iPhone Slow After iOS 17 Update? 10 Tips to Speed Up iOS 17

Is your iPhone slow after iOS 17 update? Considering how much time we spend on our phones, a slow iOS 17 device is super frustrating. Learn why your iOS 17 device is running so slow and how to speed it up with these step-by-step instructions.

Why is iPhone slow after iOS 17 update?

If your iPhone is slow after iOS 17 update, there are software issues bogging it down. Software crashes, app issues, and limited storage space could all be slowing down your iOS 17 device. The software troubleshooting steps below will show you how to fix your slow iPhone running iOS 17!

Before you start troubleshooting, it’s worth noting that every update brings new software and changes to the existing software so that all the databases, settings, and other details must be updated. Your phone will be busy making those changes immediately after the update, so it will be busy, very few people will notice any difference in speed. If you do notice any actual deference in speed then its the updates above that have not yet been completed

If you just recently updated to iOS 17 and feel iPhone speed is notably worse, the first thing you should do is wait.

That can be frustrating to hear, but iOS has to perform background maintenance, indexing, and other tasks after a major software update, and during that time the device will be relatively slow.

Be patient, use it normally, it will complete all the updates in a few hours to a few days then go back to be super fast as usual.

ways to fix slow iPhone after iOS 17 update

So, is the iOS 17 running slow? If your device is overloaded with data, runs automatic downloads, or needs software updates, there are a few quick wins for better performance no matter which model you have. Speed up iOS 17 with the following steps. Here’s how to make the iOS 17 faster.

1. Close open apps

If too many apps are open, the iOS 17 might be working overtime.

For iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, double-tap the Home button. Swipe up on an app to close it.
For iPhone X, iPhone 11, iPhone 12, and iPhone 13, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause without lifting a finger. Tap and hold the app that you want to close, and then tap the minus sign.

2. Restart your iOS 17 device

Did you try turning it off and on again? Restarting your device can help with device speed and make The iOS 17 faster.

To restart your iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus:

1. Press and hold the Power button on the side of your iPhone.
2. Gently swipe right on slide to power off.

To restart your iPhone X, iPhone 11, iPhone 12, and iPhone 13:

1. Press and hold the Power button on the side of your iPad and either of the volume buttons.
2. Gently swipe right on slide to power off.

3. Install the latest iOS 17

A simple software update can help speed up a slow iOS 17. Install the latest iOS 17 on your sluggish iPhone to give your device the boost it needs. When new iOS updates are launched, people commonly report speed issues on their existing version. Some even ask “why is iOS 17 overheating?” Not only can updating your device make the iOS 17 faster and cooler (literally), it strengthens your built-in security.
Here’s how to check for iOS 17 updates:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Scroll down to General.
3. Then tap Software Update, which will instantly prompt the “Checking for Update …” message.
4. The newest iOS 17 version will be displayed with an option to learn more or install. Tap Download and Install to continue, then follow the password prompts to complete installation.

4. Turn off location services

Many apps need location services. Google Maps can’t take you home if the app can’t locate you. Ride-sharing apps can’t track a ride in real time without GPS coordinates. But these location services don’t need to run 24/7.
If the iOS 17 is really slow, conduct a location permissions audit. You should quickly check which apps use location services, which apps can be switched off completely, and which apps can be switched to “While Using the App.”
Here’s how to turn off or edit location services:

1. Open the Settings app, then go to Privacy > Location Services.
2. Decide if you want to turn Location Services off entirely or only for some apps.
3. To turn off Location Services for all apps, toggle the Location Services option from green to grey.
4. To turn off Location Services for individual apps, find the app in question and tap its name to set permissions. Choose between Never, Ask Next Time, and While Using the App.

5. Check your internet connection

“My iPhone is running slow after iOS 17 update,” often means, “the internet on my iOS 17 device is running slow.” So how to make internet faster on iOS 17? In most cases, slow internet isn’t a problem with the iOS 17 so much as with your Wi-Fi network or mobile data connection.
Here are a few ways to diagnose the cause of the iOS 17 slow internet connection:

Get a stable connection

If your Wi-Fi connection isn’t strong, you’ll see an immediate drop in internet speed. Make sure your Wi-Fi icon indicates a full-strength connection. If not, try toggling your Wi-Fi off and then on again. If that doesn’t help, move closer to your router or switch to mobile data.

