Apple

Why iOS 11.3 is Breaking iPhones

Published

6 years ago

04/20/2018

If your iPhone has a replacement screen in it, you should stay away from iOS 11.3. Apple’s latest iPhone update is breaking touch functionality on iPhones with replacement displays and there are other annoying issues tied to this.

There are several problems all tied to replacement parts. Some of these are limited to aftermarket parts, but other issues are present even if you use an official Apple part.

The biggest issue that users are complaining about on iOS 11.3 is the touch sensor failing on aftermarket displays, rendering the iPhone unusable since there is no way to control it without touch.

Even with Apple parts once you swap an iPhone 8, 8 Plus or X screen it auto brightness no longer works and True Tone is disabled. Another problem is that the Battery Health feature will not communicate with aftermarket iPhone batteries.

In the video above, Michael Oberdick of iOutlet walks through a variety of repair and replacement scenarios, showing exactly what is broken on iOS 11.3. In the video we get a look what does and doesn’t work on iOS 11.0.2 and iOS 11.3.

Auto brightness does not work on iOS 11.0.2, even with original refurbished parts, but the inability to use touch controls is new with iOS 11.3. With multiple tests we can see that this problem is with the use of aftermarket displays.

Some aftermarket displays do work with iOS 11.3, while others don’t. This is a problem, but it lines up with iFixit’s claim that this is not a malicious action by Apple, but a major iOS 11.3 bug.

The iOS 11.3 update is breaking iPhones. This video shows that it is a software issue.

Oberdick believes that the software is looking for something from the touch controller that is not being passed. This comparison highlights what is happening with iOS 11.3 and iPhone touch screen problems.

Given the tests performed Obberdick, who is also a board member of Repair.org, believes that this is a software problem. This is a good sign that Apple can deliver iOS 11.3.1 to fix this problem.

In the video we see that FaceID and the auto brightness don’t work once you swap screens, even with an original Apple screen from another iPhone X. We saw error 53 and broken Touch ID support when repairs were made to the iPhone 6 in 2016. Apple fixed that problem with a software update.

4 Reasons Not to Install iOS 11.4.1 & 8 Reasons You Should

Install iOS 11.4.1 for Better Security

1 / 12

Apple's iOS 11.4.1 update comes with 15 patches for potential security issues. If you value your security, you should think about installing it today.

iOS 11.4.1 also comes with a USB Restricted Mode that disables the Lightning port on your iPhone or iPad if a device hasn't been unlocked or connected to a computer using a passcode within a certain amount of time.

The new setting is located in Settings > Face ID/Touch ID & Passcode. There you’ll see a new toggle for USB Accessories. It's toggled off by default.

This provides an added layer of protection and prevents the use of cracking tools like GrayKey.

If you skipped iOS 11.4, your iOS 11.4.1 update comes with 30+ patches aimed at improving your device's security. This makes it an essential download for most iPhone and iPad users.

If you missed any of Apple's previous iOS updates, your iOS 11.4.1 update comes with a lot more.

If you skipped iOS 11.3.1, your version of iOS 11.4.1 comes with iOS 11.3.1's four security patches.

If you skipped iOS 11.3, your iOS 11.4.1 update comes with 27 additional patches for potential exploits. Those of you lingering on iOS 11.2.6 would be wise to make the move sooner rather than later.

If you missed iOS 11.3, your iOS 11.4.1 update also includes a new privacy feature. When an Apple feature wants to use your personal information, an icon now appears with a link to access detailed information about how your data will be used and protected.

If you're running iOS 11.2.5 or older, you're currently exposed to an issue that lets people send a specific character that will crash an iOS-powered device and block access to the Messages app. It can also block apps like Facebook Messenger, Gmail, Outlook, and WhatsApp.

The iOS 11.2.6 update's main purpose was to patch up this issue. If you skipped iOS 11.2.6, you'll get these enhancements with iOS 11.4.1.

If you skipped iOS 11.2.5, you'll get 10 additional security patches including one for the malicious chaiOS link exploit.

If you're running iOS 11.2.2 or below and receive a certain GitHub link through your Messages app, your iPhone or iPad can lockup or respring. The Messages app will also become unusable.

If you're on iOS 11.2.1, your iOS 11.4.1 update includes security improvements to Safari and WebKit to mitigate the effects of Spectre.

Apple's iOS 11.2 update fixed several problems, but it also brought problems of its own including a potentially nasty zero-day iOS HomeKit vulnerability.

The vulnerability, discovered by Tian Zhang, allowed for unauthorized control of HomeKit accessories including garage door openers and smart locks.

Apple quickly rolled out a server-side fix, but the company restored full functionality with the release of iOS 11.2.1. If you skipped iOS 11.2.1 and use HomeKit, you should download iOS 11.4.1 right now.

If you skipped iOS 11.2, you'll get a few more patches with your iOS 11.4.1 update. Apple's iOS 11.2 update delivered 11 patches including one for Mail and one for Wi-Fi.

The iOS 11.2 and iOS 11.2.1 updates also patched up a widespread security issue called "Meltdown." Apple says its analysis suggests it "has the most potential to be exploited."

Meltdown affects all iOS 11 powered devices so we highly recommend downloading iOS 11.4.1 if you skipped iOS 11.2.

If you skipped iOS 11.1.2, iOS 11.1.1, and iOS 11.1, you'll get additional patches with your iOS 11.4.1 update.

The iOS 11.1 update delivered eight security patches including a fix for a serious Wi-Fi vulnerability called KRACK or Key Reinstallation Attack. KRACK is an exploit that targets the common WPA2 encryption protocol.

If you're just now making to move from iOS 10 (or whatever you're on) to iOS 11, your iOS 11.4.1 update will come with even more security-related features.

Apple's first iOS 11 update delivered several patches for potential exploits. iOS 11 also comes with new security features aimed at keeping your data safe.

In iOS 11 you can't establish trust with a PC using fingerprints alone. You'll also need to put in a full passcode in order to gain that trust.

If you want to protect the data you store on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, you should make your move to the latest version of iOS. This is particularly important for those of you running older versions of iOS.