Don't set the date to 1 Jan 1970 on 64 bit devices.

[AustinIllini]

I hear if you throw the phone in the ocean, it bricks the device.

 

[dk001]

I've seen more than a few date change requests like this usually tied to some way to shortcut or get something special out of a game.
I'll be more interested to see what the root cause is....

 

[jog5000]

Hi guys - this is true - my son happily did it to my phone! And now it is stuck in a boot loop. I've tried restoring it at least 10 times, with no luck. Gets to the apple logo with progress bar, except the bar does not move.

Apple Chat Helpline cannot help, apparently they have never heard of this issue.

 

[scaredpoet]

ModMyi have also posted;
One Twitter user says that the device could come back on after 5 hours, while another notes that changing the SIM card could fix the issue, as well. Other users, however, say that it has been longer than 5 hours, some upwards of a day, without the device coming back on. If you’re device comes back on after 5 hours, expect it to be very laggy, but you should be able to go into Settings and change the date back.

All a lot of hearsay, but apparently the common denominator is, if you let the battery run down all the way, that seems to reset it. Not sure why this does the trick, but apparently, the clock doesn't retain the time setting if it completely loses power, and this allows the phone to boot up again.

Of course if you just charged your phone, you're in for a long wait.

 

[Sketchr]

Hi guys - this is true - my son happily did it to my phone! And now it is stuck in a boot loop. I've tried restoring it at least 10 times, with no luck. Gets to the apple logo with progress bar, except the bar does not move.

Apple Chat Helpline cannot help, apparently they have never heard of this issue.

Did you really sign up just to tell us about this?

 

[jog5000]

Sketchr, yes, I did, in the hope that there might be a solution...as well as to warn others who might try it.

 

[noobinator]

Sketchr, yes, I did, in the hope that there might be a solution...as well as to warn others who might try it.

Try another sim card as mentioned above. If not let it sit, for hours, possibly longer.

 

[Sketchr]

Hi guys - this is true - my son happily did it to my phone! And now it is stuck in a boot loop. I've tried restoring it at least 10 times, with no luck. Gets to the apple logo with progress bar, except the bar does not move.

Apple Chat Helpline cannot help, apparently they have never heard of this issue.

Sketchr, yes, I did, in the hope that there might be a solution...as well as to warn others who might try it.

How old is your son, why would he do this?

 

[jog5000]

He's 12 - and like inquisitive 12 year olds, he tries things...this was obviously before we all saw the warning.

 

[Markyyy]

Put the device into DFU mode by holding down power and home for 10 seconds, the let go of power and continue to hold home for 10 seconds. Then, iTunes will recognize it.

Apparantly that doesnt work...?

 

[noobinator]

He's 12 - and like inquisitive 12 year olds, he tries things...this was obviously before we all saw the warning.

So, did you try another sim card?

 

[jog5000]

noobinator, I tried 3 different sims, doesn't work...goes straight back to the apple logo and then the progress bar, that doesn't move.

 

[Sirious]

This is like telling someone to not press the red button.. I feel like trying this 'bug' out now lol

 

[jog5000]

Double post

 

[theramod]

It has been done guys. Here you are

 

[noobinator]

It has been done guys. Here you are

"This is so dang interesting."

Not really dude.

 

[lagwagon]

"This is so dang interesting."

Not really dude.

It kinda is interesting and funny. Not in a malicious way (I wouldn't do this to anyone's phone or tell anyone to do it) but the bug and cause itself is interesting.

 

[Ternary]

All I can say is that this bug doesn't exist in iOS 8.4.1. I actually performed an system time experiment a while back, and my iPhone did NOT brick itself when I set the time to 1970.

You can read about my experience here: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/the-iphone-apocalypse-january-19-2038.1943912/

Edit: 64-bit devices only? Interesting. I used an iPhone 5 for my experiment, and I was actually going to redo the experiment with a 64-bit device once I got a spare...

 

[lagwagon]

All I can say is that this bug doesn't exist in iOS 8.4.1. I actually performed an system time experiment a while back, and my iPhone did NOT brick itself when I set the time to 1970.

You can read about my experience here: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/the-iphone-apocalypse-january-19-2038.1943912/

Edit: 64-bit devices only? Interesting. I used an iPhone 5 for my experiment, and I was actually going to redo the experiment with a 64-bit device once I got a spare...

I see you've edited your post. Yes this bug is 64bit devices only. You're experiment was on a 5 (32bit) and why you didn't encounter it.

 

[sirghost]

Anyone try this on the demo phones at the stores yet? Lol

 

[Jayson A]

Apparantly that doesnt work...?

I didn't see him try it, so....

It must be possible to put it in DFU mode. Just turn it off first and hold the buttons.

 

[The Equalizer]

After the Y2K bug, thought this could never occur again on such a high profile device.

 

[Khalanad75]

He's 12 - and like inquisitive 12 year olds, he tries things...this was obviously before we all saw the warning.

I'd be concerned your 12 year old is on 4chan

 

[MarvinHC]

Something very strange: Just had an email in my inbox dated 1/1/70 (no sender) !!! Before I had a chance to decide if I open it or delete it immediately, it was gone again...
I guess related to this?

 

[garirry]

lol, who discovers this kind of stuff.

You really think no one said "What happens if I said the date to the earliest possible?"?