iOS 9.2.1 rendered my iPhone 4S useless

[mi7chy]

Found my old iPhone 4S running 7.0.4.

Safari, Sky Force 2014, etc. ran well with no issue. Only issue was Hangouts just closes when attempting to set up an account so I figured it and possibly other apps require a newer iOS. Also, wanted the improvements like the new keyboard that shows lower case key when caps lock is off. Worried about negative impact iOS 9.2.1 might have on older devices I did a quick Google search but the consensus is that it offers a small improvement so went forth with upgrade.

Turned out it was a bad decision. Safari is now intermittently broken and can't render macrumors forum correctly even after resetting and setting up as new. Everything lags such as keyboard and Sky Force 2014 is now unplayable. I'd give up app compatibility and whatever minor improvements to go back to the performance and stability of 7.0.4.

 

[bbrks]

Try doing a proper restore through iTunes. might help...

 

[Armen]

So you took an iPhone that you weren't using (because you only found it after cleaning out a drawer) and upgraded it to iOS 9.2.1 and found it useless afterwards because it wouldn't load a web page?

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

Macrumors.com already had that problem on iOS7 on both the 4S and iPad 2, so your drawer phone was also useless before your upgrade (Apparently).

There's even a huge thread on it. (The crashes, not phones in drawers)

 

[sanke1]

@mi7chy
I understand that 4S is unusable on iOS 9. But once you update it to 9, you simply cannot go back. Sucks.

You could sell your 4S on ebay or similar and move on. At least you will get some money for it instead of stashing it away in your drawer again.

 

[0003462]

I find my 4s runs between 'fine' and 'well' on iOS 9 but I would be interested to go back to an earlier iOS to see any differences.

Also, I had an iPhone 3GS up to 2014 when I got the 4s, so I'm used to older hardware running current software.

 

[Radon87000]

You can downgrade the 4S from iOS 9 to iOS 6.I suggest you do so

 

[trifid]

You can downgrade the 4S from iOS 9 to iOS 6.I suggest you do so

Wait, is that possible? Doesn't Apple handcuff so you can't downgrade?

 

[C DM]

Wait, is that possible? Doesn't Apple handcuff so you can't downgrade?

Possible using some tools for some devices prior to iPhone 5s (or 5).

 

[trifid]

Possible using some tools for some devices prior to iPhone 5s (or 5).

Even without having saved SHSH blobs?

update: nevermind, it seems possible, though it's definitely not straight forward: http://ios.wonderhowto.com/how-to/downgrade-your-iphone-4s-ipad-2-ios-6-1-3-0162816/

 

[mi7chy]

Looked into downgrading to 6.1.3 but it requires jailbreak and malware was detected in some of the files I was trying to download like OpenSSL so putting that on hold for now.

 

[Paddle1]

Looked into downgrading to 6.1.3 but it requires jailbreak and malware was detected in some of the files I was trying to download like OpenSSL so putting that on hold for now.

You can also OTA update to iOS 8 from iOS 6.

 

[enoC]

You can also OTA update to iOS 8 from iOS 6.

No he can't. Because he already updated to iOS 9.2.1. And I doubt he would be able to update from iOS 6 to iOS 8 OTA when iOS 9.2.1 is the latest release for iPhone 4S...

 

[C DM]

No he can't. Because he already updated to iOS 9.2.1. And I doubt he would be able to update from iOS 6 to iOS 8 OTA when iOS 9.2.1 is the latest release for iPhone 4S...

As I recall, when you are doing an OTA upgrade from iOS 6 you actually go to iOS 8 first (for whatever reason Apple decided to do it this way).

 

[vertsix]

Why? Why would you update?

iOS 7 was much better on the 4s than iOS 9.

 

[Paddle1]

No he can't. Because he already updated to iOS 9.2.1. And I doubt he would be able to update from iOS 6 to iOS 8 OTA when iOS 9.2.1 is the latest release for iPhone 4S...

Incorrect. You can downgrade to iOS 6 with a jailbreak on 4S (which should happen eventually), which OTA updates to iOS 8 as a stepping stone. I'm not just making this up.

 

[mi7chy]

Only thing is iOS 8 is supposedly worse than 9 while 6.1.3 is too old for app compatibility. 7.1.x seems to be the sweet spot for combination of app compatibility, performance and stability and is better than 7.0.x > 6.1.x > 9.2.x > 8.4.x. Apple succeeded in obsoleting older hardware since iOS 9.2.1 is still broken doing basic browsing after a full iTunes IPSW restore/setting up as new and there's no way to upgrade to 7.1.2.

 

[C DM]

Only thing is iOS 8 is supposedly worse than 9 while 6.1.3 is too old for app compatibility. 7.1.x seems to be the sweet spot for combination of app compatibility, performance and stability and is better than 7.0.x > 6.1.x > 9.2.x > 8.4.x. Apple succeeded in obsoleting older hardware since iOS 9.2.1 is still broken doing basic browsing after a full iTunes IPSW restore/setting up as new and there's no way to upgrade to 7.1.2.

The thing is is that not everyone is having all those kinds of issues with iOS 9 on iPhone 4S. There are definitely some slowdowns that people are experiencing and the like, but it doesn't seem that most are dealing with really bad issues like browsing simply not working or something else of that sort.

 

[enoC]

Incorrect. You can downgrade to iOS 6 with a jailbreak on 4S (which should happen eventually), which OTA updates to iOS 8 as a stepping stone. I'm not just making this up.

Can you link to a guide?
If you need jailbreak in order to make what you are saying possible, then doesn't that make what im saying correct untill a jailbreak is available?

 

[Paddle1]

Can you link to a guide?
If you need jailbreak in order to make what you are saying possible, then doesn't that make what im saying correct untill a jailbreak is available?

Because most people aren't really interested in doing this there aren't many links that are up to date, or many links that show people going up to iOS 8. I did find one though:

And no it doesn't make you correct because firstly, I never said anything about jailbreaking until you did, I just said that you can still update from iOS 6 to 8 OTA. And secondly, you said that you doubt you can install 8 that way, which you actually can, therefore what you said was wrong.

It is true though that you can't downgrade without a jailbreak.

 

[danleon950410]

I feel you, man. There's simply no room for our beloved 4s in this world anymore.

I remember how powerful it was when it came out and now look the rock it has become...and to think that the current precious gem 6S is gonna end like that some day...it makes me feel nostalgic...nostalgic and sad

 

[C DM]

I feel you, man. There's simply no room for our beloved 4s in this world anymore.

I remember how powerful it was when it came out and now look the rock it has become...and to think that the current precious gem 6S is gonna end like that some day...it makes me feel nostalgic...nostalgic and sad

That has been happening to essentially all kinds of technology, especially related to computing, for ages.

 

[danleon950410]

That has been happening to essentially all kinds of technology, especially related to computing, for ages.

I'm sorry that my nostalgia bothers you. I didn't even say that it doesn't ever happens.

 

[C DM]

Did i say otherwise? Where?
Aren't you the guy that argues wirh anyone?

Did I say you said something otherwise? I simply commented on your comment. Seems like the "arguing" part is more of a projection than anything.

 

[venomgt95]

Why? Why would you update?

iOS 7 was much better on the 4s than iOS 9.

Last i knew, my ex still has her 4S on 7.1.2 lol