Connect with us

Apple

iOS 8.4 Problems: 5 Things You Need to Know

Published

on

Apple’s brand new iOS 8.4 update is here and it brings the company’s new Apple Music platform along with bug fixes and enhancements. And according to some iPhone and iPad users, it brings some issue too. With those issues in mind, we want to take a look at the five most important things to know about iOS 8.4 problems today and going forward.

Apple first confirmed the iOS 8.4 update back in April, shortly after it released the iOS 8.3 update for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. The update wasn’t confirmed in a blog post or on stage. Instead, it was confirmed thanks to a release for developers in the company’s paid developer program.

Earlier this month, Apple showed iOS 8.4 off on stage alongside Apple Music and iOS 9. And while the company confirmed a June 30th release for Apple Music, it did not outline a public iOS 8.4 release date. Up until today, the update was only available to those in Apple’s beta programs.

iPhone 6 Worth It 2015 - 2

Today, Apple released iOS 8.4 into the wild and as expected, it brings new features on top of bug fixes for lingering iOS 8 problems. It also has brought some iOS 8.4 problems to iPhone and iPad owners in the United States and in other regions around the globe.

Updates the size of  iOS 8.4 (100MB+) always have the potential to have a huge impact on iPhone or iPad performance. For some users, iOS 8.4 will fix issues and offer smooth performance. For others, it will bring trouble. The iOS 8.4 update is still just a few hours old and we’re already hearing complaints about iOS 8.4 problems.

With these iOS 8.4 problems swirling on release day, we want to take a look at everything you need to know about these issues today, tomorrow and next month. This roundup offers a look at the issues themselves and some steps to take if you do happen to run into iOS 8.4 issues on your device.

iOS 8.4 Problems Plague iPhone & iPad Users

The iOS 8.4 update is only a few hours old and we’re already seeing a number of complaints about iOS 8.4 problems. Most of these issues appear to be isolated though there’s always a potential for complaints to grow as more people decide to install the iOS 8.4 update.

The fact that iOS 8.4 problems exist shouldn’t come as a surprise. iOS 8.4 arrives on a solid foundation after a lengthy beta process but we’ve never seen a perfect iOS update. iOS updates, big and small, always arrive with their own collection of problems and that’s why you have to be extremely careful. Something to remember as we push deeper into the year towards more iOS updates and iOS 9.

We’re already seeing a number of complaints about iOS 8.4. The loudest complaints thus far are about bad iOS 8.4 battery life. Users have taken to Apple’s discussion forum and social media to complain about poor battery life after installing iOS 8.4 and Apple Music:

iOS 8.4 battery life issues aren’t the only problems that iPhone and iPad users are seeing in the hours after the update’s public release.

iOS 8.4 users are complaining about an iCloud Music Library Can’t be Enabled Error, various installation problems including problems moving from the public beta, problems playing music stored locally on a device, GPS problemssong duplication, random crashes, random freezing, and more. These just scrape the surface.

We point these out for a few reasons. First, to help point you in the right direction if you’re suffering from similar problems. And second, to generate discussion. If we bring attention to these issues and other problems, we could out a fix or we could motivate Apple to fix them in a future update. It has happened before and we’re confident it will happen again.

It’s also a reminder to be cautious. We recommend preparing yourself and your device before the iOS 8.4 update. We put together some initial steps to take and some release tips that should help. We’ve also started relaying our own impressions of the iOS 8.4 update.

iOS 8.4 on iPhone & iPad

We’ve been digging into the iOS 8.4 update for a few hours now and we’ve been having a solid experience across all of our devices. That includes the iPad Air 2, iPad Air, iPad mini 2, iPad 3, iPhone 6, iPhone 5s, and iPhone 5. We’ve also seen other iOS 8.4 users post positive feedback about the update.

We’ve already taken a close look at the performance on the iPhone 6 and iPhone 5s and we plan to post detailed impressions for the rest of the devices in the future. So far, all of them are behaving with iOS 8.4 on board. We’ll reserve final judgement until we’ve been able to spend a week with iOS 8.4.

iPhone-6s-2

So why do we bring this up? Well, we want to drive home how important it is to gather feedback before installing an iOS update. You always assume some risk installing a new piece of iOS software. Our feedback is a great starting point but you’ll want to branch out before installing the iOS 8.4 update.

We also bring this up so that you can put the iOS 8.4 update into perspective. There are always two sides to an update but typically only hear about one.

You might hear a lot about iOS 8.4 problems in the days and weeks ahead but it’s important to remember that they won’t impact every single device. In fact, iOS users dealing with problems are in the minority of millions and millions of iOS users worldwide.

