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iPhone 3GS randomly shuts off and won't stay on until plugged in
- Thread starter m4r10l1m
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Got a tricky battery replacement working!
I got a variety of different problems after replacing my 3GS battery (iPhone 3GS, iOS 6.0.1). I was pretty close to trash it. But I found a way to get back to life and want to share the story. My conclusion is that is seems that the software (apps & iOS) is dependent on correct power management. With a battery replacement is that radically changed. First of all get a good replacement battery, no fake ones. You get what you pay.
After replacing the battery the indicator wasnt correct but I could live with that. Resets (home button + sleep/off button for 10 sec) and restores via iTunes didnt help. Then started the problems. After 2 days the phone began to shutdown using the camera/GPS or simply getting a call. Annoying, especially with a new battery.
I tried everything you can read on the net. Nothing worked, it just got worse. Cleaned every connector. Put the old battery back, didnt work either. It was dead.
My final call was this: put in the new replacement battery and tighten all screws properly. Restore the phone from iTunes, but DO NOT, I repeat do not, restore the data from the backup from iTunes. Restore the iOS but when the iPhone reboots and iTunes will continue with coping of data (apps, calendars, music etc) ABORT that process. The data from your backup will corrupt your iPhone. Abort the process, unplug your phone and let it start up alone like a new phone. You need a clean start with a new battery.
This means that you need to download your apps again. I did that very carefully (perhaps too carefully, but I did want to know if any app corrupted my phone). I have now synchronized my calendar and contacts via iTunes but I have not restored any apps. It works flawlessly. The battery indicator is even back and correct!
Ive got it all back: a working iPhone w/o shutdowns, a battery indicator and a new, fresh battery. Good luck with your battery replacement. ;-)
I got a variety of different problems after replacing my 3GS battery (iPhone 3GS, iOS 6.0.1). I was pretty close to trash it. But I found a way to get back to life and want to share the story. My conclusion is that is seems that the software (apps & iOS) is dependent on correct power management. With a battery replacement is that radically changed. First of all get a good replacement battery, no fake ones. You get what you pay.
After replacing the battery the indicator wasnt correct but I could live with that. Resets (home button + sleep/off button for 10 sec) and restores via iTunes didnt help. Then started the problems. After 2 days the phone began to shutdown using the camera/GPS or simply getting a call. Annoying, especially with a new battery.
I tried everything you can read on the net. Nothing worked, it just got worse. Cleaned every connector. Put the old battery back, didnt work either. It was dead.
My final call was this: put in the new replacement battery and tighten all screws properly. Restore the phone from iTunes, but DO NOT, I repeat do not, restore the data from the backup from iTunes. Restore the iOS but when the iPhone reboots and iTunes will continue with coping of data (apps, calendars, music etc) ABORT that process. The data from your backup will corrupt your iPhone. Abort the process, unplug your phone and let it start up alone like a new phone. You need a clean start with a new battery.
This means that you need to download your apps again. I did that very carefully (perhaps too carefully, but I did want to know if any app corrupted my phone). I have now synchronized my calendar and contacts via iTunes but I have not restored any apps. It works flawlessly. The battery indicator is even back and correct!
Ive got it all back: a working iPhone w/o shutdowns, a battery indicator and a new, fresh battery. Good luck with your battery replacement. ;-)
Thank God
That I'm not the only one experiencing this. It doesn't feel like a battery issue though. My phone can last the whole day and drain at a normal rate. It happens when I use it and varies a lot. Examples:
1. I fully charged my iPhone. Went to play Angry Birds Star Wars (great game). 5 minutes in and bye bye phone.
2. 75%, on the phone to my friend. 10 minutes and it dies.
3. 90% battery. Checking my email and gone.
I feel this is a software issues mainly because I have noticed other glitches as well. For example:
1. If I was listening to Music earlier, then later on it crashes, when I go on the Music app later, the song that is currently playing will be the one I have already listened too. This would make sense if it crashed while listening to music, but it happens later.
