Fix iPhone Slow After Update
You updated to the latest iOS hoping for new features, but now your keyboard lags, apps open slowly, and scrolling feels choppy.
The Problem
After a major update, your iPhone has to re-index everything—photos, contacts, emails, and app data. This taxes the processor 100% in the background.
The Short Answer
This is normal behavior for the first 24-48 hours. If it has been longer than that, you likely have a "stuck process" and need to Force Restart.
Quick Fixes
Related Fixes: Random Restarts, Battery Drain
Method 1: The Force Restart
This clears the "junk" temporary files created during the update installation.
- Tap Volume Up (Quickly).
- Tap Volume Down (Quickly).
- Hold Power Button until the Apple Logo appears.
Method 2: Reduce Visual Effects
Give the processor a break by turning off fancy animations.
- Go to Settings > Accessibility > Motion.
- Turn ON Reduce Motion.
- (Use this temporarily until the next bug fix update comes out).
Method 3: Check Storage
If you have less than 5GB free, the phone will crawl.
- Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
- Delete unused apps or offload them.
- See How to Clear System Data.
If Nothing Worked
Wait for 48 hours. If it's still slow, reset settings: Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Reset > Reset All Settings. This deletes WiFi passwords but fixes speed bugs.
See also: Overheating Issues, Apps Crashing
Common Questions
- Is Apple slowing me down on purpose?
- No. Modern iOS is just heavy. Re-indexing takes time.