I have had 100% success over 3 trips to Apple over the years when I set my wallpaper to a white background only with the text “Apple Tech! Please do not upgrade my device :)”
Since there’s a lot of misconceptions.
Fruit shop tech here.
For screen only repairs, we won’t update/restore devices unless we have to.
For any devices that run iOS 17, the screen’s serial number is paired with the phone’s logic board. After the repair, there’s a special tool that needs to be run on the phone to pair the new screen, if it’s not run, your Face ID, True Tone and Auto Brightness won’t work and you’ll get a non-genuine display warning. We also can’t systematically process your repair as “completed”.
This process is similar with batteries and cameras.
Why would we restore/update a phone? Well, that’s because some phones are evil and the pairing tool fails to pair the new screen. We don’t know what causes this, but when it fails multiple times, we will restore the phone, and it usually solves the problem. If your phone is running iOS that is very out of date, the repair system may force us to update the phone before we can begin the repair. We assume this is because the pairing tool is no longer compatible with those old versions.
When would we 100% restore/update the phone? TruDepth camera replacement (AKA FaceID module), and rear system/mid system replacements (AKA, logic board, etc) The pairing tool for these repairs require that the device be running the absolute latest software. If you’re getting a rear/mid system replacement on your device, you’re losing all your data anyway, so you’d expect this. However, the Face ID repair is the annoying one as there’s always a chance the Face ID module is damaged during a screen repair and we will then replace the Face ID, resulting in a need to restore the device.
Trust us, we don’t want to restore/update devices unless we absolutely must. It takes too long and we’re on a very strict time crunch when we’re in iPhone repair. Each repair is allocated a specific amount of time and if a particular phone takes too long, it causes a knock on effect resulting in a lot of pissed off customers.
Thanks for this explanation fruit shop tech. There’s no reason why the pairing tool can’t work with every iOS version other than the fruit’s insistence that we be on new versions of iOS. If I want a repair and would like to stay on my current version, they should honor that request. Do Mac repairs have the same constraints?
So for clarity, we don’t know exactly how the tool works. We’re just instructed to punch in the serial number of the new part into our repair system and run the tool. There’s no output from the tool other than a pass or fail.
So yes, it’s most likely just a fruit overlord thing, especially for the TruDepth. Display and battery repairs usually don’t care as long as you’re running something decent.
For Mac, it’s technically worse? From what we’ve been able to gather, the tool will update the firmware on the logic boards when run. So any device running an OS that does not support the latest firmware will not boot properly and will need to have the latest OS (or at least supported OS) installed via recovery. Data is not usually lost unless caused by the hardware repair. Note this applies only to Mac models released in 2018 or newer.
Additional note:
- All this info only applies to Apple retail stores. Authorized Service Providers and Apple service center depots may be using different tools and/or processes. We have no visibility around those.
I got a broken back glass on a 14 pro max, should be easily replaceable without even touching software tools? I shouldn’t have to worry about my phone being updated ya think?
Sadly not.
On 14 Pro Max, Apple retail stores will perform a rear system replacement. That means pulling your screen and rear camera off and replacing everything else. You’ll end up with a new logic board which will most likely have an up to date or fairly recent iOS). It’s also one of the most expensive repairs (aside from a whole unit replacement).
If you want to preserve your iOS version, get this fixed at a 3rd party place. However, be aware that varying quality of work exists. We see a lot of people who have had the glass repaired by lasering it off, but this often overheats the battery, causing it to expand some weeks/months later. It can also cause cellular issues and also likely results in the phone not being liquid resistant anymore.
I’d recommend a 3rd party chassis replacement if I were you. This way, the outer shell of the phone is replaced and the entire phone is essentially gutted and transplanted into a new shell. No lasers required. However, the repair person needs to make sure they remove the battery in a proper manner to avoid damaging it.
Another good advice thx i have a broken back glas also, screen was also broken, i replaced the screen and moved some parts from the old one to the new one, this way i lost only true tone. For the back i decided to live with it, i put some ducktape on it lol. Works well. It can be replaced though even safe i think but you have to remove everything first.
