Changing Date to January 1st, 1970 Bricks iOS Devices [Video]

According to a number of reports from users from different countries, setting the date to January 1st, 1970 can permanently brick your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch running iOS 9 or higher. The bug in the mobile operating system makes it possible to turn the device with Apple’s A7, A8, A8X, A9, and A9X processor into a completely useless thing.

Below you can take a look at the video showing the bug.

Once your date has been set to January 1st, 1970, the bug will prevent your iOS device from booting. Due to the limited scroller, the date needs to be set back multiple times until it reaches the year 1970.

Once you change the date and reboot your phone or tablet, it will freeze on the Apple logo on the next booting. The restore and even the DFU mode won’t help you to bring the device back to life. The only possible solution is to visit the Genius Bar and get the battery physically disconnected from the logic board to reset the date. We strongly recommend you not to experiment with your gadget.

Apple is reportedly aware of the issue. I hope that the company will release a fix for the bug in the near future.

[via iClarified]