Problems with your iOS 7? We can help. Check out our troubleshooting guide below. Picture: AP Source: AP
DISGRUNTLED Apple users struggling to update their iPhones to the new iOS 7 operating system took to Twitter to air their complaints last night.
The fact that all their apps were wiped from their iPhone had most people enraged, but also the fact that their phone didn't have enough memory to install the update.
News.com.au has some practical tips for getting around these problems.
If you're struggling, email your complaints to claire.porter@news.com.au and we'll update the story with troubleshooting answers as we find them.
UPDATE 21/09/2013: News.com.au has been flooded with emails from users experiencing problems installing iOS 7. Not all of the issues have a fix yet. We are looking into them on your behalf and will post another update when we have more answers. In the mean time, check out our latest fixes below:
1. The update has caused your screen to go blank or linger on the Apple logo
If your iPhone or iPad is stuck on the start-up screen, plug it into iTunes to restore the device’s factory settings.Source: Supplied
This is usually a sign that the firmware on your device is not working properly. You can fix this through iTunes by putting your phone into DFU (Default Firmware Update) mode. Basically you are going to use your iTunes to save your phone.
First you need to have your iTunes open on your computer.
Plug your phone into your computer and then hold down the sleep and home button at the same time for exactly 10 seconds and then release the sleep button.
Continue to hold the home button until a message appears in iTunes telling you that an iphone in recover mode has been detected.
When you are in DFU mode your iPhone screen will be completely black. (It may take a few attempts to enter DFU mode. If you see the iTunes or Apple logo, a restore logo or any kind of message on the screen of your iPhone you are not in DFU mode, but standard recovery mode).
Once you are in DFU mode restore your backup through iTunes. To do this locate your phone in the iTunes menu, it should be in the left hand column and say something like "Claire's iPhone". Hit the "Summary" tab and then click Restore. This will restore your phone to its factory settings. From there you should be able to install iOS 7 if it hasn't already.
2. The wi-fi button is greyed out
If your wi-fi is greyed out, fear not, we have the answer. Source: Supplied
One of the most common complaints we are hearing from users is that they have been unable to access wi-fi and Bluetooth after installing iOS7.
Here are a few things you can try:
- Change the name of your device
The new operating system seems to have an issue with apostrophes. At least when it comes to wi-fi.
Check out your device name. If it is called something like "Claire's iPhone" it could be the apostrophe that is causing the problem.
To change your device name go to Settings > General > About > Name. Tap on the name to edit it and remove the apostrophe. Save the change. Switch off your phone and then switch it back on again.
Your wi-fi should be working.
We have no idea why this seems to work but many users in Apple's community forums have said that it works.
It might be a hardware problem.
You wi-fi chip might already have been having its problems behind the scenes. Updating it to iOS7 might finally have sent it over the edge. If this is the case your only option will be to replace the chip (or the entire device, depending on which is more cost effective).
It might be time for a trip to the Apple store.
Sorry folks.
3. Group messaging doesn't work
Many Apple users have complained they have been unable to access group messaging since updating to iOS 7. Picture: Apple Insider Source: Supplied
Another common complaint. There does not seem to be a fix available for this yet, however some users have reported that resetting their device to its factory settings seems to get it to work.
First back up your phone (this includes contacts, music, images etc).
Go to Settings > General > Tap "Erase All Content and Settings> and then restore your backup.
If that doesn't work try this one: Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings.
4. Can't send or receive text messages
Some users have complained they have been unable to access text messages since updating their devices.Source: Supplied
This seems really silly but it seems as though the iOS 7 update is switching text messaging off for some users, even if they had it enabled on the old operating system,
To remedy this go Settings>Messaging and toggle the Send as SMS button to ON (make the button green).
5. iTunes keeps crashing
You need to update your iTunes to the latest version for it to work properly with iOS 7. Source: Supplied
You need to upgrade your iTunes to the latest version (11.1) for it to function with iOS 7.
If your iTunes has been crashing it's probably because you're running an old version.
You'll need to download the new update through your desktop iTunes.
If you're on a Mac, click on the iTunes button in the menu that runs along the top of the screen and select "Check for update", install update and then plug in your iPhone or iPad to update the software on your device.
If you're on a Windows computer click "Help" > Check for Updates, install update, then plug in your device and update the sofware on your iPhone or iPad.
- I tried what you suggested, iTunes is still crashing.
It's time to reset your device to its factory settings.
To do this go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset All Settings. Switch off your phone. Switch it back on again.
If that doesn't work, off to the Genius Bar you go.
6. Problems activating Facetime and iMessage
Facetime and iMessage can take up to 24 hours to activate. Patience is essential. Source: Supplied
This is a common complaint we're hearing from a lot of Apple users today. It may take up to 24 hours to activate Facetime and iMessage, according to the Apple website, so some patience is required.
We're also hearing rumours that you cannot activate iMessage and Facetime using your Apple ID and that only your phone number will work. Apple did not respond to news.com.au's requests for confirmation. With that in mind, here are a few suggestions:
- Log out of your Apple ID and use your phone number to activate Facetime and iMessage.
