iOS 11.3 Update Can Brick iPhones Repaired by Third Party Repair Shops

Danielle from Leaf and Core

6 years ago

Reading Time: 3 minutes.

Apple is notorious for their disdain for third party repair shops. Apple wants customers to have only one place to go for repairs: an Apple Store. This allows Apple to charge higher prices, make a profit from repairs, and also try to upsell people who come in for repairs to get new devices and spend more money at Apple. Apple has even fought against right to repair laws. Right to repair laws don’t just protect consumer rights, they also help increase the number of devices that are repaired or recycled, rather than replaced. This means Apple’s fighting against ecological efforts to reduce the impact of their devices.

Why does this matter? Because Apple’s latest update to iOS, iOS 11.3, breaks iPhone 8 devices with third party reprairs.This isn’t the first time this has happened. That doesn’t sound like a bug. It sounds intentional.

All Third Party Repairs Affected

Third party repairs are completely legal. Apple has been lobbying against consumers’ rights, but they haven’t successfully outlawed people repairing their own devices or going to a repair shop of their choosing. That means that if Apple intentionally bricked these devices they may have broken the law. Shops that use genuine Apple parts have found their customers’ devices have broken as well. This isn’t just a guard against unverified or untested third party replacement parts. It would be understandable if it was. Third party replacement parts may have defects or design flaws that lead to the device malfunctioning or even becoming dangerous. However, iOS 11.3 breaks even Apple’s hardware, and even if it was properly installed by a customer or their chosen repair shop. Apple’s trying to make it impossible to repair devices on your own, but by bricking people’s devices with an update, they may have invited lawsuits.

What Can You Do?

If you have a device that has been repaired by a third party shop and you haven’t updated, don’t update. Wait to see if Apple fixes this on their own. Use Apple’s feedback form to request it and don’t be afraid to bombard them on Twitter and other public social networks. Even large companies like Apple listen to their customers and fear bad public relations.

If you already have updated, and your device is bricked or broken, take it to an Apple Store. You may have to negotiate, but try to be friendly with the Apple Store employee. They didn’t decide to brick your device. Point out that the terms of service do not forbid third party repairs, and such an agreement wouldn’t be legally enforceable anyway. No, really, terms of service haven’t held up in court, you can fight them, even if Apple says they can shut off your device for any reason. An Apple update broke your device. They should have to repair it.

Apple will likely update your device and replace the screen for you. You may luck out and get then to replace it for free, or, at the very least, at cost. Threatening to sue or join a class action (of which you’ll likely be able to soon), won’t motivate the retail worker. Instead, be friendly and polite. Apple Store employees decide what options to give you. Be polite and leave your frustration at the door.

What Can Apple Do?

Apple will have to update devices. Unfortunately, since the affected phones are often bricked, consumers can’t do an over the air update. They’ll have to post instructions for updating when you can’t access your device, or invite customers to bring their devices in for replacement. Fortunately, this should only affect a small number of devices, but it could still be pricy for Apple. One repair company, Injured Gadgets, reported over 2,000 customers had broken iPhones after the 11.3 update. Keep your eyes peeled for an update, as Apple has repaired devices with similar problems with an update in the past. Good luck with Apple if your device needs to be repaired. It’s more of a hassle, but no phone is ever permanently and completely broken.

Sources: