Apple has been forced to pull an update to its iOS 8 platform designed to fix several bugs, after users complained almost immediately of signal and TouchID problems.
The Cupertino giant released iOS 8.0.1 in response to a series of issues which had blighted the much-vaunted launch of the new operating system last week.
These included a bug which meant developers couldn’t upload HealthKit apps to the App Store, one which wouldn’t allow users to upload photos and videos from Safari, and another which prevented some apps accessing photos from the Photo Library.
However, instead of fixing these problems, the new update seems to have broken many iPhone fans’ devices, according to the surge of complaints on Apple’s official user forum and other channels including Twitter.
The problems appear to be that after updating the iPhone with 8.0.1, devices no longer connect to the mobile network, leaving users effectively unable to use the most basic function of a smartphone.
Others reported that the much-hyped TouchID fingerprint sensor no longer worked properly.
Realizing its error, Apple pulled the update less than 90 minutes after it was issued.
The firm then released a “workaround” for some users which effectively involves reinstalling the original iOS8 software.
Its statement read as follows:
"We have a workaround for you if you have an iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus and you lost cellular service and Touch ID functionality today after updating to iOS 8.0.1. You can reinstall iOS 8 through iTunes by following the instructions below. We are also preparing iOS 8.0.2 with a fix for the issue, and will release it as soon as it's ready in the next few days."
This isn’t the first time Apple has had problems with its iOS software soon after a big launch.
Just days after the iOS7 launch, the firm was forced to release iOS 7.0.1 to fix a problem with the fingerprint scanner. Yet again, a matter of days after that update, Apple released 7.0.2 to fix two bugs which allowed users to bypass the lock screen.