How to Fix iOS 17 Performance Issue on your iPhone

iOS 17 is the latest major release by Apple for the iPhone which is a successor to iOS 16 that has been rolling out publicly. Though iOS 17 includes a lot of new features and improvements to the core, it looks like there are several bugs or stability issues present. Apple recently identified some issues that basically cause overheating and battery-draining issues. Additionally, the performance-dropping issue becomes frustrating. Well, if you’re also facing the same issue then check how to fix iOS 17 Performance Issue on your iPhone.

As per multiple reports, iPhone feels sluggish and laggy after updating to iOS 17 irrespective of the developer beta or public beta. Are you one of the victims to encounter the same problem? If so, then don’t worry because you’re not alone. Unfortunately, plenty of iOS 17 users have started experiencing the same after installing the latest update. Generally, updating your device to the newer version makes the performance faster but that’s not the case this time.

How to Fix iOS 17 Performance Issue on your iPhone

Apple has recognized multiple factors behind the warmer iPhone and the slower performance with third-party applications like Instagram. This specific issue mostly occurs during the initial setup process or the restoration process. According to Apple, the battery overheating or draining isn’t causing any kind of performance issues right now. The manufacturer also stated to investigate the issue further and will soon come up with a future software update to address it.

Apart from the initial device setup, several users are also experiencing slow performance issues during the backup restoration process, wireless charging, graphics-intensive apps or games, and augmented reality features. While some users may experience a temporary overheating issue during fast charging. But Apple assures that it’s quite normal and won’t risk the user with safety issues. Apple is actively working to fix this issue with the app developers which basically consumes a higher CPU.

The chances are high that unnecessary third-party applications are running in the background which causes performance drops. Temporary system glitches, an outdated app version, pending iOS updates, low storage space, conflicts with the iPhone settings, issues with the iOS installation, etc. can play major roles. Luckily, here we’ve shared with you a couple of potential workarounds that should come in handy. Make sure to follow all methods until the issue gets fixed. So, without wasting any more time, let’s jump into it.

1. Force Restart Your iPhone

iPhone users can easily force restart their device by following the steps below to fix any kind of temporary system glitch or cache data issues.

• Your iPhone should be turned on and unlocked.
• Now, quickly press the Volume Up (+) key and release, then quickly press the Volume Down (-) key and release, then quickly press & hold the Power (side key) button for a few seconds until the Apple boot logo appears on the screen.
• After the Apple logo appears, you can release the Power (side key) button.
• You’ll need to wait for your iPhone to boot to the system.
• Once done, you should check for the issue again.

2. Ensure the Storage is Free Enough

If your device is low on free storage space, it’ll automatically free up space while installing an app, updating iOS, downloading music, etc. You can also manually try deleting unnecessary applications, media files, documents, etc. to keep the maximum storage space free. To make more storage available, your device may also remove items that can be downloaded again or aren’t needed any more. This includes things such as apps that you don’t use and the local cache for files in iCloud Drive. Your device will also remove temporary files and clear the cache on your device.

• Go to Settings > Tap on General > Choose iPhone Storage.
• You may see a list of recommendations for optimising your device’s storage with a list of installed apps and the amount of storage each one uses.
• Tap on the specific app name from the list for more information about its storage.
• Next, you can manage the app data by tapping on ‘Offload Unused Apps’ or ‘Optimize Photos’.

Please Note: Cached data and temporary data may not be counted as storage usage.

3. Check for iOS Updates

You should also check for the available software updates on your iPhone. Even if you’re running on the latest iOS 17 version, Apple releases monthly patch updates or new build version updates for its iOS. Installing the latest update should fix multiple bugs or performance issues. To do so:

• Go to the Settings app on your iPhone > Tap on General.
• Tap on Software Update > Make sure to select Automatic Updates to On for your convenience.
• Now, the system will automatically check for the available updates.
• If available, it’ll notify > You can tap on Download and Install. [It’ll also ask you to enter the device passcode]
  • If there is no update available, you’ll see the ‘iOS is up to date’ notification on the screen.
• Once done, simply restart your iPhone to apply changes immediately.

4. Enable Optimised Battery Charging

In case, the optimized battery charging feature isn’t enabled on your iPhone 15 series or older models then make sure to turn it on by following the steps below. It’ll allow the system to get the battery level up sufficiently during midnight and complete the full charging in the morning to avoid excessive charging or device overheating. To enable it:

• Open the Settings app > Tap on Battery.
• Tap on Battery Health > Enable the Optimised Battery Charging toggle.

5. Keep Your iPhone Untouched to Cool Down

Your iPhone may get warm a little bit during entertainment consumption or playing video games or social media platforms. It’s recommended to turn off the screen and keep the iPhone untouched for a few minutes to cool it down. Several users did find this trick helpful. So, you can also try it once. Do also keep in mind that wireless charging generates more heat because it’s still not as efficient as the wired charging technology. So, an overheated battery can stop charging to prevent any damage.

Additionally, you may notice sometimes that after having 80% of charge, your iPhone won’t charge or the speed or charging becomes slow. It all comes under the hardware protection feature by Apple. So, there is nothing to worry about it. Once the device temperature drops, put your iPhone on the wireless charging pad and try again.

6. Check for Pending App Updates

Some apps may not work smoothly on iOS 17 unless the applications are properly optimized for the system. If you’re using an older app version on the iPhone then make sure to follow the steps below to manually install pending app updates.

• Go to the App Store > Tap your Profile icon at the top right side.
• Select Update All to install all pending apps.
• Once done, restart the device to apply changes.

