iOS 11.3.1 rolls out with iPhone display fix

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iPhone 8 Wireless Charging
Cheap iPhone 8 displays should work with iOS 11.3.1.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple just rolled out iOS 11.3.1 with a fix for third-party iPhone displays that stopped working properly after an earlier software update. The release also promises security improvements for iPhone and iPad.

iOS 11.3 caused problems for iPhone 8 users whose displays had been replaced by third-party repairers. It was initially believed that non-genuine screens were the problem, but it was later discovered that even genuine Apple panels had issues if they weren’t installed by Apple.

We suspected this was a ploy to prevent iPhone owners from getting cheaper repairs elsewhere, but Apple has now fixed the problem with iOS 11.3.1.

iOS 11.3.1 is rolling out now

This is a minor update for most of us, but for those who had touchscreen issues after installing iOS 11.3, it has been a long time coming. Your handset should continue to function normally after you’ve updated, but Apple still warns that you should avoid third-party screen replacements.

“Note: Non-genuine replacement displays may have compromised visual quality and may fail to work correctly,” reads its release notes. “Apple-certified screen repairs are performed by trusted experts who use genuine Apple parts.”

iOS 11.3.1 is available to download now on all devices that are compatible with iOS 11.

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