2. I am checking my email. I have check all the email in that inbox, so at the top, it simply says inbox. Go back and by that inbox's name, it comes up with a number.
3. Texted someone before it crashed and when it starts up again, the text doesn't show anymore (but it has sent).
Anyone else noticed glitches like this?
And my problem is the same as everyone else. Dies when using it. Refuses to come back on in normal ways. Comes back on when you put on charge. It also drains quite rapidly after crashing. Know this because once this happened and I kept turning it on. After an hour of trying at various intervals, I was presented with the plug in sign. Once this happened, got home an hour later and the battery was about 20%.
That I'm not the only one experiencing this. It doesn't feel like a battery issue though. My phone can last the whole day and drain at a normal rate. It happens when I use it and varies a lot. Examples:
1. I fully charged my iPhone. Went to play Angry Birds Star Wars (great game). 5 minutes in and bye bye phone.
2. 75%, on the phone to my friend. 10 minutes and it dies.
3. 90% battery. Checking my email and gone.
I feel this is a software issues mainly because I have noticed other glitches as well. For example:
1. If I was listening to Music earlier, then later on it crashes, when I go on the Music app later, the song that is currently playing will be the one I have already listened too. This would make sense if it crashed while listening to music, but it happens later.
2. I am checking my email. I have check all the email in that inbox, so at the top, it simply says inbox. Go back and by that inbox's name, it comes up with a number.
3. Texted someone before it crashed and when it starts up again, the text doesn't show anymore (but it has sent).
Anyone else noticed glitches like this?
And my problem is the same as everyone else. Dies when using it. Refuses to come back on in normal ways. Comes back on when you put on charge. It also drains quite rapidly after crashing. Know this because once this happened and I kept turning it on. After an hour of trying at various intervals, I was presented with the plug in sign. Once this happened, got home an hour later and the battery was about 20%.
You are not alone
@applenerd8: I have the same problem!!! I searched on internet for a solution but so far I didn't find anything!!!
I've got a 3gs ios 6, baseband 06.15.00 jailbreaked and unlocked (with redsn0w) .
I read somewhere that the problem could come from the hacktivation...
@applenerd8: I have the same problem!!! I searched on internet for a solution but so far I didn't find anything!!!
I've got a 3gs ios 6, baseband 06.15.00 jailbreaked and unlocked (with redsn0w) .
I read somewhere that the problem could come from the hacktivation...
A follow-up on this issue :
Tried using the 3GS without the SIM card for a while now, just wifi, and the iPhone has not shut down a single time.
So I'm guessing it might not be a battery problem, more like something to do with network and SIM card... Bleh...
Tried using the 3GS without the SIM card for a while now, just wifi, and the iPhone has not shut down a single time.
So I'm guessing it might not be a battery problem, more like something to do with network and SIM card... Bleh...
