A nasty experience with DFU when updating iPhone to iOS 12.1 (and 2FA)!

IWT


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I had a horrendous experience today.
I was updating my iPhone X to iOS 12.1 via iTunes and for the first time ever, it went into DFU Mode at the end of the download/beginning of the installation. And stuck there. Frozen iPhone.

iTunes offered solutions with links to their website, all helpful, but none worked.

At this point iMazing, an excellent third party app offered to “solve” the problem. It tried, it failed.

Only option now was to Restore; which effectively wipes the iPhone as if brand new, installs a brand new version of the latest iOS(12.1), then restores from the most recent backup.

Before I could go any further, I had to authenticate my iPhone (Apple ID and other things I honestly can’t recall).

After the restore to factory settings (ie as if brand new), I had manually to go through the initial setup. First off, I had to choose which WiFi I wanted to use, input the password for that; then input my Apple ID and various other setup options. I also had to input my Apple ID on the iMac and finally when the iPhone and iMac were paired, I was offered the chance to restore from an iTunes BU. Luckily, I had backed up the iPhone before starting all this, so chose that BU.

Took a long time. All worked out in the end. Settings, apps, messages - everything intact.

But here’s the crunch. Presumably because Apple/iTunes saw my iPhone X as a brand new device, it insisted - no option - insisted, that I activate Two Factor Authentication (2FA). And having done so, I was forced to verify 2FA on all the devices linked to my Apple ID. As my wife and I share my Apple ID, that meant two iPhones, two iPads and my iMac. This was a long and tedious process with 6-figure codes coming at me from all directions.

Whilst I am an enthusiastic user of 2FA in general, I don’t care for the Apple experience of this. Later on, I got an email to all my trusted email accounts welcoming me to 2FA, but interestingly telling me that my three security questions would be held until 15 November, then deleted. Which makes me believe that I may be able to undo 2FA by logging in to my Apple ID account on the web.

I can't think what I did wrong to cause the iPhone to go into DFU Mode, but if it happens to you, be prepared for a long and scary scenario.

Ian
 
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That sounds like a good (and scary) Halloween story. Even if it happened a day late.
 

chscag

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You might want to check the battery status on your iPhone X. A malfunctioning battery can cause the phone to get temporary brain damage (DFU mode). If anything comes up with the battery, you can have a new one installed since I assume your iPhone X is still covered by AppleCare.

And like Bob said, that is indeed a scary occurrence.
 
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IWT

IWT


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Thank you both for your supportive comments.

The battery checks, both within the X and on coconut check out okay; but I'll monitor it as you suggest, Charlie.

And yes, of course, I have the full AppleCare Plus cover (or whatever it's currently called).

The question I face, is that if I have the chance to cancel out of 2FA, should I do so? Having gone this far, I'm tempted to leave things as they are. Still thinking about it.

Ian
 
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If you cancel out of 2FA, I think you'll have to go through all the devices again, cancelling for each, just as you did to set it up. I'd say leave it as is.
 
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IWT

IWT


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Thanks for your advice, Jake. My final thinking as well. Apathy rules - or mental exhaustion anyway. It was a huge hassle setting them all up and, you're right, same hassle undoing them.

Appreciate your taking the time to respond.

Ian
 
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I have 2FA, and when I got a new phone and used it for the first time I got the six digit codes on all the other 2FA devices. It sounded like they were cathedral bells being rung! (MBP, iPad, iPhone, Mac Mini, iMac,  watch, Apple TV).
 

chscag

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Likewise here Ian. Just keep the 2FA since it seems like it would be another hassle trying to undo it. I can deal with 2FA easy enough, however, it's my wife who can not which is why I've so far resisted going to it. Although, I suspect with Apple concentrating on security more and more, it won't be long before we will not have a choice.
 
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Thank you, Charlie.

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If anything comes up with the battery, you can have a new one installed since I assume your iPhone X is still covered by AppleCare.
 

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