Comments on: Tip o’ the Week: Better iPhone Syncing

By: Jojo

Jojo — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:16:06 +0000

Is there an app or plug in that will automatically enable airplane mode while syncing and then return the iphone back to normal when the syncing is done? That way I do not have to always manually set my iPhone and can just plug in my phone and start synching without having to worry that synching will be cancelled.

By: bryan carter

bryan carter — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 20:05:27 +0000

is it possible to unlock an iphone for use using a european sim card without jailbreaking it?

By: gengis

gengis — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 08:56:10 +0000

Even for 2.2 firmware ?

By: Brian Hart

Brian Hart — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 23:03:24 +0000

@Greg K: I’m not sure how you did your 2.1 update, but I did it successfully, Rene did it successfully, and both of us activated Airplane Mode first and never touched our iPhones until the process was done. No problem. Like I said in the post (last UPDATE), I don’t think Airplane Mode has anything to do with it. If it does, it appears to be intermittent because others (myself included) have successfully updated with Airplane Mode activated.

By: Greg K

Greg K — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 22:49:41 +0000

Yea, the comments about not doing this for a firmware update weren’t posted yet, and I just about freaked out when I thought my phone was bricked probably 10 minutes ago, but after doing Scott’s thing, I got it to work, and now everything is cool. Phheww. Holy shit, why was this listed as something to do?? Its all good though….

By: Rene Ritchie

Rene Ritchie — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 17:54:41 +0000

(Note: it automatically turned Airplane mode off when it rebooted -- I didn't have to anything on my end).

By: Rene Ritchie

Rene Ritchie — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 17:54:00 +0000

I put my iPhone in airplane mode prior to 2.1 update. I was getting a lot of calls and didn't want to get interrupted half-way through.

When the iPhone rebooted, it flipped Airplane mode back off, and authenticated just perfectly fine.

Took about 10 minutes total.

really smooth.

By: Steve

Steve — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 17:39:10 +0000

Not such a good tip o'the week.

Airplane mode prevents the phone from authenticating against the cell network.. which is part of the update process.

If Scott's fix does not work, you'll have to do an emergency restore. Shut everything off, unplug the phone. Then start up iTunes and hold down the Home button while plugging in the usb cable and DO NOT let go of the button until you see iTunes display a message about restore or set up as new.

After that restore from a backup.

Good Luck.

tipb... please do some research next time - how many people did you put through the ringer on this one?

By: Scott Holtog

Scott Holtog — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:50:55 +0000

so i think i’ve solved the problem. You just have to go into emergency calls and dial a number. Once you hit call, it will prompt you to disable airplane mode. Then I just restarted itunes and my phone and now all is well!

By: Scott Holtog

Scott Holtog — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:37:53 +0000

So yeah, didn’t see the update on this post and I turned airplane mode on when updating and i can’t do anything with my phone now. Not sure what i should do. Can anyone help me?

By: Richard

Richard — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 15:19:16 +0000

How about if you just forward all calls to a different number until the update is complete? That should solve your problems.

By: Paul

Paul — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 13:27:21 +0000

Well its here and downloaded for my iPhone...

Installing as we speak!

By: Brian Hart

Brian Hart — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 03:00:36 +0000

I’ve followed the comments here and did a bit more research and found that some have experienced the problems you’ve mentioned with having Airplane Mode enabled during a firmware update. I’ve updated this tip accordingly. Thanks for the comments!

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 02:32:32 +0000

That was the problem I was talking about. iPhones being bricked.

Thanks diaz2010

I would not suggest doing this option.

By: DLC

DLC — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 01:51:22 +0000

Yes, I’ve read the exact same thing about people’s iPhone being bricked because it was in ‘Airplane’ mode while being updated. Apparently, the re-activation process required connection to the network, or the the iPhone became bricked.

By: Rick

Rick — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 01:03:41 +0000

Excellent advice…thanks much!

By: diaz2010

diaz2010 — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 00:59:33 +0000

putting your phone on airplane mode also caused some peoples phone. To be bricked with the 2.0.1 update. Did it not?

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 00:59:15 +0000

Can someone correct me if I am wrong, but didn't some people have issues syncing (or firmware updates) when in Airplane mode? I recall something to that effect.

Can someone please second my recollection.

Thanks

By: dloveprod

dloveprod — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 23:48:52 +0000

I didn’t think you could get calls during the update process

By: Brian Hart

Brian Hart — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 21:27:53 +0000

@Sylvanus – oops! Thanks for catching that. Corrected above. Should of said, “slide it to the right!”

By: Sylvanus

Sylvanus — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 21:22:35 +0000

In the steps I think you mean “Airplane mode to ‘on’ right?”