OK Guys.. I WAS GOING CRAZY WITH THIS PROBLEM FOR TOO LONG
THE SOLUTION IS HERE .. PLEASE AFTER YOU TRAY IT REPORT IF IT WORKS
*************************************
FIRST THE PROBLEM IS THAT YOUR iPhone 3GS IS USING TOO MUCH MEMORY AND IF YOU GO IN YOUR ERROR REPORTS ON YOU PHONE YOU WILL FIND THAT IT REBOOT BECAUSE OF THAT ;GOOGLE HAW TO SEE YOUR ERROR REPORT;
**************************************
This is ON 5.1.1 IOS
So TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM JUST DOUBLE CLICK ON THE HOME BUTTON
TILL YOU HAVE THE MULTIPLE TASK BOARD AND YOU WILL FIND ALL YOUR APPLICATION OPENED
CHOOSE ONE OF THEM AND HOLD ON IT FOR A SHORT TIME .... A RED CIRCLE WITH A MINUS WILL APPEAR JUST CLOSE ALL OF THEM AND HERE YOU ARE PROBLEM SOLVED IT WILL NEVER REBOOT AGAIN JUST DO THIS STEP ONE TIME EVERY DAY .. HOPE I HELPED YOU A THANK YOU WILL MAKE ME HAPPY AS I JUST REGISTERED TO PUT THE SOLUTION
******************************************
Don't forget to refer to MOKTOP when copy the solution ^^
THE SOLUTION IS HERE .. PLEASE AFTER YOU TRAY IT REPORT IF IT WORKS
*************************************
FIRST THE PROBLEM IS THAT YOUR iPhone 3GS IS USING TOO MUCH MEMORY AND IF YOU GO IN YOUR ERROR REPORTS ON YOU PHONE YOU WILL FIND THAT IT REBOOT BECAUSE OF THAT ;GOOGLE HAW TO SEE YOUR ERROR REPORT;
**************************************
This is ON 5.1.1 IOS
So TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM JUST DOUBLE CLICK ON THE HOME BUTTON
TILL YOU HAVE THE MULTIPLE TASK BOARD AND YOU WILL FIND ALL YOUR APPLICATION OPENED
CHOOSE ONE OF THEM AND HOLD ON IT FOR A SHORT TIME .... A RED CIRCLE WITH A MINUS WILL APPEAR JUST CLOSE ALL OF THEM AND HERE YOU ARE PROBLEM SOLVED IT WILL NEVER REBOOT AGAIN JUST DO THIS STEP ONE TIME EVERY DAY .. HOPE I HELPED YOU A THANK YOU WILL MAKE ME HAPPY AS I JUST REGISTERED TO PUT THE SOLUTION
******************************************
Don't forget to refer to MOKTOP when copy the solution ^^
same problem
Hello guys.
i have same problem with my iphone 3gs on several ios versions!
5.1.1 & 6.0.1
on a persian forum,one of mods told me change Power IC on the motherboard!
another guy told me downgrade ios to 4
i tried to downgrade ios to 4
but still same problem.
i replaced battery with APN 616-0435,but problem not solved!
now i'm really confused!
any other solution?!
Hello guys.
i have same problem with my iphone 3gs on several ios versions!
5.1.1 & 6.0.1
on a persian forum,one of mods told me change Power IC on the motherboard!
another guy told me downgrade ios to 4
i tried to downgrade ios to 4
but still same problem.
i replaced battery with APN 616-0435,but problem not solved!
now i'm really confused!
any other solution?!
problem solved, thanks
Hi,
my girlfriend's 16GB iPhone 3GS with iOS 6.0.1 exhibited the same behavior: turned off at random with higher probability for discharged battery. Also, the battery was discharging at a significantly higher rate than my own 3GS. I have ordered a new 616-0435 battery here: http://www.maczone.cz/apple-baterie-pro-apple-iphone-3gs-original-apl-616-0435_d7378.html (I'm from the Czech Republic). Instead of 616-0435 I have received 616-0434. Still, I have decided to give it a try. I have replaced the battery using http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Installing+iPhone+3GS+Battery/1545/1
and now after a week I can say that the problem is solved and the phone works like a new one.
Thanks everybody!
Hi,
my girlfriend's 16GB iPhone 3GS with iOS 6.0.1 exhibited the same behavior: turned off at random with higher probability for discharged battery. Also, the battery was discharging at a significantly higher rate than my own 3GS. I have ordered a new 616-0435 battery here: http://www.maczone.cz/apple-baterie-pro-apple-iphone-3gs-original-apl-616-0435_d7378.html (I'm from the Czech Republic). Instead of 616-0435 I have received 616-0434. Still, I have decided to give it a try. I have replaced the battery using http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Installing+iPhone+3GS+Battery/1545/1
and now after a week I can say that the problem is solved and the phone works like a new one.
Thanks everybody!
I have found something, haven't tried it yet tho.
I'll see if it will help and report back.
So I've been having the same problem since about the beginning of the year. I don't think it specifically coincided with an update to the iOS, and reading this and many other forums I also started coming to the conclusion that it must be the battery. When I went overseas for a few months I was almost exclusively using my 3GS connected to WiFi, and all my cellular data was turned off, and then I noticed that my phone stopped shutting down completely.
