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iOS 8.1 Slow Download Speeds on iTunes!

F

Fractus

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Oct 22, 2014
12
0
This is my first post but I am a frequent reader when looking for the latest news. I felt that this is worth sharing for anyone else experiencing difficulties.

I have tried to update my iPhone to the new iOS 8.1 software through iTunes and the 1.9GB file is downloading at a MAXIMUM of 100 kBps on my 70Mbps ISP connection. I have tried from 3 PC's and from 2 different highspeed WiFi locations and the download always is 95 to 100 kBps. This is not caused by my internet, and I believe that Apple's servers must be overloaded, and/or throttled since the release of 8.1. I am located in Eastern Canada and I have confirmed this same issue with other Apple users in other nearby cities. I just want to advise users to expect 8 to 12 hour download times to get your new software update.

I'd also like to know if people are having similar issues worldwide or if this is just in Canada? Hopefully they have download speeds fixed soon! The last update I got a month ago downloaded at 3MBps so something is definitely bringing the Apple server down.
 
Fractus said:
This is my first post but I am a frequent reader when looking for the latest news. I felt that this is worth sharing for anyone else experiencing difficulties.

I have tried to update my iPhone to the new iOS 8.1 software through iTunes and the 1.9GB file is downloading at a MAXIMUM of 100 kBps on my 70Mbps ISP connection. I have tried from 3 PC's and from 2 different highspeed WiFi locations and the download always is 95 to 100 kBps. This is not caused by my internet, and I believe that Apple's servers must be overloaded, and/or throttled since the release of 8.1. I am located in Eastern Canada and I have confirmed this same issue with other Apple users in other nearby cities. I just want to advise users to expect 8 to 12 hour download times to get your new software update.

I'd also like to know if people are having similar issues worldwide or if this is just in Canada? Hopefully they have download speeds fixed soon! The last update I got a month ago downloaded at 3MBps so something is definitely bringing the Apple server down.
Click to expand...

Are you sure it isn't your internet? I was getting the same thing at work yesterday. Told me 10 hour download. I connected to my computer at home remotely and it took about 3 minutes to download.
 
Stuke00 said:
Are you sure it isn't your internet? I was getting the same thing at work yesterday. Told me 10 hour download. I connected to my computer at home remotely and it took about 3 minutes to download.
Click to expand...

I can't be 100% certain what the source of the problem is, but it is still happening, both at my house, my work, the bar next door with free WiFi, my friend who lives 3 hours away and has FibreOp through a different ISP is experiencing the same problem. So maybe it is isolated in my province (New Brunswick) but my download speed through iTunes, or even when I use a direct download link from http://www.ipswdownloader.com/download-iphone-ipsw-files.php
 it is still capped and never exceeds 200kBps and always falls down below 100 before stabilizing. Those download links are all direct to Apple servers. My speedtest right now from Ookla shows 8Mbps at my work. I guess the only way to confirm a global issue would be to have people try to download a file for a few seconds and post your own download speed - keeping in mind it has nothing to do with the site at which the link is posted.
 
Yep, I gave up last nite. First try indicated 12 hours; second try, 5 hours.

I think it's a combination of download traffic and internet connection. Either way, it makes for a bad time. I'm planning on trying again later today.
 
Fractus said:
I can't be 100% certain what the source of the problem is, but it is still happening, both at my house, my work, the bar next door with free WiFi, my friend who lives 3 hours away and has FibreOp through a different ISP is experiencing the same problem. So maybe it is isolated in my province (New Brunswick) but my download speed through iTunes, or even when I use a direct download link from http://www.ipswdownloader.com/download-iphone-ipsw-files.php
 it is still capped and never exceeds 200kBps and always falls down below 100 before stabilizing. Those download links are all direct to Apple servers. My speedtest right now from Ookla shows 8Mbps at my work. I guess the only way to confirm a global issue would be to have people try to download a file for a few seconds and post your own download speed - keeping in mind it has nothing to do with the site at which the link is posted.
Click to expand...
As you can see in my attachment, no issues on my home computer. At work, I get 50kb/sec. They most likely throttle connections here.
 

