As Apple prepares for the much-anticipated launch of the iPhone 16, cybersecurity researchers have uncovered a glitch in iOS and iPadOS that causes Apple devices to temporarily freeze, leaving users without access for a brief moment, according to El Economista.
Device Freezes Temporarily
This week, cybersecurity researcher Konstantin revealed a specific bug affecting both iPhones and iPads.
The issue arises when users type a particular combination of characters—specifically, the sequence “::” (two quotation marks followed by two colons) — into the search bar of the Settings app.
When this combination is entered, the device freezes momentarily, disrupting normal usage.
Further testing by users has confirmed the bug, with reports indicating that simply typing “”:” followed by any fourth character also triggers the freeze. TechCrunch has noted that the issue can also occur in the app library search bar.
Fix Expected in the Coming Weeks
Fortunately, the freeze only lasts for a short time, after which users can continue using their devices as normal.
The bug has been identified in the latest versions of iOS 17 and iPadOS 17. Users testing the beta versions of iOS 18 and iPadOS 18.1 have also encountered the same problem, particularly when using Spotlight Search.
While Apple has yet to comment on the issue, experts specializing in Apple’s ecosystem assure users that this is not a security vulnerability and there are no indications that it can be exploited by malicious third parties. Given that the freeze is a temporary inconvenience, it appears unlikely to cause significant disruption.
Apple is expected to release a patch in the coming weeks to resolve this bug, so users should stay alert for upcoming software updates to ensure their devices are functioning smoothly.