As soon as I came back to South Afica and connected to the 3G and Edge networks of my provider (Vodacom) my 3GS started shutting down again, often when I was opening or using a specific app that in my mind could be "resource-intensive" (like the camera, GPS, or WhatsApp). Specifically, each time the phone shut down and I tried to turn it back on again it wouldn't, except if I removed the SIM card. Then it would turn back on again (although losing a bit of battery life, I think about 5% on average). When I put the SIM in again it would most of the time show "Searching" and as soon as it finds the network, and specifically connects with 3G, the phone would shut down again. Only in a few instances that would not happen. In my mind that meant it was the network's error, but reading through many forums and finding out that the drain on an old battery could be to blame (and I still had the original battery of the phone) I decided to replace the battery first.
I did that yesterday with a battery I got for R200 (about £14 - I didn't know about the load-testing yet so I'll just hope I got a good battery). I also only now read about the APN: 616-0345 issue and all I know is that my old battery is APN: 616-0345, when I open my phone again (which hopefully I won't have to do) I'll see what the replacement battery is.
Anyways, so I replaced the battery yesterday and felt the time it took to charge up was a good indication as it took longer than my previous battery. But today (as I was actually closing apps to decrease battery strain) it shut down on me again. I only managed to turn it on again through plugging it in, and reading other comments I'm now running it down to a full discharge by playing music. I've got the 3G and cellular data turned off to prevent it shutting down again (the SIM is in and unlocked). I'm doing this to give it a full discharge/full charge cycle or two to get the battery working as well as it can.
If after this I still have the same problem (which I have a feeling I will have) I'm going to get a new SIM card and see if that fixes it. If it STILL doesn't then I'll do the complete restore with selected application installs as @Allegri suggested. Let's hope it's fixed by then, cause I'm reaaaaally getting frustrated :/
Just want to say thanks to everyone who posted and are in the same boat, it really helps reading your problems too. And thanks to everyone who try to help, especially @edgeyted and your link to batteryuniversity.com, they really have a lot of interesting and very detailed info, and in the future I'll do partial discharges on all my Li-ion devices and only do full discharges every now and then to increase cycle life.
As soon as I came back to South Afica and connected to the 3G and Edge networks of my provider (Vodacom) my 3GS started shutting down again, often when I was opening or using a specific app that in my mind could be "resource-intensive" (like the camera, GPS, or WhatsApp). Specifically, each time the phone shut down and I tried to turn it back on again it wouldn't, except if I removed the SIM card. Then it would turn back on again (although losing a bit of battery life, I think about 5% on average). When I put the SIM in again it would most of the time show "Searching" and as soon as it finds the network, and specifically connects with 3G, the phone would shut down again. Only in a few instances that would not happen. In my mind that meant it was the network's error, but reading through many forums and finding out that the drain on an old battery could be to blame (and I still had the original battery of the phone) I decided to replace the battery first.
I did that yesterday with a battery I got for R200 (about £14 - I didn't know about the load-testing yet so I'll just hope I got a good battery). I also only now read about the APN: 616-0345 issue and all I know is that my old battery is APN: 616-0345, when I open my phone again (which hopefully I won't have to do) I'll see what the replacement battery is.
Anyways, so I replaced the battery yesterday and felt the time it took to charge up was a good indication as it took longer than my previous battery. But today (as I was actually closing apps to decrease battery strain) it shut down on me again. I only managed to turn it on again through plugging it in, and reading other comments I'm now running it down to a full discharge by playing music. I've got the 3G and cellular data turned off to prevent it shutting down again (the SIM is in and unlocked). I'm doing this to give it a full discharge/full charge cycle or two to get the battery working as well as it can.