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Stuke00 said:
As you can see in my attachment, no issues on my home computer. At work, I get 50kb/sec. They most likely throttle connections here.
Click to expand...

Did you just take that screenshot or is that an older picture? Also is your home computer a Mac? I don't really know how that would make a difference, but I have a hard time understanding how I can download from any Google source at 2 to 3 MBps and still max out at 200kB from the Apple server. Also we have other people posting with issues like mine. I do not have internet connectivity problems anywhere else on the internet, and have tried multiple PC's and access points and get the same result (all running Windows). Right now I'm on my Alienware M14xR2 with maxxed out specs and Killer-N 1202 wireless card, hardware issues on my end are out of the question.

This whole thing seems odd...
 
XboxMySocks said:
How do you know that? He might be using a third party host.
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Valid point, and if he is, I also want to know where he found it because I searched for one and was unable to find any mirrors or uploads external to Apple. I'm not even sure if it's legal without Apple's permission to host those files (and based on how proprietary everything is, I would find that very surprising).
 
Fractus said:
Valid point, and if he is, I also want to know where he found it because I searched for one and was unable to find any mirrors or uploads external to Apple. I'm not even sure if it's legal without Apple's permission to host those files (and based on how proprietary everything is, I would find that very surprising).
Click to expand...

You can usually find them on mega although I was unable to.

It is indeed illegal to re-host them, the code is copyrighted to Apple and rehosting their content is against copyright laws (however I doubt they would do anything more than a takedown request, if that)
 
I'm rechecking regularly to see if the problem gets resolved on Apple's end. Attached screenshot shows the comparison, downloading a random nexus firmware from Google vs. downloading iPhone software from Apple. Definitely not my internet at fault.
 

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On the evening of the iOS 8.1 release it only took me 45 min to download and update my phone through iTunes.
 
FloridaGary said:
On the evening of the iOS 8.1 release it only took me 45 min to download and update my phone through iTunes.
Click to expand...

Two days ago I'm sure it was fine, but since then I think there is a problem. And may I ask if you are using a Mac or Windows PC?
 
Fractus said:
I'm rechecking regularly to see if the problem gets resolved on Apple's end. Attached screenshot shows the comparison, downloading a random nexus firmware from Google vs. downloading iPhone software from Apple. Definitely not my internet at fault.
Click to expand...

In fact, I have same problem. It's been 3 days trying to update my iphone 5s via itunes since they released it. It is very slow to download and ends up error. Everything works fine except for itunes updates. It really bothers me and I never had issue until now. I had no issue when I updated to ios 8.0.2 a month ago. Nothing ever changed from my computer and I am not sure what happened. I am from Vancouver with telus internet.
I did what apple site says
1. set Lan to automatically detect
2. edit Host file
3. uninstall my antivirus program
4. change DNS to google one
5. reset my router
nothing works for me..:(
 
This happened to me as well, speeds reaching no greater than 100kB/s. I ended up doing an OTA update on both my iPhone 5s's which was only 117MB, but still ended up taking forever.

Oddly enough my 5th Gen. iPod touch had the update ready to install when I opened software update in system prefs. Weird :confused:
 
Well since this issue appears to have affected a lot more people than just myself, I have to assume that it is in fact an overloaded Apple download server that is the culprit. Maybe they are intentionally limiting download speeds to ~100kBps to compensate for this increased load on their servers. Either way, there is not much we can do about it except wait it out. Crazy that in this age of technology, we are still dealing with download speeds comparable to dial-up from credible sources. Google has it figured out though. Next phone might be a Nexus.
 
I also am running Windows 7 - 64 bit and have the latest iTunes update, and through iTunes or from the direct Apple download link through a browser, I get the same download speed, which currently has reached a new record of maxxing out at 35 KBps.

