Apple Enables “Dormant Software Lock” to Discourage Aftermarket iPhone Batteries

Apple has activated what’s being described as a “dormant software lock” within the newest model of iOS so as to discourage battery servicing that’s carried out utilizing aftermarket elements or repairs.

In different phrases, what the Cupertino-based tech big is prepared to receive is full management over your battery, as it will solely permit battery repairs to be carried out in its retailers or approved service facilities and solely utilizing real Apple batteries.

Repair specialists IFixit found that after changing and iPhone battery with an aftermarket unit or after doing the entire thing in a non-Apple service heart, the machine shows a warning below Settings > Battery.

“Important Battery Message: Unable to verify this iPhone has a genuine Apple battery. Health information not available for this battery,” this warning reads.

Performance not affected

The warning seems if you happen to changed the iPhone battery with an aftermarket unit or if the repairs, even when a real Apple battery was used, have been carried out in a non-Apple retailer.

The cited supply says the entire thing is powered by a microcontroller which checks for battery data to decide if they arrive from Apple and the servicing was carried out by the corporate.

“There’s a Texas Instruments microcontroller on the battery itself that provides information to the iPhone, such as battery capacity, temperature, and how much time until it fully discharges. Apple uses its own proprietary version, but pretty much all smartphone batteries have some version of this chip. The chip used in newer iPhone batteries includes an authentication feature that stores the info for pairing the battery to the iPhone’s logic board. In simple terms, if the battery doesn’t have the unique authentication key the iPhone’s logic board is expecting, you’ll get that “Service” message,” IFixit explains.

The excellent news is that whereas the Battery Health data is disabled, you’ll be able to proceed to use the iPhone with no throttling in any way. The software program lock is a part of iOS 12 and iOS 13 and is particularly aimed on the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max.