iPhone 8/Plus New phone, old problems. Any fix?

[heycal]

Just got off a long slooow chat with Apple Support. Here is the issue: I had an iphone 6 for the last couple of years. It had some bugs in it, such as a weird popup appearing in the music app sometimes ("Now playing, swipe up to repeat" etc with no way to get it off the screeen), and my phone every once in a long while not autolocking after I sent a text. The screen just stayed on indefinitely. I spoke to Apple support about the latter problem when I had the 6, and they suggested it might be due to me being low on storage, since when that happens the phone can act buggy apparently.

So last week I got a new iphone 8. When I got it home from the store, I piugged it into my mac computer and Restored from Backup to get all my apps and configurations the way I had them.

But I also got the same bugs I had on the 6 on my new 8: the weird music pop up and the very occassional screen staying on after a sent text and not autolocking, etc. Apple Support person and myself both theorize that my setup restore transferred my old problems to my new phone, and they suggested the best way to fix this problem is not bothering with resets or another restore, which may just result in the same problems, but to take the radical and awful step of setting up my phone as new -- like literally new. Never restoring from backup and essentially starting from scratch. All my settings, old messages, app data, possibly contacts, etc and so forth no longer on my phone. Starting over as if this were my first smartphone and building from there.

While this make sense, it's also an obviously horrible thing to contemplate doing. Are there any other things I could try to get my new phone working properly? Thanks!

 

[Banglazed]

It is possible the backup may contain corrupted data. However, the main question is what is the most important data you need from your backup? Is it contacts? Photos? Messages? Some of these can be uploaded to iCloud Drive/Backup which make it easier to resync on new devices.

I could also suggest you may try this by forcing the device into recovery mode and “Update” using iTunes which it will download the full firmware and re-write OS while preserving your data. It possible it may undo some bugs created after restore backup. See https://support.apple.com/en-us/ht201263

 

[Funsize93]

Would be best to backup to iCloud and then restore an iCloud backup after factory resetting the device. This will prevent any software corruption returning back to the device. Otherwise last resort would be to setup the device as new an only bring back synced iCloud data (photos, messages, contacts, etc...not apps)

 

[j800r]

Is it a work phone? I ask cause I’m a little unsure why it would be so important to save message history. Afaik contacts are automatically saved to iCloud and will be there if you attach the same iCloud account without need of any “restore”.

I always advise setting up as new when getting a new iPhone as a full restore can often introduce problems. iCloud restore should contain the most essential information anyway.

 

[heycal]

It's not a work phone. When I think of what is most valuable on it, I guess contacts, photos, app sign-in information and access to various accounts like banking and dropbox, old messages if possible so I can refer back to them or re-start conversations more easily, photos, and possibly something else I've forgotten. I guess I could live beginnning fresh with many of these things, tedious though it would be, but I would hope not all. If I can save the most important ones, and get them back on my phone, life would go on I suppose.

So, given all that, and also given that back when I had my 6 and tried factory resets and setups as new followed by then restoring a backup to fix these and other bugs while retaining all my data, and it didn't work, what are my best options to try and get a bug free iphone 8?

 

[akash.nu]

Setup as new is your best option. Use iCloud to backup everything fresh and not on your computer then you can restore from that backup. Mostly you’ll get everything back as they were.

 

[mikzn]

I don't know about the restoration and bugs that may or may not migrate - but I just ordered an iPhone 8 to replace iPhone 6 that was getting pretty wonky - battery issues - long charge times - and frozen screens etc

Seems like a similar situation to your story and am looking forward to a new iPhone - upgrading from the 6 - which was a great phone and workhorse as far as I am concerned and looking forward to a new iPhone 8

 

[Minorite]

If the bug is in iOS settings you can only sync data from iCloud, restoring iCloud or local backup will bring it back. If you need banking apps and other apps that store sensitive data make sure to sync your keychain as this data is not included in a backup in most cases.

After setting up as new you can use iMazing to restore apps data without restoring a backup (make sure to have a fresh encrypted local backup before the reset!). This should be fully supported in free version, so you won't lose anything in any case. Here is their guide about this option.

 

[heycal]

It is possible the backup may contain corrupted data. However, the main question is what is the most important data you need from your backup? Is it contacts? Photos? Messages? Some of these can be uploaded to iCloud Drive/Backup which make it easier to resync on new devices.

I could also suggest you may try this by forcing the device into recovery mode and “Update” using iTunes which it will download the full firmware and re-write OS while preserving your data. It possible it may undo some bugs created after restore backup. See https://support.apple.com/en-us/ht201263

Would be best to backup to iCloud and then restore an iCloud backup after factory resetting the device. This will prevent any software corruption returning back to the device. Otherwise last resort would be to setup the device as new an only bring back synced iCloud data (photos, messages, contacts, etc...not apps)

Setup as new is your best option. Use iCloud to backup everything fresh and not on your computer then you can restore from that backup. Mostly you’ll get everything back as they were.

If the bug is in iOS settings you can only sync data from iCloud, restoring iCloud or local backup will bring it back. If you need banking apps and other apps that store sensitive data make sure to sync your keychain as this data is not included in a backup in most cases.

After setting up as new you can use iMazing to restore apps data without restoring a backup (make sure to have a fresh encrypted local backup before the reset!). This should be fully supported in free version, so you won't lose anything in any case. Here is their guide about this option.

Sounds like a few options and opinions on which is best.... Hmm.

My icloud backup is done automatically, no? So no actual backup process needed?

 

[akash.nu]

Sounds like a few options and opinions on which is best.... Hmm.