Does iOS 8.4 have problems? Absolutely. But most of them are small and isolated to a few users. We haven’t heard about any major iOS 8.4 problems yet.

Fixes for iOS 8.4 Problems

If you run into an iOS 8.4 problem on your iPhone or iPad, don’t panic. While we might not see a new iOS update for awhile, there are proven fixes out there to try before you take the device into an Apple Store.

We’ve already posted a fix for the iCloud Music Library Can’t be Enabled Error and we’ve also posted some ways to improve bad iOS 8.4 battery life. We also have a list of common iOS 8 problems and fixes that should help those of you dealing with iOS 8.4 problems.

iPhone 6s-5

Those fixes, which range from fixes for battery life problems to installation problems aren’t going to work for everyone. That said, they are worth a try if you do run into some problems today or a month after installing the iOS 8.4 update on your device.

Our fixes are going to be a great starting point though you’ll want to broaden your horizons. Apple’s Discussion Forums always provide a number of potential fixes for serious issues and the MacRumors community is also a great resource. Keep those in mind as we push away from the iOS 8.4 release date.

You Can Downgrade to iOS 8.3

If you run into iOS 8.4 problems, remember, you can downgrade to iOS 8.3 for a limited time. We’re not sure when Apple will close up the loophole but it usually happens about two weeks after an update’s release.

We’ve put together a step-by-step guide that will take you through the iOS 8.4 to iOS 8.3 downgrade process. Just remember, if you’re coming from iOS 8.2 or below, you won’t be able to go back to anything older than iOS 8.3.

What’s Next

If you experience trouble on your device after installing iOS 8.4, note that you’re going to have to be proactive because we don’t know when Apple’s next iOS update is going to land.

There’s no guarantee that an iOS 8.4.1 update will roll out before the iOS 9 update this fall. There’s also no guarantee that an iOS 8.4.1 update will fix your problems. In fact, it might bring some new problems of its own. You cannot rely on Apple.

Now that iOS 8.4 is out, the next update in Apple’s pipeline is iOS 9. iOS 9 comes with a number of performance enhancements and we expect it to include bug fixes as well. Some of you might not be able to wait that long though so you’ll need to set out on your own.

What’s New in iOS 8.4

Apple Music Streaming

Apple Music Streaming

The new Apple Music app includes the new Apple Music streaming service designed to take on Spotify, Pandora and other services. The iOS 8.4 update enables this new app and includes a free three-month trial of the Apple Music service.

With Apple Music you can pay $9.99 a month for an individual or $14.99 a month for a family of up to six members and enjoy full albums on demand and save music for offline playback.

Apple Music uses your musical tastes to pick new music that you might enjoy listening to in a new For You section of the music app that will help you find new music to listen to. The video above shows how this works.

This new app replaces the Music app from iOS 8 and earlier. Apple is not adding another app you cannot install from the iPhone or iPad, just updating one that is already on your device.

52 Comments

52 Comments

  1. Larry

    06/30/2015 at 6:22 pm

    Get a real phone apple fan boys!! Seems like all apple is after is $$$$ not the consumer every update is worse my Android came out 5.1 and other various updates in the last year and no issues at all and my phone is 2 years old and I have a newer android and no issues at all some friends of mine all they do is complaining about there iPhones apple is crap!! Ios 9 comming I can’t wait to see all the new issues to come on that I hope it’s so corrupt ios 9 apple goes down apple and safari is so 1980’s

    • rigaritax (@rigaritax)

      07/01/2015 at 8:01 am

      or maybe you can go and live our own life?

      • Larry

        07/01/2015 at 9:03 am

        Admit all you apple fags just buy it to look important !! I happen to work next door to a apple store and all you people cry all the time at the genius bar all the time you buying crap and you know it and I like having all you line up idiots move away from my door at my store too and police do arrest people who fail to move too

        • Larry

          07/01/2015 at 9:07 am

          Read Jayson below that’s proof apple is crap Tim crook is after you money all the tech and $$$ apple makes and still can’t get it right after 8 years FACE THE TRUTH!!! Android is the way to go!!

        • Michael

          07/17/2015 at 12:38 pm

          Grow up Larry!

        • Sean

          08/06/2015 at 3:03 pm

          Good lord, did Steve Jobs piss in your cheerios years ago or something?

          I’m a software engineer, who works on Linux for a living, and I can tell you that you and everyone else who makes this argument is full of shit.

      • Larry

        07/01/2015 at 2:12 pm

        There ya have it read below ! That’s apple for ya there I must had ruffled your Apple feathers he he he!!! Truth hurts like a batch!! Think this is bad just wait till ios 9 bigger failure haaaaaa!!

