Apple Releases Update that Fixes iPhone Crash Bug

A bug capable of crashing iPhones and rendering apps like Messages, Facebook Messenger, and WhatsApp useless was discovered last week. Apple released an update on Monday, which includes a fix for the bug.

The update issued included iOS 11.2.6 for iPhone and iPad, TVOS 11.2.6 for the Apple TV, WatchOS 4.2.3 for all Apple Watch models, and MacOS 10.13.3 for Mac.

According to the release notes by Apple, the update “fixes an issue where using certain character sequences could cause apps to crash” and “fixes an issue where some third-party apps could fail to connect to external accessories.”

The bug was initiated by sending a character in the Indian language (Telugu) on any Apple product that runs iOS 11 or MacOS. Once the message was sent, Apple users were no longer able to open their message apps. The apps would freeze and become unresponsive. In most cases, uninstalling and reinstalling the unresponsive app acted as a temporary fix.

The next major updated will be iOS 11.3, which is scheduled for this spring. According to Apple, the update will bring, “Exciting new ways to experience augmented reality on iPhone and iPad, new Animoji on iPhone X and the ability to view health records in the Health app.”

We can also expect to see music videos in Apple Music, updates to Apple News, and new features that show battery health and whether or not a battery needs to be serviced.