iOS bug crashes iPhones with simple character input: What you need to know | Technology News

A recently discovered bug can cause a user’s iPhone to crash when a specific set of characters is typed. A security researcher discovered that typing “”:: can cause Apple’s mobile user interface, known as Springboard, to crash, reports TechCrunch. The device either reloads the lock screen or the screen goes blank for a moment. According to 9to5Mac, the issue affects typing into Spotlight search from the iPhone’s home screen or the App Library search bar.

Typing these characters into Spotlight Search from the Home screen or App Library search bar will crash the phone. The bug can’t be triggered by anyone other than the iOS device owner typing the characters, and reportedly doesn’t pose a security issue. 9to5Mac tested the bug on iOS 17, iOS 18, and iOS 18.1. On iOS 17, typing these characters crashes Springboard and soft restarts the device. On iOS 18 and iOS 18.1, this causes Spotlight Search to hang momentarily, but Springboard doesn’t crash completely. The bug appears to affect the iOS process for certain text strings in Spotlight Search and the App Library.