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iOS 9.3 beta 4 fixes devices affected by 1970 bug, prevents issue from occurring in the future

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Earlier this month an odd issue was discovered that could potentially brick any iOS device. Essentially, if you used the Settings app to change the date of your device to January 1st, 1970 and rebooted it, any 64-bit iPhone or iPad would be basically bricked. A handful of fixes floated around, but the general consensus was that visiting an Apple Store and getting your device replaced was the best way to solve the problem. Now, as spotted by MacRumors, Apple appears to have fixed the issue with the latest iOS 9.3 beta.

Users have noticed that if you have a device stuck in a boot loop due to this issue, you can successfully use iTunes to restore to iOS 9.3 beta 4 and your device will boot as normal. Previously, performing a restore via iTunes would not fix the issue.

Furthermore, iOS 9.3 beta 4 removes the ability to set a device’s date to anything prior to January 1st, 2001, ideally preventing people to cause this issue in the first place.

iOS 9.3 beta 4 was released earlier this week and includes small changes such as a new Night Shift icon and new star icons next to track names in the Music app. Also also announced earlier this week that the next beta of iOS 9.3 will bring back the ability to use Apple Pencil to navigate iOS.

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Comments

  1. Ed Hansberry (@EdHans) - 8 years ago

    “… prevents issue from occurring in the future.”

    That was never the problem. THE ISSUE OCCURRED IN THE PAST!!!!!”

  2. RP - 8 years ago

    I’m getting far better battery life with this beta than any of the previous 9’s on my 5s.

    I mean like seriously better.

    • nathanllarsen - 8 years ago

      Ditto. On my 6s Plus, I’ve noticed a huge leap in battery life since this beta was installed. My guess is that this indicates it’s almost ready for release to the general public.

  3. AeronPeryton - 8 years ago

    Should have set the cutoff date to January 9, 2007.

  4. 89p13 - 8 years ago

    “Apple appears to have fixed the issue with the latest iOS 9.3 beta.”

    No – They would have to prevent idiots from knowingly setting their phone to a date that said idiots know would brick their phone! Do Not Give these same idiots a loaded gun and tell them, “If you point this at your head and pull the trigger, you will kill yourself!”

  5. tPetaccia - 8 years ago

    I hate to ask a dumb question (although I’m real good at it) … but why on earth would it occur to anyone to set the date of their phone to January 1, 1970?

    • michabailey - 8 years ago

      IIRC it all started with one user (maybe a developer?) who was testing or troubleshooting something.

    • Rabiya Rb - 8 years ago

      i saw it on twitter and it said “apple has hidden easter eggs and it would do something cool” i was stupid enough to fall for that……

  6. netelligence - 8 years ago

    Only issue I have now is notifications between iPhone and Apple Watch are broken :-(

  7. RP - 8 years ago

    I swear Apple used some sort of voodoo on beta 4. My 5s is getting incredible battery life. This is not normal. They must have hired a shawman from deep in the Amazon jungle

Author

Avatar for Chance Miller Chance Miller

Chance is an editor for the entire 9to5 network and covers the latest Apple news for 9to5Mac.

Tips, questions, typos to chance@9to5mac.com