iOS 11 turned them all back on, or the updates to the app itself did in defiance of previous settings.
I'm my experience, with my iPhone 6s, I shouldn't have upgraded to iOS 11, period. Sure there are small number of UI improvements and app improvements, but that doesn't make up for the loss of a large number of legacy app nor the sluggish/laggy experience now. I know there is nothing I can do about the former--except wait and hope some of those apps are updated, but I expect most won't be. Is my experience of having apps open more slowly and a less responsive UI typical? Before upgrading I don't remember ever having a delay when tapping on an icon or hitting the home button. Now there is often a delay of a fraction of a second or longer, which means that sometimes I've pressed the button again before the phone reacts the first (and second click/tap). It's annoying and inelegant. If there were a way for me to revert back to iOS 10, I would do so immediately. I expect it works beautifully on new hardware with the latest CPU/GPU, but it rather sucks on my 2 year old phone.
https://ipsw.me/#!/download ;
As for the "tired" grid of icons -- it's an OS interface, not a video game. It is not designed to keep you amused when you are bored. Apps do that. This is the platform. Do you complain about Mac or Windows being a "tired" desktop interface of icons and folders? Why not? Oh yeah because you intrinsically realize the computer is just a tool. As is the iPhone.
And just the other day, I tried out a new audio app on my iPad, switched to another app, closed the Smart Cover. Came back later in the day to a dead iPad, which never happens. It had drained 90% of the battery. In the background. Doing nothing.
iOS may do a good job, but that doesn’t mean 3rd party apps do.
I updated my 6s to 11.0.3 a week ago and haven't noticed any major issues. It might consume battery a bit quicker, but it's really hard to tell. Does anyone know how to turn off the 'feature' that opens the home screen as soon the home button recognizes your fingerprint, even if you don't press the button? I find it very annoying!