Apple released iOS 17 for all compatible iPhone models in September, a week after the iPhone 15 lineup was announced. The platform was crawling with bugs initially, ranging from connectivity and UI stutters to overheating issues on the latest iPhone 15 Pro models. Almost two months later, the company released various updates with fixes for the abovementioned issues. It is now discovered that a strange bug in iOS 17 renders the screen completely unresponsive. However, there is an easy solution to fix the problem.
iOS 17 bug freezes your iPhone and does not register touch input at all
The iPhone 15 Pro is a significant upgrade over the last generation's iPhone 14 Pro. However, the overheating issue took away most of the initial hype. It was coined that the iPhone 15 Pro models were overheating due to the new titanium finish on the iPhone. A YouTuber also pointed out that titanium had nothing to do with the issue and that Instagram was the culprit. Apple took note and issued a statement, suggesting that a bug in iOS 17 was causing the new iPhone 15 Pro models to overheat.
Apple released iOS 17.0.3 with a fix for the overheating issue, and the entire fiasco was put to rest. iOS 17 still houses a few bugs that need to be addressed. A strange bug in iOS 17.1.1 is causing iPhone models to freeze entirely. Your iPhone will not register touch input, and pressing Volume and the Power buttons will also have no impact.
Note that the bug is hidden in the App Library section of iOS 17. You can check out the video from an X user for more details. We have tested the bug ourselves, and it appears to be affecting a wide range of models. In our testing, the iPhone 13 and the iPhone 14 Pro Max were frozen. According to the user, the bug is part of iOS 17.1.1 and affects the new iPhone 15 models.
Here's a video. iPhone 13 mini, iOS 17.1.1.
I've seen other people on X replicate this bug on iPhone 14 & iPhone 15 too. pic.twitter.com/TyyZngUECK
— bibasik7 (@bibasik7) November 16, 2023
If you are unfamiliar with it, the bug will not affect users independently, as you have to initiate it yourself from the App Library. However, anyone accessing your phone can trigger it, rendering your device useless. If you have been a victim, you can force restart your iPhone via the Volume and the Power Button. All you have to do is press and release the Volume Up button, then quickly press and release the Volume Down button and press and hold the Power Button until the Apple logo appears on the screen.
The strange bug that freezes the screen is tested on iPhone models running iOS 17.1.1. Apple will potentially fix the issue in its upcoming iOS 17.2 update, which currently rests in the beta phase. We will update this post once there is an update on the subject.
About the author: Ali Salman is a technology reporter for Wccftech mobile section with a specialized focus on Apple and the intellectual property that drives mobile innovation. He has cultivated a unique expertise in analyzing and deconstructing complex technology patents, translating dense legal and technical documents into clear, insightful reports on future products.
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