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Libre Freestyle Librelink using with Apple iOS - a warning if you have sensor failures

cbish8 said:
I'm getting my phone upgrade within the next month and I was considering switching to iPhone, how often do issues like this occur with the Libre app?
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The only time I've ever had a problem with the LibreLink app was a couple of summer’s ago when there was a major update of the app and everyone just got a blank screen (I think maybe this was iPhones only). Since then I have had no app based problems, just dodgy sensors that lose signal. Abbot always replace them after a quick phone call.
 
This is the first time that I have been able to identify the iOS as the probable cause of any issues but it may have been lurking behind the scenes previously. I haven't used an Android phone since using the Libre system but I suspect the same apples there as Abbott also specify the phones and OSs with which their system is compliant. The list of compatibilities is buried within the Libre website but can be found at https://www.diabetescare.abbott/support/manuals/uk.html.
 
Why are you being so nice to Abbott. Can you imagine your headphones stopping working every time apple did an update. This such a simple device using standard Bluetooth. Abbott need to get their act together and stop making excuses. They are a billion dollar company making huge profits. Honestly I am tired of calling them every time a sensor misbehaves.
 
The response from Abbott is a sneaky way to shift the blame away from them & onto patients & phone manufacturers. This is not fair. They are providing a system with a selling point that we can use our phones as readers. Abbott must invest more money to keep their software updated in lock-step with Apple, and other phone manufacturers. Don't let Abbott fool you. The problem is a faulty sensor.

The only way we can apply pressure on Abbott to do so is to report these faulty medical devices to the MHRA via their "yellow card" reporting scheme, which can be found here: https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/ . Completing this form only takes a couple of minutes.

The MHRA monitor these reports & when there is enough they can apply pressure on Abbott. The only other option we have as patients is to vote with our feet & request we are switched to another manufacturer, e.g. Dexcom.

Best of luck.
 
This looks like a good way forward. I recently pointed out the problems that their lax way of confirming compliance causes for users, but their response seemed to show they hadn’t read my email with any care and they just trotted out their usual “you mustn’t upgrade until compliance has been confirmed”. They seemed to miss the point that by the time they confirm compliance, a new operating system upgrade has occurred, and you can’t upgrade other than to the latest version.

I saw an advert on TV this evening which was selling the Libre system based on use of a phone, with no sign of a simple reader. This might be considered misselling since the company seems to have no strategy for aligning itself with current phones and operating systems. Maybe a referral to the Advertising Standards Agency might be appropriate too.
 
I am on IOS 18.5 on an iPhone 12. The bluetooth connection keeps cutting out between the phone and the sensor, so every 5 minutes I get a signal loss alarm, and I have to scan the sensor again to get a reading. This also means that I can't leave the phone on during the night unless I want to be woken up every five minutes by the signal loss alarm I spoke to the Abbot Helpdesk and they confirmed that Librelink 2 is not compatible with the latest version of the iphone IOS. He said that I just had to wait until they 'catch up'. Just not good enough, frankly.
 
Yet I too am on Libre two, I phone twelve mini, and the same update with no issues.
By the way I haven’t had the signal lost signal on since I started using my phone. Too irritating! Beeping every time I go into a different room or pop to the garden. You would probably be less aware of signal losses and just give it time to reattach itself.
 
Another update. Abbott has again reissued its compatibility list (July 2025) and for iOS it remains at 18.3.2 despite iOS now being on 18.6.2, having passed through 18.4,18.4.1,18.5, 18.6, 18.6.1 and now 18.6.2.

Others on here have said that they have upgraded their iPhone iOS without any issues. If compatibility is that straight forward why hasn't Abbott done that 'simple' check and updated their comparability schedule? Having updated a previous iPhone and experienced incompatibility issues I haven't updated beyond 18.3.1 (You'll be aware that Apple doesn't allow you to select an iOS version, it always updates you to the most current). It seems I may be destined to remain on 18.3.1 forever.

Abbott exclusively feature mobile phones as the monitoring device on their webpages (with a small note that not all phones are compatible). I believe this is misleading and I have submitted a complaint to the Advertising Standards Authority and I encourage others who feel likewise to do the same (https://www.asa.org.uk/make-a-complaint.html). It seems that unless all pressure is put on Abbott this incompatibility issue will remain.