- Turn Facetime and iMessage off an on again. (We know, this sounds obvious. Sometimes it works).
- Restart your phone. (Again, another obvious but helpful tip)
- Sign out of your Apple ID and then turn iMessage and Facetime off. Sign back in again and switch on iMessage and Facetime.
-Rewset your network settings by going to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. Then retry activating your iMessage and Facetime.
- If that doesn't work try taking out your SIM card from the phone, switching it off and on again and re-adding yoru SIM card.
- Wipe your phone completely, start again.
Don't forget to back up first.
7. Your phone has been wiped of apps, contacts, pictures and videos
This seems to be a bug associated with Apple's servers melting down yesterday due to demand.
We're sorry folks, there's not much we can do about this. It is absolutely essential you back up your phone before you update it. That way if you do happen to lose everything, you can reinstall your apps almost instantly.
Make sure you back up your apps to your iCloud account, that way you can reinstall what you need no matter where you are. You should back them up to your iTunes account too.
8. Not enough memory to install iOS 7
Fear not, there is a way around this.
First, plug your iPhone into your computer and open your iTunes. Sync your phone to your iTunes and make sure you have a copy of the music you want saved to your computer. Sync your phone to your iPhoto account and download all of your images. (If you have a Dropbox, iCloud, or Google's Cloud Platform you can save your photos there too).
Delete your music and photos from your phone, update it to iOS 7, re-add your music from your iTunes account and any essential photos from your iPhoto.
You should be good to go.
Another issue that could be causing the problem is that your phone is inadvertently set to back up all your apps to the cloud and this is taking up space.
To remedy this go to Settings > iCloud and a list of all the apps you have synced to the cloud will appear, listed in order of the amount of space it is taken up. Disable any app you don't need (make sure you have at least synced your apps to your iTunes account unless you want to risk losing your apps forever should your phone be wiped).
You can also purchase more space in your iCloud account. Go to Settings > iCloud > Storage Plan and then choose an upgrade. You can purchase 10Gb of storage for $21 a year, 20Gb for $42 a year and 50GB for $105 a year.
9. iOS 7 crashed your phone
Ruh-Roh. Bad news friend. You're going to have to erase all the content on your phone and restore it to its factory settings and then reinstall iOS 7.
To do this go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase all Content and Settings. Then go back to the Reset screen and hit "Reset Network Settings".
Restart your phone. Once it starts back up go to Settings > General > Software Update. Your phone should automatically search for an update. Hit "OK" when a notification appears to install iOS 7.
10. Your screen has frozen
Time to do a Hard Reset. To do this simply press and hold down both the Home button and the Sleep button at the same time until the Apple logo appears on the screen.
Much like a computer sometimes iPhones need to be turned off and turned back on again. Usually does the trick.
11. Your Voice Memos aren't working
First you may have taken up too much space. Scroll down through your list of audio recordings and delete the ones you no longer needed, starting with the oldest. If this doesn't work just switch your phone off and phone on again. It worked for me.
12. iOS 7 is sucking the life from your battery
Having battery life issues? Try these tips below. Picture: Getty Source: AFP
There could be a number of things draining your battery so you need to go through a checklist:
First, is your bluetooth on? Do you need it to be? If not switch it off.
To do this go to Settings > Bluetooth > Off.
If you keep your Bluetooth switched on your phone will constantly be checking for Bluetooth signals nearby which drains the battery. Keep your Bluetooth off at all times until you actually need to use it, and after you're done using it, switch it off.
It could be a weak wi-fi/3G/4G area.
Your phone needs an internet connection, obviously, unless you need to use your phone like an actual phone. If you're in a weak hot spot it's going to take your phone more energy to locate and connect to a signal. Again unless you absolutely need to update your Facebook right now, maybe switch off your 3G/4G/wi-fi for a while until you get into a better area.
Tone down the brightness
Also is it essential that your screen be so bright it could blind someone?
Turn down the brightness of your screen to save battery life.
To do this go to Settings > Wallpapers and Brightness and adjust the slider to dim the brightness of the screen.
How many apps do you have open?
The more apps you have open, the quicker your battery life will decrease. To close apps you're not using double tap the home button until a carousel of all your open apps appears on the screen. To close an app simply swipe up on the app you no longer need.
Notifications also don't help battery life.
Do you need to be notified every time you receive a new Facebook message, Instagram comment or Tweet? No? Get rid of them. To do this go to Settings > Notification Centre and switch off notifications for the apps you don't want to hear from.
Siri’s Raise to Speak drains the battery life of the phone. Switch if off if you don’t need it. Source: AFP
13. Switch off Siri's Raise to Speak
The Raise to Speak feature allows you to summon Apple's personal voice activated assistant Siri without having to press any buttons. However summoning Siri without having to press the home button tends to drain the battery life. To disable Raise to Speak go to Settings > General > Siri and toggle the Raise to Speak is toggled to off.