7. Disable Background App Activity

Another thing you should do is disable the background app activity at your end by following the steps below. It’ll also refresh background app activity to increase performance.

• Go to the Settings app > Tap on General.
• Tap on Background App Refresh > Select OFF for all.

8. Check the Battery Health

Sometimes issues with poor battery health can also affect your iPhone’s performance up to some extent. It’s recommended to check the battery’s health by following the steps below.

• Go to the Settings menu > Tap on Battery.
• Tap on Battery Health.
• If the battery health seems good enough depending on how old it is or how much you use it then skip it.
• Otherwise, try replacing the battery to improve the overall performance.

9. Disable the iOS Animations

Make sure to disable the iOS animations manually on your iPhone to check if the performance has been improved or not. Sometimes smoother transitions and animations can reduce performance.

• Go to the Settings app > Tap on Accessibility.
• Tap on Motion > Select Reduce Motion.
• Make sure to turn it On.

10. Reset All Settings on iPhone

Ensure to reset all settings on your iPhone by following the steps because not only the networking settings but also some other incorrect settings on the device can trouble you a lot. It’s better to reset all settings on the iOS 17 device to check if the performance issue is still there or not.

Note: Make sure to note down all the saved Wi-Fi passwords and other user-configured settings because resetting all settings will wipe out all settings to the factory default.

• Go to the Settings app on your iPhone.
• Go to General > Scroll down and tap on Transfer or Reset iPhone.
• Now, tap on Reset > Select Reset All Settings.
• If prompted, enter the lock screen passcode to confirm it.
• Wait for the process to be completed.
• Now, you can force restart your iPhone to apply changes.

11. Restore iPhone from iCloud or iTunes Backup

Sometimes you may need to restore your iPhone to recover the system from the iCloud Backup or iTunes Backup. However, do keep in mind that this method will completely reset the iPhone system, and you might lose some data if not properly backed up. So, make sure to take a full backup before performing this method.

Note: This method will only apply if you’ve previously backed up your data on iTunes or iCloud. If there is no previous backup made then you can skip this method.

Restore iPhone with iTunes:

• Open iTunes on your computer > Now, connect your iPhone to the Windows or Mac via the USB cable.
• Connect iTunes to the iPhone and the device will get detected.
• Next, click the iPhone icon from the left pane > Click on Restore Backup.
• Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the restore process.
• Once done, your iPhone will boot into the system automatically. It’ll take some time so please be patient.
• Finally, your device will boot into iOS, disconnect the iPhone then complete the initial setup process.
• You’re good to go.

Restore iPhone with iCloud:

• Go to the Settings app on your iPhone > Tap on General.
• Scroll down to the bottom of the page > Select Transfer or Reset iPhone.
• Tap on Reset > Select Erase All Content and Settings.
• If prompted, enter the device passcode to confirm the task.
• Your iPhone will restart automatically > It may take some time to complete.
• Once the iPhone boots into the system, go through the initial setup process.
• Next, sign in to your Apple ID > Here, you’ll have to select Restore from iCloud Backup.
• Once the backup data is selected to restore, confirm the task to proceed.
• Wait for the process to complete> Finally, your iPhone will reboot again to load the backup.
• Now, check if the iOS 17 performance issue is still there or not.

12. Restore iOS via DFU Mode

DFU (Device Firmware Update) basically used for advanced tasks like updating the firmware, troubleshooting problems such as bricked status, etc. Additionally, you can perform DFU Mode to downgrade to a previous iOS version, jailbreaking, SIM unlocking, etc. To do so:

• Connect your iPhone to your Mac/PC (iTunes required).
• You’ll also require a Lightning cable to connect your iPhone to the computer.
• Press and release the Volume Up button quickly.
• Then press and release the Volume Down button quickly.
• Next, press and hold the Power/Side button for around 10 seconds until the display turns black on the iPhone.
• Meanwhile, hold the Power/Side button, press and hold the Volume Down button for around 5 seconds, and then release the Power/Side button. But don’t release the Volume Down button for 10 seconds more. The display should remain black if properly done.
• Launch iTunes on your Mac/PC and you will see a message “iTunes has detected an iPhone in recovery mode. You must restore this iPhone before it can be used with iTunes.”
• Now, you’ll get an option to Restore iOS on your iPhone.
• Once you’re done with the firmware restoration process, press and release the Volume Up button quickly.
• Then press and release the Volume Down button quickly.
• Press and hold the Power/Side button until the Apple logo appears.
• Finally, your iPhone will boot into normal mode again.

13. Contact the App Developer

If the above workarounds didn’t help then make sure to contact the specific app developer from the App Store page with the required details so that devs can investigate the issue further and work on it. For example; if you’re facing performance issues with the Instagram app then just open the Instagram page on the App Store and then write a feedback review with all key points that can help the app developer to investigate the issue further.

14. Submit the Feedback to Apple

Last but not least, Apple always provides a Feedback application pre-installed on all iOS versions. So, once you install or update the iOS version on your iPhone, you’ll be able to find an app installed called ‘Feedback’. Just find it out from the home screen pages and then open it. Make sure to sign in to your Apple ID using the same credentials inside the app, provide all the required information, and submit the feedback. Apple developers will investigate the issue and try fixing it.

If the Feedback app isn’t installed on your device or you have uninstalled it then try reinstalling it from the Apple App Store directly. Otherwise, just visit this official Apple iPhone Feedback link to submit the issue that you’re facing the iOS 17 performance issue.

That’s it, guys. We assume this guide was helpful to you. For further queries, you can comment below.