    • Foomanchu

      07/13/2015 at 8:08 am

      Larry? You’re a douche. Go back in your hole.

    • Hung1985

      09/10/2015 at 6:42 am

      MY IPHONE BEEN TURN OFF AFTER UPDATE IOS 8.4 3 WEEKS OMG I CANT TURN ON PLS HELP ME

  2. Jayson

    06/30/2015 at 9:59 pm

    I upgraded my os to 8.4 an now my mobile is totally worthless. It keeps shutting down even its fully charge.. It will stay open and when you open any app even the settings itself the phone will shutdown..

    • Remy

      07/03/2015 at 6:46 am

      I’m having the same problems where it kinda gets stuck on the screen I’m on and I have to keep pressing home button till it unfreezes. Also I went to sleep with 91% charge and I woke up to a death phone. It’s killing my battery even when I’m not using it. I hate it and the cons outweigh the pros so I’m going back to 8.3

  3. M5

    07/01/2015 at 11:24 am

    Terrible update! I had 1,400 songs that I could play offline but after installing 8.4 I suddenly am not allowed to listen to my 1,400 songs. Of those I’ve only purchased 2 through iTunes. Good thing I updated it on my iPod and not my iPhone. In my iPhone I can turn Airplane mode on and still listen to my music but 8.4 won’t allow that on my iPod. Any fix to this? I don’t have the option “make available offline” so that doesn’t fix it. These are my 1,400 songs how is Apple allowed to prevent me from listening to them?

  4. Ian

    07/01/2015 at 12:48 pm

    It looks like since I’ve updated to 8.4 my app update’s won’t update,very strange. Anybody else having this problem?

  5. Wb

    07/01/2015 at 2:04 pm

    Does anyone know if you get charged for the music you download after the free trial is over? I have my auto renewal already turned off, but just wondering if I should even try out the new features IF I will still get charged afterwards?

    • Ex iPhone user

      07/01/2015 at 5:53 pm

      It’s apple they will Nicole n dime you anyways

  6. joe

    07/02/2015 at 1:30 pm

    8.4 to 8.3 link is not correct

  7. Lanie

    07/03/2015 at 12:19 pm

    8.4 killed my iBooks. The store is slow and it crashes. Sad because iBooks is the only reason I pick Apple for phones :( *unhappy*

    • Lieo

      07/15/2015 at 6:42 pm

      Yes, I feel bad for that too.
      I’m very sorry for my mistake when I upgrade and can’t downgrade.

    • Lieo

      07/15/2015 at 6:45 pm

      Sad because iBooks is the only reason I pick Apple for IPAD.

  8. John

    07/03/2015 at 12:47 pm

    Email on my iPad mini keeps freezing up since the “upgrade”!

  9. Joangannon

    07/03/2015 at 4:03 pm

    I can’t even get 8.4 it has been 2 hours all I have is picture of iTune and connection cord what is up

    • conn suits

      07/05/2015 at 10:48 pm

      That means it is unable to update over Wi-Fi. And you need to plug the device into a computer running the iTunes software. My AppleTV asked for that last winter. If you don’t have a desktop or laptop computer then you have to take it into the Apple store for them to do it. Or some cities at the library have computers that run iTunes. The regular library computers don’t though. Massive bummer, my sympathies.

  10. Robert

    07/03/2015 at 5:19 pm

    My iPhone 5S now runs out of battery quickly and is running hot to touch. This is brand new to me since 8.4 update. In addition, launching the phone app causes it to freeze up for a minute or so. Missing calls as a result. Also had iPad stall in the installation process and had to do a restore.

  11. John

    07/03/2015 at 10:02 pm

    IOS 8.4 killed my streaming video to HD TV, even using Apple authorized adapter. Works fine on IOS iPad using 8.3

  12. Asad ingram

    07/05/2015 at 11:13 pm

    Every time I try to update my iPhone 5s it says a problem occurred why does this happen ? Can anybody help me?

  13. Jon @ Big Swings

    07/06/2015 at 1:10 pm

    its messing with my app. crashing after splash screen. dev.fixes? #BigSwingsApp

  14. DK

    07/06/2015 at 8:36 pm

    Please help me! I updated my ipad mini (IOS 8.4) and now everything that shows up when I open it is the apple logo. I can’t even go to the main screen. If somebody has a solution please reply back! :(

  15. andrew

    07/07/2015 at 1:43 am

    my phone completely died today , wont even turn on

  16. Jordan Blanchard

    07/08/2015 at 2:02 pm

    If you can’t find your music watch my video it will explain how https://youtu.be/kFMGUZkPMo4

  17. Antony Harper

    07/12/2015 at 1:13 pm

    My Son’s Iphone 5 won’t power up after IOS 8.4 update. He just gets USB power battery screen and shuts down even when charged for hours.

