iPhone Feels Slower After iOS Update: Fix It with These Simple Tips

Madiha Samreen

Updating to the latest iOS version should improve your iPhone’s performance, security, and features. But what if, instead of feeling faster, your iPhone feels slower after iOS update?

This frustrating experience is more common than you think. Many iPhone users report sluggish performance, laggy apps, delayed responses, or poor battery life after installing a new iOS update. Fortunately, most of these issues are temporary or fixable with the right solutions.

In this article, we’ll explore why your iPhone feels slower after iOS update, provide simple tips to speed it up, and tell you when to get professional help from trusted experts like Fixcare iPhone Repair in Bangalore.

Why Your iPhone Feels Slower After iOS Update

Let’s first understand the potential reasons behind the performance drop. Here are the most common causes:

1. Background Optimization After Update

After installing a new iOS version, your iPhone runs several background processes:

Reindexing Spotlight search
Optimizing battery performance
Updating internal system files

These processes can temporarily slow down your iPhone for a day or two.

2. Outdated Apps

If your apps haven’t been updated to work with the new iOS version, they may run inefficiently, freeze, or crash. This affects your iPhone’s overall performance.

3. Old Device + New iOS = Strain

Newer iOS versions are optimized for the latest iPhone models. If you’re using an older device (iPhone 7, 8, or X), the latest updates can feel heavier and cause noticeable lag.

4. Battery Health Degradation

Apple uses performance throttling on devices with poor battery health to avoid unexpected shutdowns. If your battery is degraded, your iPhone feels slower after iOS update due to this protective mechanism.

5. Software Bugs or Conflicts

Sometimes, the update itself can introduce bugs or conflicts with existing settings, leading to poor performance.

Signs That Your iPhone Is Slowing Down

Apps take longer to open
Home screen swipes and animations feel laggy
Touch response delays
Multitasking is sluggish
Increased loading times in games or videos
Poor battery performance
iPhone heats up frequently

If these symptoms appeared right after an iOS update, then it’s clear that the update triggered the slowdown.

10 Simple Tips to Fix iPhone Slowness After iOS Update

Now, let’s look at effective solutions to speed up your iPhone after an update.

✅ 1. Restart Your iPhone

It might sound basic, but a simple restart can clear temporary memory issues and glitches.

How to restart:

Press and hold the Side button + Volume Down (for Face ID models).
Slide to power off.
Turn it back on after 30 seconds.

✅ 2. Check Battery Health and Disable Throttling

Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging.

If your battery health is below 80%, your phone might be throttling performance.
You’ll see a message saying “Peak Performance Capability” has been reduced.

Fix: Consider replacing the battery to restore full performance. Fixcare iPhone Repair in Bangalore offers same-day battery replacements using genuine parts.

✅ 3. Update All Apps

Outdated apps can cause serious lag and crashes.

How to update apps:

Open the App Store
Tap your profile icon
Scroll to view pending updates
Tap Update All

✅ 4. Clear Storage Space

Low storage space forces your iPhone to work harder, slowing it down.

Free up space by:

Deleting unused apps
Offloading old photos/videos to iCloud or Google Photos
Clearing Safari cache (Settings > Safari > Clear History and Data)
Removing large files from Messages

Aim to keep at least 10–15% of your storage free.

✅ 5. Turn Off Unnecessary Background App Refresh

Apps that refresh in the background consume memory and processing power.

How to disable:

Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh
Set it to Off or Wi-Fi only
Or disable it for specific apps

✅ 6. Disable Motion Effects and Transparency

These visual effects make the UI look smooth but can slow down performance on older devices.

Steps:

Go to Settings > Accessibility > Motion
Enable Reduce Motion
Then go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size
Enable Reduce Transparency

✅ 7. Reset All Settings

If your iPhone feels slower after iOS update, resetting system settings (without losing data) can resolve conflicts.

Steps:

Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset
Choose Reset All Settings

This will reset:

Wi-Fi passwords
Wallpaper
System preferences

But your data (photos, messages, apps) stays safe.

✅ 8. Update to Latest iOS Patch

Sometimes Apple releases a minor update (like 17.1.1) to fix issues caused by a major update.

Check for updates:

Go to Settings > General > Software Update

If available, install it immediately.

✅ 9. Free Up RAM

You can manually clear RAM to speed things up.

On Face ID models:

Open Settings > Accessibility > Touch > AssistiveTouch (turn it ON)
Tap Volume Up > Volume Down > Hold Side Button until the power-off screen appears
Tap AssistiveTouch > Home until the screen flickers
RAM will be cleared

✅ 10. Factory Reset (as a Last Resort)

If nothing works, doing a factory reset can eliminate bugs and bring back smooth performance.

Steps:

Back up your data to iCloud or computer
Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone
Choose Erase All Content and Settings
Set up your iPhone as new

Note: Avoid restoring from a backup if the issue was already present before the reset.

When Should You Seek Professional Help?

If your iPhone feels slower after iOS update and none of the above tips help, you might be dealing with:

Deep software issues
Hidden hardware problems
Corrupted internal storage
Faulty battery or logic board

This is when professional help becomes essential.

Fixcare iPhone Repair: Trusted Experts in Bangalore

If you’re based in Bangalore and need reliable iPhone service, look no further than Fixcare iPhone Repair.

Why Fixcare?

🔧 Expert Technicians – Trained in Apple diagnostics and repairs
🔋 Battery Replacement – Using genuine, high-capacity batteries
⚙️ Fast Turnaround – Most repairs completed within 1 hour
📦 Pickup and Drop-off – Free service across Bangalore
💰 Transparent Pricing – No hidden charges
🛡️ Warranty – On all battery and performance-related repairs

Whether your iPhone needs a battery replacement, software reinstallation, or professional optimization—Fixcare is the place to go.

📍 Visit their service center or book a free pickup via their website.

Conclusion

If your iPhone feels slower after iOS update, don’t panic. Most issues are temporary or solvable with simple optimizations. By restarting your phone, updating apps, adjusting settings, and freeing up resources, you can usually restore your iPhone’s speed.

But when these fixes don’t work—or if your device continues to lag—it’s time to consult professionals. For users in Bangalore, Fixcare iPhone Repair is your trusted partner for fast, reliable, and expert-level service.