The iPhone 6 has been a huge success at launch, with over 10 million devices ordered. iOS 8 has proved popular with a 50% adoption within the first week. What’s not gone down so well is Apple’s first update to its latest operating system version.
The iOS 8.0.1 update has been pulled after a flood of reports saying it has affected both signal reception and Touch ID on the devices it installs upon. These devices all seem to be either the iPhone 6 or the iPhone 6 Plus, but Apple has still yanked the update from all of its devices.
The affected devices either lose all signal from their respective carrier, lose the ability to recognise correct Touch ID input, or both. In response, Apple is now allowing any devices updated to 8.0.1 to revert to version 8.0.
The process is a little on the complex side, so be sure to be careful.
1) Download the iOS 8 IPSW file appropriate for your phone. This one is for the iPhone 6, this one is for the iPhone 6 Plus.
2) Connect your iPhone to your main laptop or computer which you would usually use for synching your device. Back up your device by selecting Backup Options > Backup Now. This is massively important, because…
3) You now need to restore your device. This will wipe it clean. If you’re on a Windows computer hold down Shift and click Restore. If you’re on a Mac hold down Alt and click restore. Be sure not to just click the button on its own.
4) You will now be able to select the IPSW file that you just downloaded. Do so and follow the remaining prompts.
5) Now you have a fully functional device running the original iOS 8. It’s completely blank though, so be sure to click Restore Backup in iTunes to have the contents and settings of your iPhone returned to how they were before.
If you don’t like the sound of all this then don’t worry, Apple will almost certainly release a hotfix soon enough. You will, of course, have to live with the problems you’re experiencing until then, though. We’ll be sure to update this piece when Apple comes out with a more simple solution – most likely an iOS 8.0.2 patch.
UPDATE: Sure enough it’s taken Apple less than 24 hours to roll out a fix. iOS 8.0.2 is now live so you can feel free to download it without worry of a broken handset. Unlike the aforementioned fix for the 8.0.1 patch, this update is downloaded like a normal update. Just go into your iPhone’s Settings menu, select General and then Software Update.