AT&T Carrier Update 28.4 Bricked my iPhone 6

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7 points

AT&T Carrier Update 28.4 Bricked my iPhone 6

On or about May 9 I received a notification for a "Carrier Update" (AT&T) on my iPhone 6. Since I've never had any problems with iOS updates (and I know you can only refuse CUs twice, anyway) I consented and installed. That was the day the problems started.

My phone has since started dropping off the network at a regular rate, about every two hours. Initially, a restart would bring it back online. I took it to the AT&T store and they ran diagnostics that cleared the hardware. They reset the network. That brought it back online. Then, subsequently, every time it went back to the "Searching..." message, resetting the network was the only thing that would bring it back online.

This was an iPhone that was working great before the update. After the update it would routinely drop service, and it was hard to get onto the LTE network (4G most of the time).

Today, I went into a building and I shut off my phone by putting it into Airplane Mode. I walked out two hours later, turned it off and then no more service. I reset the network three times. I cleared the iPhone RAM three times. I restarted four times. It has been hours, I only see "Searching..." on my iPhone, and now I don't have cellular service at all. What's a cell phone without cell service? Answer: A brick. Carrier Update 28.4 bricked my iPhone 6.

iPhone 6, iOS 10.3.1, Carrier AT&T 28.4

Posted on May 17, 2017 2:14 PM

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Answer 1

IngyHere Author

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7 points

May 18, 2017 6:03 AM in response to IngyHere

I upgraded to 10.3.2 on a wifi network. Then the cellular transmitter came back online. It hasn't dropped network connections since yesterday afternoon. Its only been less than a day, but it seems to be working again as expected.

I don't know what happened there, and they don't publish the release notes. However, that is the last time I'm going to agree to update carrier settings outside a formal iOS update.

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Answer 2

May 17, 2017 2:21 PM in response to IngyHere

Have you tried resetting your device: Hold down the Home and Power buttons at the same time and continue to hold them down until the Apple appears (up to 30 seconds). Once the Apple appears, the Lock screen will display shortly. See if that helps.

Since it was a carrier update, you should be talking to AT&T. They are responsible for the software and the effect it has on your device. But just an FYI - I updated to that version and have not had any issues. And I was running iOS 10.3.1 until last night, and had no issues either before or after the update to 10.3.2.

Best of luck,

GB

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Answer 3

May 17, 2017 2:36 PM in response to IngyHere

OK, but the reset I was suggesting was not a Network Reset, so not sure by your response which you tried several times?

You may have to Erase the device and restore it from a backup. Do you have a backup that was done prior to the carrier update? (not sure that would actually restore it to the previous carrier version, but it's the next step in the process....). Even if it doesn't restore the previous carrier version, it could still potentially fix the problem if, while doing that update, your files got corrupted in some way.

I have an iPhone 7Plus.

Cheers,

GB

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Answer 4

IngyHere Author

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7 points

May 17, 2017 2:40 PM in response to IngyHere

I'm on a wifi network now. My coworker who was also having similar problems said he updated to 10.3.2, and it's working better. His phone never stopped working, though. I'll try updating iOS, and hopefully nothing in my phone (like the cellular transmitter) is destroyed.

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Answer 5

IngyHere Author

Level 1

7 points

May 22, 2017 11:38 AM in response to IngyHere

Yeah, not really. After installing 10.3.2 it worked good for about two days, then it went back to the same behavior. I now have an iPhone that does not provide cellular service. I hope AT&T or Apple can warranty the device that their update broke.

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Answer 6

May 23, 2017 8:51 AM in response to IngyHere

Again, you are going to have to talk to AT&T. Perhaps the carrier update did not install correctly. See if they can push the update to your device again so you can re-install it. The update is the responsibility of the carrier, so you are going to have to work with them to try to get it resolved.

And, your other option is to try to restore to a backup that was made prior to the install. That may be the only solution that will work for you at this point.

GB

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Answer 7

May 28, 2017 10:21 AM in response to IngyHere

I have also had problems with my 6 since the carrier update. My phone can connect to the LTE or 4G but can't find my home wifi network unless I am standing within about 10 feet of it. Despite all other devices working in every room of my house (including laptop, Roku and iPad), the iPhone can't find my home wifi network unless it is very close to the router. Went to my parents' house to try it there and ran into the same problem. It seems suspicious to me that this carrier update from AT&T broke my phone in a way that will lead to me using more data and therefore potentially owing AT&T more money...

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Answer 8

IngyHere Author

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7 points

May 30, 2017 9:52 AM in response to IngyHere

Apple Engineering has been in contact with me to collect logs on phone operation, and I am working to assist them. It's my understanding that there are a number of people with this same issue. In fact, when they contacted me a list of other related threads was provided.

Despite other information provided on this thread, Apple is both the hardware and software manufacturer. Thus, they have an ownership interest to ensure that hardware is not broken by software they approve for installation and that subsequently adversely impacts device firmware.

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Answer 9

IngyHere Author

Level 1

7 points

Jun 5, 2017 7:31 AM in response to HScase

Apple is asking me for updated logs but I had to get a new iPhone so it's not on the cellular network anymore. If your problem is fresh, you could probably help. I will let them know about this and hopefully you can help provide logs.

PS: It's Apple hardware. They own problems if they let a carrier tweak their firmware. But outside of that I don't know that the source of the issue is firmly established.

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