If after this I still have the same problem (which I have a feeling I will have) I'm going to get a new SIM card and see if that fixes it. If it STILL doesn't then I'll do the complete restore with selected application installs as @Allegri suggested. Let's hope it's fixed by then, cause I'm reaaaaally getting frustrated :/
Just want to say thanks to everyone who posted and are in the same boat, it really helps reading your problems too. And thanks to everyone who try to help, especially @edgeyted and your link to batteryuniversity.com, they really have a lot of interesting and very detailed info, and in the future I'll do partial discharges on all my Li-ion devices and only do full discharges every now and then to increase cycle life.
I had the same problem and finally after a year of finding possible solutions it is totally solved now.
Actually I only had to replace the battery and did a fresh restore. Now it is working fine as it should be. Cheers!!! I was experiencing exactly the same till i did the above mentioned procedure.
----------
Put a new battery and do a restore
----------
Guys, believe me, it's the battery that needs to be replaced by a quality one and then do a fresh restore, meaning do not restore from a backup.
Im running the latest ios now. And i am no longer experiencing the same problem since i did the battery replacement+Restore
Actually I only had to replace the battery and did a fresh restore. Now it is working fine as it should be. Cheers!!! I was experiencing exactly the same till i did the above mentioned procedure.
----------
Put a new battery and do a restore
----------
Guys, believe me, it's the battery that needs to be replaced by a quality one and then do a fresh restore, meaning do not restore from a backup.
Im running the latest ios now. And i am no longer experiencing the same problem since i did the battery replacement+Restore
from where do i can get the 616-0435 battery for my iphone 3gs in pakistan
i am having the same problem
i am having the same problem
Cracked Screen on 2 day old 6 + no insurance. What options do I have?? Any suggestions will be appreciated.
1-can it be repaired
2-I have 5 phones on my family plan if I bye a new6+ using one of those upgrades would I be able put the SIM card In it and use it with my old number?
1-can it be repaired
2-I have 5 phones on my family plan if I bye a new6+ using one of those upgrades would I be able put the SIM card In it and use it with my old number?
Problem solved, thank you all!!
Hi everyone,
This forum & thread really saved me of throwing my Iphone 3GS (with jailbreak and unlocked by software) and unnecessarily buying a new smartphone!
As a lot of people describe here, I was also having erratic blackouts without other solution than connecting to the charger to immediately have the iphone going back to life:
### If my Iphone was on standby mode, the battery lasted a day easily and without sudden blackouts. Along the day the percentage was moving from 100% (when full) to 20% at night (I didnt use to let it drain completely).
Certainly the battery was lasting less than its glory days but not so much to say the battery was defective and causing the whole trouble!
CLUE1: However, during the day when checking if new emails/calls sometimes I realized big leaps of the battery consumption percentage. But I didnt pay real attention and instead explained with: + several apps running in background, +long time running without a reboot, +a need of calibrating the battery, etc.
### On the other hand [actively using the iphone]: At the very beginning of the problem, it could work without blackouts and other times it gave me the blackout after 20 or 30 minutes at any given battery percentage. Because that, I started getting suspicious about apps (corrupted, causing a conflict, not compatible with my old 3GS you name a reason). Other times because the blackout happened during a call, I started blaming the unlock app, and when it was a frequent issue, I thought the jailbreak caused the problem somehow.
In other words, because the random timing of the blackouts and what exact action I was doing in the phone when they happened, I was paranoid about everything related to software but not the battery.
When the problem got worse, the available time reduced to 2 to 5 minutes before the deadly black screen.
CLUE2: I must say when the iphone was plugged to the charger, I was able to use the phone as long as I wanted.
When I finally got a chance to execute a full restore (because it was a software problem right??) It didnt get better. Thats what brought me to this thread and the battery as the cause of the problem.
Short story, thanks to the info posted here, I decided to buy a new battery: mercadolibre.com.mx $150pesos + shipping (I am from Mexico). I replaced it, did a full restore as suggested and after several full charge/discharge battery cycles (to let iOS correctly calibrate the battery), I can happily say the blackouts are gone: I can use my iphone as long as I want and do whatever I want
The paranoid and dont disturb the iphone too much days are gone!!
