9 Common iOS 8.4.1 Problems & How to Fix Them

Apple’s new iOS 8.4.1 update for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad comes with fixes for problems. That said, the update is apparently causing problems for select iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users. With those complaints in mind, we want to show you how to fix current iOS 8.4.1 problems and the issues that have a good chance of popping up in the weeks ahead.

In late June, Apple released its iOS 8.4 update. iOS 8.4 delivered its new Music platform, some key changes to iBooks and several important bug fixes to iOS 8 users. A few weeks later, Apple confirmed an iOS 8.4.1 release and thanks to the beta, we knew that the iOS 8.4.1 update would be a bug fix upgrade.

Last week, Apple released iOS 8.4.1 and unsurprisingly, the update was aimed directly at some of the issues plaguing Apple Music. Many iPhone and iPad users have voice their frustration about Apple Music problems in the weeks since launch and so it makes sense that the update immediately following its release is aimed at fixing some of the initial hiccups.

The iOS 8.4.1 is a small bug fix update and like all iOS updates, it brings its own collection of problems and issues to the table. iPhone and iPad users have complained about iOS 8.4.1 problems since Thursday and while they’re still isolated, the complaints have started to pick up as more people have installed the update.

Unsurprisingly, the iOS 8.4.1 problems that have emerged are among the most common iOS issues. Issues with battery drain, problems with Wi-Fi, and even issues installing the iOS 8.4.1 update.

Apple’s next iOS update is expected to be iOS 9. The iOS 9 release date is probably going to land in mid-to-late September which means those of you dealing with iOS 8.4.1 problems will be on your own until then. With that in mind, we want to outline some fixes for some of the iOS 8.4.1 problems that have popped up and some problems that could potentially pop up in the future.

How to Fix iOS 8.4.1 Installation Problems

One of the first problems prospective iOS 8.4.1 users ran into last week were installation issues that prevented them from installing the iOS 8.4.1 update. We see this after every single iOS update and fortunately there’s a simple fix that tends to jumpstart the installation process.

If your iOS 8.4.1 installation gets hung up, you’ll want to hold down the home button and power button for a few seconds until the iPhone or iPad restarts itself. Once that happens, you’ll want to try the installation process again. This has worked for us and many other iOS users in the past.

How to Fix iOS 8.4.1 Battery Life Problems

Battery life issues are among the most common iPhone and iPad problems. They can emerge at any time but they tend to be the most prominent immediately after installing an update. We’ve seen a number of complaints about iOS 8.4.1 battery life already and we expect to see more people complain in the weeks ahead.

Sometimes, it can take a couple of days for battery life to settle. If after two days you’re still noticing unexplainable battery drain, you’ll want to try some of the fixes and tips we outlined immediately after the iOS 8.4.1 update’s release. These are a great resource but they aren’t guaranteed to work. You might need to branch out and seek out other fixes if they don’t.

Remember, iOS battery life issues can emerge at any time so you’d be wise to commit at least some of these fixes to memory so that you’re ready for future updates like iOS 9.

How to Fix iOS 8.4.1 Wi-Fi Problems

We’re already hearing about iOS 8.4.1 Wi-Fi problems and this doesn’t come as any sort of surprise. Like battery drain, Wi-Fi problems are extremely common and they can appear without warning. They can be difficult to fix but there are some remedies to try if you see a drop in performance with iOS 8.4.1 on board.

The first thing you’ll want to try is a reset on all of your network settings. To do this you’ll want to head into Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. The process will take a few minutes and your device will forget its known connections (so have your Wi-Fi passwords handy) but it could potentially solve your Wi-Fi connectivity problems.

If that doesn’t work, you should try forgetting your Wi-Fi networks and reconnecting the device to them. To do that, go into your Settings > Wi-Fi > Select your connection > Tap Forget this Network at the top of the screen. Now try reconnecting to the Wi-Fi network to see if that helps.

If neither one of those work, it’s time to take a closer look at your router and perhaps your modem as well. We recommend unplugging them both for a good minute before reconnecting them. This has been known to wipe out connectivity problems on iPhone and iPad. You might also want to look into updating your routers firmware if it doesn’t update automatically.

If none of those fix your iOS 8.4.1 Wi-Fi problems, you can head here for a few other potential fixes.

How to Fix iOS 8.4.1 Data Problems

Issues with cellular data (LTE, 4G, 3G) are also extremely common issues and they, like battery drain and Wi-Fi problems, can pop up at any time. Cellular data issues can be difficult to fix but we’ll lay out a few known fixes that could help jumpstart your connection.

If you’re confident that your cellular data issues are related to an outage, either at Apple or your carrier, you’ll want to first trying restarting your device. Power it down, slide to turn it off, and reboot it. This has fixed our cellular data issues in the past and it’s worth a shot.

