HT4972 Can IOS 5 run on an iPhone 3GS 16GB?

Hello iPhone Gurus:
I have an iPhone 3GS 16GB model MB048LL that I picked up from my sister that I want to reset with the latest IOS for my son's use.  Presently the phone has version 4.2.1 (8C148) installed.  When I connect the phone to iTunes 10.6.1.7 on my Windows XP laptop, and press the "check for update" button in the phone summary page, I receive the pop-up "The version of the iPhone sofware (4.2.1) is the current version."  It seems like there's no way to force an upgrade to IOS 5.1.1.
I'm a bit confused by this as the Apple website it indicates that 5.x is available for the 3GS.   Also, when I connect my 4S and my other son's GGS 32GB phone, both shows IOS 5.1.1.
Any ideas?  Is there an issue with the model and/or the amount of memory that precludes using IOS 5 on this 3GS?
Thanks,
Drew

MB048LL appears to be an iPhone 3G, not a 3GS. Check the model number on the back of the iPhone; if it's A1241, then it is indeed an iPhone 3G. iOS 4.2.1 is the final version of iOS that the iPhone 3G can run.
Regards.
Message was edited by: varjak paw

Similar Messages

  • Why can't i activate my iphone 3gs after upgrading it to ios 6?

    why can't i activate my iphone 3gs after upgrading it to ios 6?
    It says,
    ''There is no sim card installed in the iphone you are attempting to activate''
    Thanks for your help in advance!
    Kayl07

    There are several common causes for this problem:
    Your security software (Antivirus, firewall, router settings) is blocking access to gs.apple.com, Apple's activation servers. Try temporarily disabling your security applications on your computer.
    You have a redirect in your hosts file that defines a different IP address for gs.apple.com. you must delete all references to gs.apple.com from your hosts file (c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts, or /etc/hosts on a Mac)
    Your phone is jailbroken or otherwise hacked.

  • Upgraded to iOS 5 on my iphone 3gs now phone service doesn't work and battery does not hold charge. Can someone help me?

    I upgraded to iOS 5 on my iphone 3gs now phone service (AT&T) constanly goes in and out and battery does not hold charge. Can someone help me?

    It appears to be a bug in iOS5.  I have the same problem on the 3Gs and my new 4S.
    I eagerly await a patch...... 

  • HT4623 How can I retrieve my Contacts that I lost after updating iOs 6 on my iPhone 3GS through wifi?

    I lost all my Contacts after updating iOS 6 on my iPhone 3GS through wifi. All my other apps, Notes, Photos, etc are as it is but none of my Contacts appear. I also signed up to iCloud during the update but can't find Contacts on iClouds. Pls help!

    It is strange people experience this problem only with Contacts because normally contacts are backed up with Notes and Photos and that stuff. If you are willing to do a do-over, you can try to backup, restore, and put your data back on again and see if anything new appears. You never know if some file clould have had some kind of conflict because iOS 6 was being installed while data was being restored at the same time.

  • Can i still upgrade my iphone 3gs ios 4.1 to ios 4.3.3?

    can i still upgrade my iphone 3gs ios 4.1 to ios 4.3.3?

    No.
    You can ONLY update to the latest available software - 6.0.1

  • With iTunes 10 and iOS 5 synchronizing my iPhone (3GS) via USA and Wifi does not stop in the last step. Runs for hours. iPad Synchronization is fine. Any ideas to solve it?

    With iTunes 10 and iOS 5 synchronizing my iPhone (3GS) via USA and Wifi does not stop in the last step. Runs for hours. Even canceling takes forever.
    iPad2 sync is fine.
    Any ideas to solve it?

    This sounds like a problem you should take up with Apple Customer Support.
    The other users like yourself here are not going to be able to help you with this problem.
    Allan

  • Old version of Spotify on iOS 6 in France (iPhone 3GS)

    Since Spotify update on Apple Store, it is impossible to install Spotify on my iPhone 3GS as it has to stay on the iOS6 . Do you know a way to run Spotify on iPhone 3GS (iOS6) ?
    Depuis la mise à jour de Spotify sur Apple Store, il est impossible d'installer Spotify sur mon iPhone 3GS car il doit rester sur l'iOS6. Connaissez-vous une façon de faire fonctionner Spotify sur iPhone 3GS (iOS6) ?