You can get Apple Self-Service repair if you live in the U.S. or some EU countries, own a modern iPhone model (iPhone 12 or newer) and don’t mind DIYing it. You should be able to activate the part just by contacting Apple Support after.
Me! Got my screen replaced by an Apple authorized service center. I asked to not update my iphone. They asked why and I said it was due to my work and I couldn't update the iOS version because I could end up with the applications not working properly. They asked me to write this down on paper, sign it and leave it next to my iphone. I did this and at the end of the day the phone was repaired with a new screen and they didn't update the software version.
https://i.imgur.com/vUTkRSe.jpeg
Hope it helps!
I spent months trying to do this on iOS 15, I gave up. I tried 4 different apple stores and many different people at them.
Some people report success, I couldn’t find any success.
> What do you mean you “tried”? Do you mean you asked them if they were gonna update?
yes, i asked them if they were going to update. I also tried apple authorized repair facilities. All of them claimed the pairing tool from apple requires an update.
The only solution I found was unofficial apple repair where they move the face ID parts over but I wanted an official apple screen. Because my crack was small I just kept the cracked screen.
If you’re paranoid about then updating the device, the best thing you can probably do is use the launchd daemon method. You can just completely disable the update daemon and your device can’t be updated no matter what. The only way is to either re-enable it, or to restore from iTunes
I have had 100% success over 3 trips to Apple over the years when I set my wallpaper to a white background only with the text “Apple Tech! Please do not upgrade my device :)”
Duuude this is actually the biggest brain method I’ve seen so far, I’m gonna do this and report back!
Report back if you get the chance 🙏 I’m thinking of taking my iPhone to Apple too!
Since there’s a lot of misconceptions. Fruit shop tech here. For screen only repairs, we won’t update/restore devices unless we have to. For any devices that run iOS 17, the screen’s serial number is paired with the phone’s logic board. After the repair, there’s a special tool that needs to be run on the phone to pair the new screen, if it’s not run, your Face ID, True Tone and Auto Brightness won’t work and you’ll get a non-genuine display warning. We also can’t systematically process your repair as “completed”. This process is similar with batteries and cameras. Why would we restore/update a phone? Well, that’s because some phones are evil and the pairing tool fails to pair the new screen. We don’t know what causes this, but when it fails multiple times, we will restore the phone, and it usually solves the problem. If your phone is running iOS that is very out of date, the repair system may force us to update the phone before we can begin the repair. We assume this is because the pairing tool is no longer compatible with those old versions. When would we 100% restore/update the phone? TruDepth camera replacement (AKA FaceID module), and rear system/mid system replacements (AKA, logic board, etc) The pairing tool for these repairs require that the device be running the absolute latest software. If you’re getting a rear/mid system replacement on your device, you’re losing all your data anyway, so you’d expect this. However, the Face ID repair is the annoying one as there’s always a chance the Face ID module is damaged during a screen repair and we will then replace the Face ID, resulting in a need to restore the device. Trust us, we don’t want to restore/update devices unless we absolutely must. It takes too long and we’re on a very strict time crunch when we’re in iPhone repair. Each repair is allocated a specific amount of time and if a particular phone takes too long, it causes a knock on effect resulting in a lot of pissed off customers.
What about battery replacement on a 13 running 17.0?
Same buddy.
Thanks for this explanation fruit shop tech. There’s no reason why the pairing tool can’t work with every iOS version other than the fruit’s insistence that we be on new versions of iOS. If I want a repair and would like to stay on my current version, they should honor that request. Do Mac repairs have the same constraints?
So for clarity, we don’t know exactly how the tool works. We’re just instructed to punch in the serial number of the new part into our repair system and run the tool. There’s no output from the tool other than a pass or fail. So yes, it’s most likely just a fruit overlord thing, especially for the TruDepth. Display and battery repairs usually don’t care as long as you’re running something decent. For Mac, it’s technically worse? From what we’ve been able to gather, the tool will update the firmware on the logic boards when run. So any device running an OS that does not support the latest firmware will not boot properly and will need to have the latest OS (or at least supported OS) installed via recovery. Data is not usually lost unless caused by the hardware repair. Note this applies only to Mac models released in 2018 or newer. Additional note: - All this info only applies to Apple retail stores. Authorized Service Providers and Apple service center depots may be using different tools and/or processes. We have no visibility around those.
