Apple's iOS 18 update will be available to the general public next month, potentially alongside the release of the iPhone 16 lineup. While we are excited to check out the new features, Apple is still releasing new builds for iOS 17. However, a software build can never be a hundred percent clear of issues or underlying bugs that go unnoticed. It is now being reported that iOS 17 features a strange bug that causes the iPhone to crash if you type in four specific characters, but do not be alarmed, as there is an easy fix for the issue.
This simple typing mistake could crash your iPhone - Here's how to avoid it
This is not the first time that a text string has caused the iPhone to crash, but as there are innumerable character combinations, the chances of some of them crashing your device become higher. A security researcher on Mastodon has discovered that typing specific characters into Spotlight Search or App Library will crash your iPhone. You can check out the characters below so you can be aware of them and steer clear of them.
""::
TechCrunch notes that you only have to type "": followed by any fourth character to crash your iPhone, which is quite simple, and anyone with access to your device can do it. However, the researcher states that the bug is not a privacy or security risk as there is “no evidence yet to suggest anyone other than an iOS device owner manually typing the characters could trigger this bug.”
We have tested the bug on our iPhone, running the latest version of iOS 17, and the bug crashes your device. The Springboard or the Home Screen of the device crashed, and it followed a "soft" reboot. Interestingly, typing the same characters on an iPhone running iOS 18 beta causes the same reaction, but the Springboard continues to work normally to some extent, while the Spotlight Search freezes for a short while.
As mentioned, the bug only takes effect when the characters are typed in the App Library or the Spotlight Search. As noted, there have been numerous occasions when an iOS bug has caused the iPhone to crash. While the bug is harmless, Apple will still fix it in its subsequent iOS 17 and iOS 18 updates, whereby the stability and user experience will be improved. The company has not shared a word on the story so far, but we will update you as soon as further details are available.
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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