For those that purchased a battery that did not resolve the problem or got a lemon APN, my experience was: I took note of the APN numbers discussed here to know the good one to buy (or do NOT buy) BUT all the sellers didnt care APNs so the best I got was a generic 1600mah (APN printed nowhere). Maybe I was lucky, but please give several full charge/discharge cycles to the battery to get accurate percentage indicator. You might have a good battery with your iOS incorrect calibrated.
Next time the iphone turns off (blackout) suddenly, instead of blaming software I will begin paying attention to the battery
Thanks a lot to all the people bothering to share their symptoms, their action plans and their results. You are the best.
Hi everyone,
This forum & thread really saved me of throwing my Iphone 3GS (with jailbreak and unlocked by software) and unnecessarily buying a new smartphone!
As a lot of people describe here, I was also having erratic blackouts without other solution than connecting to the charger to immediately have the iphone going back to life:
### If my Iphone was on standby mode, the battery lasted a day easily and without sudden blackouts. Along the day the percentage was moving from 100% (when full) to 20% at night (I didnt use to let it drain completely).
Certainly the battery was lasting less than its glory days but not so much to say the battery was defective and causing the whole trouble!
CLUE1: However, during the day when checking if new emails/calls sometimes I realized big leaps of the battery consumption percentage. But I didnt pay real attention and instead explained with: + several apps running in background, +long time running without a reboot, +a need of calibrating the battery, etc.
### On the other hand [actively using the iphone]: At the very beginning of the problem, it could work without blackouts and other times it gave me the blackout after 20 or 30 minutes at any given battery percentage. Because that, I started getting suspicious about apps (corrupted, causing a conflict, not compatible with my old 3GS you name a reason). Other times because the blackout happened during a call, I started blaming the unlock app, and when it was a frequent issue, I thought the jailbreak caused the problem somehow.
In other words, because the random timing of the blackouts and what exact action I was doing in the phone when they happened, I was paranoid about everything related to software but not the battery.
When the problem got worse, the available time reduced to 2 to 5 minutes before the deadly black screen.
CLUE2: I must say when the iphone was plugged to the charger, I was able to use the phone as long as I wanted.
When I finally got a chance to execute a full restore (because it was a software problem right??) It didnt get better. Thats what brought me to this thread and the battery as the cause of the problem.
Short story, thanks to the info posted here, I decided to buy a new battery: mercadolibre.com.mx $150pesos + shipping (I am from Mexico). I replaced it, did a full restore as suggested and after several full charge/discharge battery cycles (to let iOS correctly calibrate the battery), I can happily say the blackouts are gone: I can use my iphone as long as I want and do whatever I want
The paranoid and dont disturb the iphone too much days are gone!!
For those that purchased a battery that did not resolve the problem or got a lemon APN, my experience was: I took note of the APN numbers discussed here to know the good one to buy (or do NOT buy) BUT all the sellers didnt care APNs so the best I got was a generic 1600mah (APN printed nowhere). Maybe I was lucky, but please give several full charge/discharge cycles to the battery to get accurate percentage indicator. You might have a good battery with your iOS incorrect calibrated.
Next time the iphone turns off (blackout) suddenly, instead of blaming software I will begin paying attention to the battery
Thanks a lot to all the people bothering to share their symptoms, their action plans and their results. You are the best.
Boot looping is primarily a battery-related issue typically caused by a faulty and/or high-cycled battery (of which many third-party vendors are guilty of but never culpable to), or a battery with a different APN number than the factory battery.
----------
There MAY be certain PC programs which readout battery specs which include cycle count in the readout. Also, comparing the actual charge percentage from this readout to the one shown is the iPhone's status bar for discrepancies is a sure test for battery authenticity.
----------
There MAY be certain PC programs which readout battery specs which include cycle count in the readout. Also, comparing the actual charge percentage from this readout to the one shown is the iPhone's status bar for discrepancies is a sure test for battery authenticity.