See also: How to fix Wi-Fi not working in iOS 17 issue

Perform an internet speed test

A free online speed test will quickly assess your internet connection’s download and upload speeds. It’s a good way to confirm that you’re getting the speeds you’re paying for from your internet service provider (though Wi-Fi will always be slower than a direct Ethernet connection). Some speed test providers even have standalone apps for iOS and other devices.

Reset your network settings

Resetting your iPhone’s network settings can give it a fresh start with a faster internet connection. You’ll need to re-enter your Wi-Fi password when you’re done.

1. Open your Settings app and go to General > Transfer or reset iPhone > Reset.
2. Tap Reset Network Settings and enter your Passcode when prompted.
3. Tap Reset Network Settings to confirm.

6. Reduce motion settings and screen brightness

A brighter screen takes up more energy and may be the cause of why the iOS 17 is slowing down. You don’t have to go full-on night mode, but a slight adjustment may help speed up a super sluggish iOS 17. Also consider turning off motion effects in iPhone settings to speed up iOS 17. Just note that reducing motion settings will affect autoplay videos and the user interface experience on some apps.
Here’s how to reduce motion settings in iOS 17:

1. Tap the Settings app.
2. Go to Accessibility.
3. Select Motion to customize settings.
4. Choose which of the four types of motions you want to adjust by toggling its corresponding tab from green to grey.

Here’s how to reduce screen brightness in iOS 17:

1. Tap the Settings app.
2. Navigate to Display & Brightness.
3. Reduce screen brightness using the scroll bar and consider turning on Night Shift to automatically reduce brightness when natural light is dimmer.

7. Free up space to fix iOS 17 slow

Did you take a million photos today? Or worse, is the iOS 17 too slow because you need to remove bloatware or junk files? It’s time to learn how to clean up your iPhone.
Start by removing unwanted images and videos, then move on to deleting unused apps and bloatware. Dropping this extra weight can make the iOS 17 considerably faster.
Remember, hiding an app on an iPhone does not free up storage space.

8. Restore to factory settings

Is the iOS 17 so slow that none of these tips have made a difference? If the above strategies can’t help the iOS 17 speed up, you’ve got one more option: restoring your iPhone to its factory settings.
This is a last resort, because performing a full factory reset deletes all the data on your device. Back up any data you wish to keep to your iCloud account or on a computer or external hard drive before performing a factory reset.
Here’s how to perform a factory reset in iOS 17:

1. Go to Settings > General.
2. Select Transfer or Reset iPhone at the bottom.
3. Choose Erase All Content and Settings, which will do exactly that — erase everything.

9. Disable some automatic background processes

We don’t recommend doing this unless you have a serious performance issue with your iOS 17 device , but you might be able to get more speed by shutting off tasks that the iPhone performs automatically in the background.

1. Start the Settings app.
2. Tap ”App Store,” and then switch off ”Apps,” and ”App Updates” in the Automatic Downloads section.
3. Tap ”Back” to return to the main page.
4. Tap ”General” and then tap “Software updates”
5. Turn of “Automatic Updates“
6. Tap ”Back” to return to the previous page.
7. Tap ”Background App Refresh.”
8. Tap ”Background App Refresh” and tap ”Off.”

10. Replace your iPhone’s battery

If you’ve had your iOS device for at least a couple of years, the battery might be reaching the end of its optimal performance life. Most iPhone’s batteries will last many years, but once they pass their peak performance capability, Apple may remotely throttle the performance of your iPhone to keep it from unexpectedly shutting down because the battery isn’t working properly.

To check on your iPhone’s battery health, start the Settings app and tap “Battery,” then tap “Battery Health & Charging.”

This screen shows you the maximum remaining capacity of your battery, and the “Peak Performance Capability” gives you an assessment of the battery’s overall health. If it says that the device is “currently supporting normal peak performance,” you don’t need to do anything. But if you see a message that your battery’s health is “significantly degraded,” you should consider contacting Apple support to replace the battery.

What to do if the iOS 17 is still running slow

If you’ve tried all of the above and the iOS 17 is still lagging, you may need to look for damage. If your iOS device has physical or liquid damage, it may not work properly. You may need to contact Apple Support for help.