My icloud backup is done automatically, no? So no actual backup process needed?

Provided you have enough space on iCloud and auto backup is turned on - yes. Within settings You can check when the last iCloud backup was done.

 

[heycal]

I guess I will start with whichever is the easiest, least complicated method of the options suggested above, and work from there. It may take a few days or even weeks to see how each one works. The bugs aren't always present or constant.

 

[now i see it]

The problem with iCloud backup (the kind that backs up the entire phone which is usually automatic) is that.. It backs up the entire phone.

The only way to access data from that backup is to wipe the phone and restore everything from that backup again. All or nothing. It's not like Time Machine on the Mac where you can pick & choose what you want to retrieve.

As depressing as being chained to iCloud Drive is, it's safest to keep as many App documents in iCloud Drive as possible. Then if something goes wrong with an app (or it accidentally gets deleted) you don't lose all your files inside the app.

Contacts can be set up to reside in iCloud, so there's no fear of losing those either with a new device. Photos on the other hand will have to be transferred over to your Mac and copied back to the new phone. Once iMessage in iCloud is figured out, old messages will be accessible from a new device too.

 

[heycal]

The problem with iCloud backup (the kind that backs up the entire phone which is usually automatic) is that.. It backs up the entire phone.

The only way to access data from that backup is to wipe the phone and restore everything from that backup again. All or nothing. It's not like Time Machine on the Mac where you can pick & choose what you want to retrieve.

As depressing as being chained to iCloud Drive is, it's safest to keep as many App documents in iCloud Drive as possible. Then if something goes wrong with an app (or it accidentally gets deleted) you don't lose all your files inside the app.

Contacts can be set up to reside in iCloud, so there's no fear of losing those either with a new device. Photos on the other hand will have to be transferred over to your Mac and copied back to the new phone. Once iMessage in iCloud is figured out, old messages will be accessible from a new device too.

Aren't photos backed separately? I thought I saw something in setting indicating that.

Unfortunately, I'm afraid I don't understand much of this. Never truly understood or mastered keychain, or know if there is a difference between icloud or icloud drive, or how to control either of them.

So... what is the best course for a borderline idiot like me to follow, the least complicated and the one most likely to get my new phone bug free without literally starting over from scratch?

 

[Minorite]

I would suggest restoring froma an iCloud backup ( force and iCloud backup to save latest data if needed > reset to factory > Restore from iCloud backup). If the bu will persist, make sure that Notes, Photos, Contacts, Messages, etc., are synced with iCloud, then reset to factory and just enable iCloud sync without restoring a backup to get data from the cloud.

In all cases I would suggest to make a local encrypted backup, better safe than sorry

 

[heycal]

I'm not positive what encrypted means other than in a general sense, so that's another thing over my head If things like notes and contacts and photos and mesages and such are in the cloud (And apps on itunes or wherever they are) isn't there no danger of accidentally losing data regardless of what I do with the actual phone when restoring/resetting?

Also, isn't the phone backed up automatically, like every day? So the only reason to back up right before reset/restore, etc is to preserve anything important you added in the last 24 hours or whatever? (which in my case is nothing). Or is there another reason people are saying back up first?

In addition to the same problems I had with 6 -- screening not always turning off, weird 'now playing' pop up I can't get rid of in music -- I notice my apps crashing a lot more than I remember them doing with the 6. The new phone seems even more buggy than the old one. Today, with my battery at 50%, it says "USAGE: 8 hr, 33 min", "STANDBY 8 hr, 38 min" which doesn't sound right...

Hopefully this is not because I bought a lemon, and the phone needs to be returned and exchanged, right? That's no fun to contemplate either.

 

[heycal]

ffdfdfdsf

 

[heycal]

Okay, just backed up phone, both regular and encrypted. Then on the phone itself, I erased all contents and set up as new (not through itunes, I don't think.) I also updated to 11.4 from 11.3.1 as well. It appears my contacts are all there already, so I can call or message anyone. I can also access my photos, and after I got past the introductory screen on notes (which hopefully was ok to do), my old notes appeared. Reminders, calendars, personalized ringtones and probably some other things back too. Even Siri recognizing my voice without me doing that over again, though I did need to add my fingerprints again. I'm going to add Google and some other basic apps from the app store as well (though they show up as already in my itunes account, but just need to be downloaded onto the phone again.)

So right now, this basically means I should have a 'new' phone that should have none of the bugs I had with my 6? Or given how much data came back automatically, even Siri recognizing my voice, which she did not do when I actually purchased the phone, maybe it's not as 'new' as I need?

I've begun to fiddle with various other settings to start getting things how I like them, which hopefully won't screw up anything, but will hold off for now before doing anything else major. I have not actively done any "restore backup" or such.

So... in your various expert opinions, what are the best next steps to getting some or all of my other data back without bringing back my old problems?

 

[heycal]

Don't leave me hanging, fellas! Almost to safe harbor! Can I start re-downloading my apps from the cloud one-by-one safely, or am I risking bringing back trouble the second I re-load the Chase app or whichever the culprit may be?

I'd rather do them all at at once through some easy method, but at this point I'm willing to go the tedious route if it's smarter to do so.

EDIT: Oh, no. The auto-locking failing to activate, sometimes, has returned. Why? I did re-download some apps, but who knows? So I called Apple. They surmised since I set up the phone as new on the device itself, I brought back the problems. They had me set up as new via itunes this time. My contacts and photos and so on came back (but not messages), and we went into app store and downloaded most of my apps again.

So now we wait...