A New Apple Software Update Makes Your iPhone Break If it's Ever Been Repaired By a Third Party

Swiping away on a smashed iPhone screen usually marks you out as a failure as an adult and generally irresponsible human being. It's an embarrassing reminder that you drop things, sometimes. And that you couldn't be bothered or didn't have the money to get a phone you use on the daily fixed. 

Instead, you battle on. Braving cut thumbs and social shame. You're an outcast in society/your responsible iPhone-owning friends. 

But guess what? Your shattered iPhone screen isn't all bad. In fact, you could be about to be very, VERY glad you've got one, and that you never got around to getting it repaired. 

The Guardian reports that thousands of iPhone 6 users say they've had their iPhones become entirely useless, because Apple's new software update permanently disables iPhones if it detects that the handset has EVER been repaired or tampered with by a technician that doesn't work for Apple. Uh oh. 

Meaning all your friends who shelled out £10 for a new screen could be seriously regretting their decision, while you and your smashed phone - and your uber responsible friend who's never broken her phone in the first place - feel all smug. 

The phone shut-down seems to occur once you've installed the latest version of iOS 9, and affects iPhones that have had their touch ID home buttons damaged and repaired. 

If it happens all photos and data on the phone are irretrievably lost. 

THAT BEING SAID, some ​other ​users say that the same thing has happened to phones that have been damaged but not repaired, as they were able to keep using it. So don't feel too secure if you've been valiantly continuing onwards with your damaged phone. 

Basically, all us irresponsible people are f***ed and there's nothing we can do about it. Other than paying to get our iPhones repaired at official Apple stores. Shit.