iOS 9.3.2 may have a great secret feature, but it has also been causing serious problems and now
Today the company announced it has pulled the update for all owners of the iPad Pro 9.7. Launched just two months ago, the iPad Pro 9.7 is Apple’s newest device but shortly after the release of iOS 9.3.2 scores of users took to online forums and social media to complain that the update had bricked their devices.
I contacted Apple at the time and received the following response:
“We're looking into a small number of reports that some iPad units are receiving an error when updating the software. Those unable to restore their device through iTunes should contact Apple support.”
Apple understandably played down the issue, but it has ultimately decided strong measures had to be taken. Apple last pulled an iOS update back in 2014 when iOS 8.0.1 caused iPhones to start dropping calls.
Wider Problems?
Interestingly I have received reports from several Forbes readers of other issues with iOS 9.3.2.
These include claims the update has also bricked iPhones and caused rapid battery drain, but for now iOS 9.3.2 remains available to all other devices. Whether that changes and whether Apple now rushes out ‘iOS 9.3.3’ as an emergency fix or reissues a modified version of iOS 9.3.2 remains to be seen.
Of course the obvious question to ask at this point is: Why is the iPad Pro 12.9 not affected? And the simple answer is: because the iPad Pro 12.9 actually has significant hardware differences to the iPad Pro 9.7.
So what should you do now?
As my iOS 9.3.2 upgrade guide warned at the time, I strongly recommend you don’t install it. After all the update is (ironically enough) a dedicated bug fix and actually hid its one interesting new feature. Meanwhile if you have already installed iOS 9.3.2 and found you have no problems, then congratulations - you rolled the dice and got lucky this time.
Needless to say, this all comes at a highly inconvenient moment for Apple.
So, no pressure guys...
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