12 hours ago it was ~100 but I guess this time of night it's even busier. Probably everyone in North America is home from work and 100 million people are trying to download the new update at the same time resulting in horrendous speeds all around.
 

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Guys,

I would suggest downloading the IPSW file directly from the Apple. Please find the relevant links from the website I have mentioned below.

http://www.redmondpie.com/ios-8.1-download-links-for-iphone-and-ipad-released-direct-links/

Please a download manager such as IDM or similar one. What a download manager does is open Simultaneous links to the server and hence maintains the download speed over the entire file.

Then update through iTunes either through dfu mode or updating.

I don't have a very fast connection. I got a 4Mbps line and I was able to download within an hour. That too just after the release when the servers are thrashed the most.

Let me know if helps.
 
Fractus said:
I also am running Windows 7 - 64 bit and have the latest iTunes update, and through iTunes or from the direct Apple download link through a browser, I get the same download speed, which currently has reached a new record of maxxing out at 35 KBps.

12 hours ago it was ~100 but I guess this time of night it's even busier. Probably everyone in North America is home from work and 100 million people are trying to download the new update at the same time resulting in horrendous speeds all around.
Click to expand...

Same hardware/software for me. Began download Wednesday nite approx 9:05 PM EDT with 3 hours indicated. It took 3 hours to download; the additional steps to verify, install, verify again, blah, blah, blah took another 20 minutes. At the end of process, when iTunes says that device will restart and appear again in iTunes - Error OxE800001F. Didn't reappear in iTunes but it didn't matter. Installation is complete and I unplugged iPhone and then plugged back into iTunes and device was displayed properly.

Happy days are here again. :apple: Doesn't seem slow; turned BT OFF per usual; tried a few apps and checked Settings. Wifi is great and I also have 5 bars/dots on AT&T for the first time in a while. Seems to be all good. *knocks wood*
 
Enjoylife1788 said:
Guys,

I would suggest downloading the IPSW file directly from the Apple. Please find the relevant links from the website I have mentioned below.

http://www.redmondpie.com/ios-8.1-download-links-for-iphone-and-ipad-released-direct-links/

Please a download manager such as IDM or similar one. What a download manager does is open Simultaneous links to the server and hence maintains the download speed over the entire file.

Then update through iTunes either through dfu mode or updating.

I don't have a very fast connection. I got a 4Mbps line and I was able to download within an hour. That too just after the release when the servers are thrashed the most.

Let me know if helps.
Click to expand...

So I tried your link first, and through IE or Chrome, I'm getting a maximum speed of 70KBps (it's actually directing me to the same link as every other website I found), so I downloaded IDM like you suggested and I am currently downloading at 1MB/s and the download should be done in under an hour. I recommend this solution to all others having similar issues to mine. Thanks a ton for your suggestion, this is what forums are for ^^

I still have no explanation for the issue but your tip works for me! Thanks a ton!

EDIT:
Based on what you're telling me, is it possible that Apple is in fact lowering the maximum download rate per connection, but by using IDM, I am actually being seen on their network as 30+ connections (or users) connecting from different locations?
 
Fractus said:
So I tried your link first, and through IE or Chrome, I'm getting a maximum speed of 70KBps (it's actually directing me to the same link as every other website I found), so I downloaded IDM like you suggested and I am currently downloading at 1MB/s and the download should be done in under an hour. I recommend this solution to all others having similar issues to mine. Thanks a ton for your suggestion, this is what forums are for ^^

I still have no explanation for the issue but your tip works for me! Thanks a ton!

EDIT:
Based on what you're telling me, is it possible that Apple is in fact lowering the maximum download rate per connection, but by using IDM, I am actually being seen on their network as 30+ connections (or users) connecting from different locations?
Click to expand...


Yes they throttle the speed per connection. However by opening multiple connections to the server, you get aggregated speeds of all the connections.

I am glad it worked for u. :)
 
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