Apple just updated without asking and locked my iPhone

15 points by OmleteDuFromage 12 years ago | 17 comments

Just minutes ago, my iPhone 5 just updated itself without asking, and it got locked with an "Activation Error: This device is not registered as part of the iPhone developer Program.". I was still using the ios7 beta 3, and it is/was registered. Why and how the hell is apple doing shit like this without any prompt?

spicyj 12 years ago |

It's always been the case that iOS betas expire and that you need to always install the latest version.

autodidakto 12 years ago | |

And the betas prompt you to update. But after the last beta (which was the 7.0 GM), update checks within Settings and within iTunes said "you're up to date". Never was there any hint that there was a problem. Furthermore, the cryptic errors hiding the inability of updating to "stock" firmware, requiring a recovery mode restore (despite the last beta being the GM) makes it much more frustrating.

slater 12 years ago |

Did you read the beta TOS? I'm not an iOS developer, but I'll bet you a dollar there's some vague language in there that allows this. Not defending Apple (well, not too much), but I doubt they updated your stuff illegally. Which also answers your other question - if the device had WiFi or any other sort of data access, you probably gave it permission to do updates over the air when accepting the TOS. Or, maybe it was timebombed, as most commercial beta software is.

OmleteDuFromage 12 years ago | |

Even if I overlook the auto-update part, the phone is still locked, and I don't seem to me able to restore it in iTunes. Hopefully DFU + restore will work.

roflcopta 12 years ago |

>> be dev >> does not know that it expires. >> face palm.png >> DFU the phone

acallaghan 12 years ago |

This same thing happened to me - I searched Twitter to find a few having the same problem, but not enough for it to be everyone. It makes sense for it to be linked to the developer program for iOS 7 betas, as I'm on one too.

autodidakto 12 years ago |

My iphone 4s was running the iOS7 betas. The last update was the GM beta and it never asked to update again (apparently 7.0.2 has been out)?

I was listening to a podcast and the audio was still playing when it locked my screen and demanded activation. Trying to activate, it says "can't connect to servers". Connected to itunes, it says "this software is out of date...". Backup, sync, and restore both give "cannot connect to iphone" messages. I'm currently downloading the 7.0.2 firmware on a 1mbit connection (3 hours to go!) and hoping a DFU boot and alt+restore will work.

Last time I run my podcasts on a device that can disable itself.

Edit: Twitter complaints here:

https://twitter.com/search?q=iphone%20activation&src=typd&f=...

Judging by the amount, I don't think it's a few devs having this problem.

Edit2: Booting to DFU or Recovery mode seems to let you start the restore process. Clicking on restore didn't give the same "can't connect to iphone" error, but oddly said it was going to download 6.1.3 for me. Good sign that alt+restore will work.

gramsey 12 years ago | |

Had the same issue. I had to boot to DFU, and only then was I able to hit "Restore" in iTunes to download iOS 7.0.2 (non-beta).

rstoner 12 years ago | |

Same problems. Please report back if the update was successful.

autodidakto 12 years ago | | |

EDIT: People are the bigger disccusion thread (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6502756) are saying that it's possible to update without deleting/restore by downloading the ipsw and alt+click the "check for updates button".

--- Original: --- Booting to recovery mode (http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1808) and clicking restore will download the 7.0.2 firmware (no need to alt+restore), wipe the phone, and update to 7.0.2

I was getting offered 6.1.3 and not 7.0.2 because my itunes wasn't updated to 11.1+.

Before booting to recovery mode, copy over your camera roll with image capture/aperture/iphoto just in case your latest backup (iCloud or iTunes) isn't up to date.

petethered 12 years ago | | |

Same issues... just download the iOS 7.0.2 image from my developer account and updated the phone.

Was quite quick and no settings changes or loss.

plorkyeran 12 years ago |

iOS 7 beta 3 expired August 29. It should not be surprising that continuing to run a beta version long after it's supposed to stop working will lead to things breaking.

OmleteDuFromage 12 years ago |

Also, interesting to note how this post went from the front page & top of the ask page, to nowhere to be found instantly.

X4 12 years ago |

I upvoted, because I find it funny and the blame is on us, because we don't complain about mad enough.

Apple just goes along with this, like with many other "technical errors", do you sincerly believe that it's technical error that they collect data of every move you do and sync it with itunes, or that they accept nothing but credit cards, or that they update your phone without asking, or even remove an app that you bought? I could find references to each of these claims, but it's not worth it, because you decide.

But don't get me wrong, as much as I was amused by this, I'm that much sorry for you too on the other side. Because you dear Hackerfriend are getting treated like shit [1] by Apple so much that even cartoons start joking about it. The bad thing is that you can't do much about it other than buying into the other "do not evil" Android phone.

––

[1] http://www.southparkstudios.com/full-episodes/s15e01-humance...

aaronem 12 years ago | |

I'd have thought HN was above this sort of childishness. What a shame.

slater 12 years ago | | |

Downvote and move on. Conspiracy theorists gonna conspire...

OmleteDuFromage 12 years ago | |

Well I'm sorry if the blame is on me, but I need to have an iPhone since I develop for ios. I also have an Android phone and a WP, if it makes you feel any better.