  18. davidchuhayesger

    07/12/2015 at 6:38 pm

    my ipad is frozen and will not response

  19. Tita

    07/12/2015 at 8:31 pm

    I don’t need any of the new features that come with the update, what I really need seems to have been taken away…I just want to see the time length of my playlists from my iPhone. As a fitness instructor, I heavily relied on this feature, why would they take that away?

  20. Henry

    07/18/2015 at 6:08 pm

    I just noticed my iPhone 5s cannot receive calls from Samsung Galaxy S3 (Android 4.3) after upgraded to iOS 8.4 even call from iPhone to Android still works. Does anyone know how to fix it?

  21. sherly

    07/20/2015 at 10:30 pm

    i cant upgrade my iphone6. I dont know why. i always pop up a notice. it says “an error occurred installing iOS 8.4.

    who can help me to know how to fix it. Thank you

  22. jim

    07/21/2015 at 9:00 am

    After iOS 8.4 email will not send from iPad or iPhone. Help

  23. DM

    07/21/2015 at 3:56 pm

    I Just contact the Apple support and they cannot solve it as well. They will suggest to re-sync it again to your iTunes. There’s no fix. I feel that they developed this upgrade to let all Apple users to stick with music purchased from iTunes only! :(

  24. Jon Miller

    07/21/2015 at 5:45 pm

    Yes, 8.4 wasn’t the best update Apple has put out. It caused my Messages in Facebook to not show any messages. I ended up uninstalling the message app and reinstalling to fix the problem.

  25. Wendy

    07/22/2015 at 7:38 am

    After updating my IPad Air to 8.4,, it has obviously updated it as IPad and the screen is too big so I have trouble using my screen & keyboard.
    What to do? Should I go back to 8.3? How easy is this?

  26. DM

    07/22/2015 at 9:31 am

    You can’t revert it back once updated

  27. blissinfinite

    07/23/2015 at 3:21 pm

    My iPad is now a very expensive doorstop after updating to iOS 8.4. Sooo disappointed in Apple these days.

  28. Mary Beth

    07/24/2015 at 7:45 am

    I had no choice but to update to 8.4 and I am so sorry I did!!! My text messages freeze. The only way to get them unfreeze is to reboot. I reboot about 7 times a day. And then there’s the matter of never being able to delete text messages. If I delete them, they come back. It’s driving me nuts. Any suggestions?

  29. Amber

    07/25/2015 at 12:51 pm

    Has anyones time been messing up?

  30. Judy

    08/01/2015 at 5:47 pm

    I cannot send text messages to other iPhones and androids since the 8.4 upgrade. I have to turn off iMessage to send a text to an android and then turn imessage back on to send an iMessage to my iPhone friends. How can I send text messages to iPhone users and android users at the same time?

  31. Sympathie

    08/02/2015 at 6:32 am

    Sorry to hear about all this, imstill on iOS 6 for my ipad 4 cause i knew iOS 8.4 is gonna be bad

  32. Miserableoldbastard

    08/03/2015 at 8:02 pm

    My mail app is now useless. Remind me, why do I have email?

  33. Lynn

    08/10/2015 at 11:54 pm

    Ipad mini has been updated to 8.4 and now does random things like pushing buttons that we have pushed, freezes or alternatively moves the screen. Does anyone have a fix for this?

  34. David Hughes

    08/19/2015 at 12:14 am

    I can’t play any videos withoout them starting and stopping, even from itunes. Any fixes? I have tried resetting network and complete reset of ipad. so far, problem work go away.

  35. CarolFerguson

    08/26/2015 at 6:39 pm

    Done the upgrade on my iPhone 5s & my phone hasn’t powered up or charged since & apple don’t know why but want me to pay £199 for a repair SEEKING LEGAL ADVICE

  36. ChinaMarine (@China_Marine)

    09/06/2015 at 3:14 am

    Also now the network / Wifi is hosed… It used to connect to my wireless router as soon a I was within range, not I literally have to manually connect it every time… Unbelievable…

  37. jc

    09/07/2015 at 7:03 pm

    My battery life seems worse! Pls fix it i got trouble since i update my phone vesion 8.4.1

  38. Web Design

    06/29/2017 at 5:34 am

    I was curious if you ever thought of changing the structure of your site?

    Its very well written; I love what youve got to say.
    But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with it better.
    Youve got an awful lot of text for only having one or 2 pictures.
    Maybe you could space it out better?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.