If that doesn’t work, try toggling Cellular Data off and on. To do that go into Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data > Toggle Off. Then toggle it back on. This might get your connection flowing again.

Should that fail, try flipping Airplane Mode on for 30 seconds before turning it back off again. Airplane Mode kills all connections on your device.

If that doesn’t work, you might also try shutting down your LTE connection for a few minutes before turning it back on. To do that you’ll go into Settings > Cellular > Enable LTE > Off. Once you turn it off, wait a little bit, and then try flipping it back on again to see if you get a better connection.

How to Fix iOS 8.4.1 Bluetooth Problems

Bluetooth issues are among the most common iOS problems and they’re already plaguing some users who upgraded to the iOS 8.4.1 update. These can also be very tricky to fix given the wide assortment of devices out there. That said, we have a few things to try if you run into trouble.

If you encounter Bluetooth issues, the first thing you’ll want to do is reset your network settings. To get that done go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. This will forget your Bluetooth devices and you’ll need to reconnect once the process completes.

You can also try forgetting each of your problematic Bluetooth connections individually to see if that works. To do that it’s Settings > Bluetooth > Select your connection using the circular blue i tab > Tap Forget this Device. Then you’ll want to reconnect.

If these don’t work, try resetting all of your settings. This has worked for us and many other iOS users in the past. To reset all of your settings go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset All Settings. This process could take a few minutes and it returns settings to their factory defaults. This means that you’ll need to input items like Wi-Fi passwords so jot them down before making a move.

If you’re dealing with Bluetooth problems in the car, you’ll want to take a look at your car’s manual and figure out how to reset the Bluetooth connection. Once you do that, forget the connection on your phone or tablet, and then try and reconnect to the car. If the problems persist, go into your dealer or a car specialist and have them take a look.

How to Fix iOS 8.4.1 App Problems

We’ve heard about a few app problems after the iOS 8.4.1 update. The iOS 8.4.1 beta helped but we will almost certainly see app issues continue to emerge in the buildup to iOS 9.

If you’re dealing with issues with Apple applications, you might have to wait for iOS 9. If you’re dealing with issues with third-party apps, you’ll first want to dig into review of the latest version of the app to see if it’s stable. If it is, it and its bug fixes might be worth a download.

If the latest update and its bug fixes don’t work out, you can try reinstalling the application on your iPhone or iPad. This has worked for us in the past. Delete the app (make sure your data is saved) and then try reinstalling the software. If reinstalling doesn’t work, it’s time to alert the apps developer so that they can include a fix in an upcoming software update.

How to Improve iOS 8.4.1 Performance

If you are dealing with performance issues, such as a drop in the speed of the user interface, you’ll want to take a look at our quick guide to repairing performance. These strategies are aimed at the iPhone 4s but they should come in handy across iOS 8 powered devices.

How to Fix iOS 8.4.1 iMessage Problems

Problems with iMessages and the Messages app are extremely common and we’ve already seen several complaints about busted messages in iOS 8.4.1.

If you start having problems with iMessages and the Messages application, the first thing you’ll want to do is toggle the feature off then on again. Go into Settings > Messages > Toggle iMessage off then back on. This has worked for us in the past and it’s the first thing you’ll want to try.

If that doesn’t work, you can try rebooting your device. And if that doesn’t work, you’ll want to go into your settings and reset Network Settings. Head into Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. This will cause your device to forget your connections so make sure you have your passwords handy.

How to Fix iOS 8.4.1 Problems If Nothing Else Works

If you’re experiencing an iOS 8.4.1 problem that’s not listed here, you’ll want to head to Apple’s discussion forums and poke around. Users there are extremely helpful and if they can’t provide a fix, then will often point you in the right direction.

If you’re experiencing Apple Music problems, you’ll want to head to the Apple Music discussion forum. There are tons of potential fixes on there and it will be up to you to sift through the pile for the one you need.

If those resources don’t help, you have a few other options at your disposal. First, you can downgrade back to iOS 8.4. This will only be open for a limited time so you’ll need to be quick.

You might also consider a factory reset and a restore from a backup. This will wipe everything on your phone or tablet and return it back to the way it was when you first bought the device.

To perform a full on factory reset on iPhone or iPad, Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. This is a proven fix for many iOS problems but it’s time consuming so only use it as a last resort. And again, please backup your files before going this route.

If you can’t the problem out yourself, take your device into an Apple Store. Schedule an appointment at the Genius Bar and see if the geniuses there can’t diagnose your problem.

iPhone 6s Launch Date

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Apple hasn't sent out media invites for its inevitable iPhone launch event but it doesn't really need to at this point.  BuzzFeed's John Paczkowski has all but confirmed the iPhone 6s launch event for September 9th. This is the same date that Apple used for the iPhone 6 launch. Unless disaster strikes, this is when you can expect Apple to talk about the iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s Plus for the first time. You can also expect Apple to run down other products including iOS 9 and the new Apple TV.

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