Abbott may be a brilliant pharmaceutical business but their software support needs attention.
 
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Without doubt abbott is a shambles when it comes to compatibility. This is not a difficult thing for them to deal with and in my opinion there is something more fundamentally wrong with either the sensors or the app. Can you imagine if everytime apple did an upgrade your EarPods or your connection to your speaker stopped working. The technology is similar and uses standard industry protocols. Abbott needs to come clean with what the issue is and stop blaming IOS as a platform for its own failings. IMHO
 
I understand how you feel it is a sensor problem and I felt the same way, however, since upgrading my iPhone and not updating the iOS beyond that confirmed as compatible with the app I have had no issues at all. When it works like this it is great but the cost seems to be that the iOS cannot be upgraded for new features, but more significantly, to protect against security issues.

I am equally baffled since I can't understand how minor changes in the Bluetooth signal can have a significant impact on reliability, but I'm not selling software/OS versions; if I was, I'd invest in getting to the bottom of the problem!
 
The problem with this approach is that Abbott are complicit in forcing iPhone users to expose themselves to potential security issues which may involve hacking of your device though known vulnerabilities by those who like to exploit us. This is not unique to Apple but to all organisations who are fighting against the attacks. Microsoft apple google are all in the same boat and they are trying to help the public by ensuring their software is secure. Abbott are openly suggesting that we should leave ourselves vulnerable and I for one will not accept this as an answer. Abbott if you are listening, how do you respond to what is effectively an accusation from me that you are encouraging IOS users to leave themselves open to attack by not upgrading.
 
Since I last posted here I have updated my iPhone 14 Pro several times. I am currently on iOS 18.6.2, literally updated a few minutes ago and all is well with connection to the LibreLink app.
 
Just updated my iPhone 14 pro to the brand new iOS 26. Didn’t give a thought til after I’d pressed ‘update’ that this big update would work with LibreLink! But happy to report that it all looks to be working ok so far! Phew!
 
I have an I phone 12 mini and due to reading problems on here I held back for ages on updating my IOS I then decided to bite the bullet and go for it think if I have to go back to a reader then so be it , I upgraded and am now on IOS 18:6:02 and all is good , my alarms work the bs reading work the info is being sent to my healthcare professionals , I know this isn’t the case for many but for me it seems fine . I did look at my phone online with regard when it will stop upgrading the latest IOS ( seeing as it is a relatively old model and was surprised to find that it’s going to be at least post 2027 , which is good cos I like the size and dont really want to upgrade til Apple bring out a folding IPhone as all the new ones are too big for me .
 
Still keep updating my I phone mini with no issues. I’m finding it interesting that there are issues for some and not others.
@Ushthetaff agree on the phone size issue. Love the mini.
 
Best I can figure, Abbott are running about six months behind with their iOS LibreLink compatibility testing. Apple often push out important security updates for iOS and it is very disappointing that they see fit to make users wait months before officially supporting these fixes. Apple makes iOS beta software readily available for testing well in advance so Abbott could be a lot more proactive here. Also, burying their software compatibility data in a pdf file on their website doesn't help.

Three times I've had a Libre 2 (and more recently a Libre 2 Plus) sensor stop working properly after applying it. Typical scenario seems to be that the sensor works fine for up to 24 hours then LibreLink constantly reports 'Signal Loss'. In all but one case I was able to manually scan the sensor and get readings after this happened, but you also lose the alarm function, which given I suffer with hypos at night, is a bad place to be.

Abbott Support are quick to blame iOS and say my version isn't supported but the evidence doesn't support that, although to be fair they never fail to send a replacement. But, how can a sensor work fine, and then without me changing anything on the iPhone, it suddenly stops? My suspicion is that the little silver oxide battery that's part of the sensor, is occasionally faulty causing the sensor to stop working properly mid-way through use. Seems the only logical explanation.

Anyway, iOS 26 for my iPhone 14 Pro is out but I am sticking with iOS 18.7 for now (which seems to work fine despite them saying it's not compatible).
 
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