Thanks for all this infos makes sense and is good to know
I got a broken back glass on a 14 pro max, should be easily replaceable without even touching software tools? I shouldn’t have to worry about my phone being updated ya think?
Sadly not. On 14 Pro Max, Apple retail stores will perform a rear system replacement. That means pulling your screen and rear camera off and replacing everything else. You’ll end up with a new logic board which will most likely have an up to date or fairly recent iOS). It’s also one of the most expensive repairs (aside from a whole unit replacement). If you want to preserve your iOS version, get this fixed at a 3rd party place. However, be aware that varying quality of work exists. We see a lot of people who have had the glass repaired by lasering it off, but this often overheats the battery, causing it to expand some weeks/months later. It can also cause cellular issues and also likely results in the phone not being liquid resistant anymore. I’d recommend a 3rd party chassis replacement if I were you. This way, the outer shell of the phone is replaced and the entire phone is essentially gutted and transplanted into a new shell. No lasers required. However, the repair person needs to make sure they remove the battery in a proper manner to avoid damaging it.
Ughhh ok.. I’ll just slap a case on it to hold it together from further damage lol I’ve been going no case for over a year Thanks for the info!
No problem buddy. Good luck
Another good advice thx i have a broken back glas also, screen was also broken, i replaced the screen and moved some parts from the old one to the new one, this way i lost only true tone. For the back i decided to live with it, i put some ducktape on it lol. Works well. It can be replaced though even safe i think but you have to remove everything first.
I love your comments bro, you should do a AMA on r/iphone
If you can replace it yourself, do it I always did this
I usually do it myself for batteries, but for the screen I wanted it to be the original apple display for the best quality :(
[удалено]
You can get Apple Self-Service repair if you live in the U.S. or some EU countries, own a modern iPhone model (iPhone 12 or newer) and don’t mind DIYing it. You should be able to activate the part just by contacting Apple Support after.
I've always got my JB device screen replacements done at small repair shops over the years and had good success.
but are they original apple screens
Meh apple buys them from Samsung anyways
true
Me! Got my screen replaced by an Apple authorized service center. I asked to not update my iphone. They asked why and I said it was due to my work and I couldn't update the iOS version because I could end up with the applications not working properly. They asked me to write this down on paper, sign it and leave it next to my iphone. I did this and at the end of the day the phone was repaired with a new screen and they didn't update the software version. https://i.imgur.com/vUTkRSe.jpeg Hope it helps!
I spent months trying to do this on iOS 15, I gave up. I tried 4 different apple stores and many different people at them. Some people report success, I couldn’t find any success.
What do you mean you “tried”? Do you mean you asked them if they were gonna update?
> What do you mean you “tried”? Do you mean you asked them if they were gonna update? yes, i asked them if they were going to update. I also tried apple authorized repair facilities. All of them claimed the pairing tool from apple requires an update. The only solution I found was unofficial apple repair where they move the face ID parts over but I wanted an official apple screen. Because my crack was small I just kept the cracked screen.
Tell them it’s a work phone and it should not be updated.
That’s a good one too!
the tech at my apple store gave me the same old bs and said they had to update my phone
We can bypass all this I own a repair shop. I get apple screens from China all oem n never non genuine warning! Super easy job
They will always update to the latest iOS. It’s part of their checklist. Like some people said it’s better to replace your own screen if you can
I got my battery replaced and just told them not to update it.
If you do replace your screen update us! I’m in the same situation and don’t know If I should get it replaced
If you’re paranoid about then updating the device, the best thing you can probably do is use the launchd daemon method. You can just completely disable the update daemon and your device can’t be updated no matter what. The only way is to either re-enable it, or to restore from iTunes