    Yes, your are right.
    You can install the iBooks 3.1.3 in your iPod 4G, using iOS 6.1.5, through the iPod. However, Apple did not all the necessary job: when you syncronize the iPod with iTunes, iTune insist in update the app. If you forget that fact, iBooks is updated to 3.2 version.
    So, actually the question is: How to block the update of iBooks permanently.

  • IOS Beta 7 OTA, iPhone 3GS stuck flashing between Apple Logo and a white screen

    After installing iOS Beta 7 OTA, iPhone 3GS is stuck flashing between Apple Logo and a white screen. I can turn the phone off by holding the top button. But the phone boots straight to the flashing situation. It doesn't appear in iTunes, and I haven't succeeded in putting into recovery mode.

    in the end ... i did it too.
    for sure, the problem is not related to OTA update
    this is my recipe, even if i think that the behaviour is a kind of random and all the recipes given here do not really help
    - absolutely needed: cross your finger before running the procedure
    - leave the battery run flat
    - open itunes
    - connect usb
    - when it starts booting, press home and keep it pressed
    - if it loops (it will ...), try to turn it off with power button while keeping home
    - after a few tries, it will not reboot and it will go into recovery mode BUT WITH SCREEN BLACK (you see it is in recovery mode in itunes)
    - upload ios5b7
    anyway ... this time it was a bad release by apple ...
    and i think this thread will become very "popular" in the next days

  • Can i enable FaceTime on iPhone 3gs

    Can i enable FaceTime on iPhone 3gs? i am runing ios 5.0.1 and i show in youtube iphone eslam make facetime for iphone 3gs does i need to downgrad to ios 4.3.5 or 4.2.1
    HELP PLEAS

    ok but i need relly video call....can i use same app to help me with video call.
    does skype work on iphone 3gs or yahoo or OOVOO.

  • Ios 5 update on iphone 3gs takes 36 hours???

    ios 5 update on iphone 3gs takes 36 HOURS??? that's the msg i got when i tried to update to ios 5! what the? has anyone run into similar issues when updating their 3gs? Could it be due to the apple servers being overloaded really? Then how come my housemates had no issues updating their iphone 4 to ios 5? is it coz mine's an iphone 3gs?

    Had to restore the phone to fix, after making sure all the possible settings everywhere were United States and English, but it worked. Still find it amazing that an update would change so many settings in so many places, especially the ones that aren't on the phone.

  • How can I copy notebook from iPhone 3GS to iPhone 4

    How can I copy notebook from iPhone 3GS to iPhone 4

    Is Notebook a 3rd party app?
    If so, you want to install the Notebook app on your iPhone 4 as well?

  • I have installed the new iOS 5 on my Iphone 3GS and my bluetooth connection doesn't work anymore. Does anybody have a solution?

    I have installed the new iOS 5 on my Iphone 3GS and my bluetooth connection for my Philips bluetooth headset doesn't work anymore. Does anybody have a solution?
    I have checked the headset on another Iphone with iOS 4 and it works well.
    Thanks for your help!
    Pierre (from Paris - France)

    Bonjour Pierre,
    there seems to be a bug in iOS5 with regards to Bluetooth. THere are a lot of threads in here on this. We're all waiting for Apple to fix this...

  • HT4623 I was installing the ios 6 on my iphone 3GS and an error occured and since then it's hanged up and not working. Please suggest some solution

    I was installing the ios 6 on my iphone 3GS and an error occured and since then it's hanged up and not working. Please suggest some solution

    the same thing here! each time its suppose to register with my network, it cant. im wondering if its a hardware problem

  • TS3694 Why can't I activate my iPhone 3Gs after set up ?

    Why can't I activate my iPhone 3Gs after set up ?

    Did you deactivate the Activation Lock feature before you erased it?
    iCloud: Remove your device from Find My iPhone
    iCloud: Troubleshooting Find My iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac

  • In iOS 5 on the iphone 3gs, how does one disable voice control, not voice dailing.  I have never wanted or used voice control please help me disable it.

    In iOS 5 on the iphone 3gs, how does one disable voice control, not voice dailing.  I have never wanted or used voice control please help me disable it. 

    are you talking about voiceover where the phone is reading things out loud to you? you have to double tap things in voiceover in order to select them. you'll need to go to settings > general > accessibility > and turn off voiceover there

Maybe you are looking for