Apple Releases iOS 8.1.3 With Bug Fixes, Storage Size Reduction

Apple today released iOS 8.1.3 to the public, with a range of bug fixes including a fix for an issue that prevented some users from entering their Apple ID passwords for Messages and FaceTime, a bug that caused Spotlight to stop displaying app results, and a problem that prevented multitasking gestures from working on the iPad.

iOS 8.1.3 also reduces the amount of storage space required to perform an iOS update and adds new configuration options for education standardized testing.

iOS 8.1.3, much like iOS 8.1.2, was a minor release that was not seeded to developers before being released to the public. The software is available immediately as an over-the-air download.

iosupdate
The first hints of iOS 8.1.3 first appeared in early December after devices running the updated operating system began visiting the MacRumors website, and usage picked up last week after iOS 8.1.3 was seeded to Apple retail employees for testing purposes. Apple appears to be expanding its OS X employee testing program to iOS, and iOS 8.1.3 marks the first iOS beta that's been tested by retail workers.

iOS 8.1.3 is a minor update that includes largely under-the-hood bug fixes, but Apple is also working on iOS 8.2, which will bring more drastic changes to the operating system as it contains both the WatchKit SDK and features that will allow the iPhone to integrate with the Apple Watch. It is not clear when Apple plans to release iOS 8.2, but it could come alongside the launch of the Apple Watch, which is currently rumored to be in March.

Update 10:38 AM: iOS 8.1.3 does not fix the recently publicized "GMT bug," which causes calendar syncing issues and time zone confusion for some affected iOS users.

Apple has also released a 7.0.3 software update for the third-generation Apple TV.

Tags: iOS, iOS 8.1.3
Related Forum: iOS 8

Popular Stories

Verizon New

Verizon is Down: iPhones Show 'SOS' Mode Due to Network Outage [Resolved]

Wednesday January 14, 2026 10:18 am PST by
Verizon is experiencing a major outage across the U.S. today, with hundreds of thousands of customers reporting issues with the network on the website Downdetector. There are also complaints across Reddit and other social media platforms. iPhone users and others with Verizon service are generally unable to make phone calls, send text messages, or use data over 5G or LTE due to the outage....
iPhone Top Left Hole Punch Face ID Feature Purple

New Leak Reveals iPhone 18 Pro Display Sizes, Under-Screen Face ID, and More

Wednesday January 14, 2026 7:09 am PST by
While the iPhone 18 Pro models are still around eight months away, a leaker has shared some alleged details about the devices. In a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo this week, the account Digital Chat Station said the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will have the same 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display sizes as the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Consistent with previous...
iPhone Top Left Hole Punch Face ID Feature Purple

iPhone 18 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 12 New Features

Thursday January 15, 2026 10:56 am PST by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not expected to launch for another eight months, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we have recapped 12 features rumored for the iPhone 18 Pro models, as of January 2026: The same overall design is expected, with 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display sizes, and a "plateau" housing three rear cameras Under-screen Face ID...
2024 iPhone Boxes Feature

Apple Adjusts Trade-In Values for iPhones, Macs, and More

Thursday January 15, 2026 11:19 am PST by
Apple today updated its trade-in values for select iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch models. Trade-ins can be completed on Apple's website, or at an Apple Store. The charts below provide an overview of Apple's current and previous trade-in values in the United States, according to the company's website. Most of the values declined slightly, but some of the Mac values increased. iPhone ...
maxresdefault

Google Gemini-Powered Siri Will Reportedly Have These 7 New Features

Tuesday January 13, 2026 7:52 pm PST by
Apple and Google this week announced that Gemini will help power a more personalized Siri, and The Information has provided more details. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. As soon as this spring, the report said the revamped version of Siri will be able to… Answer more factual/world knowledge questions in a conversational manner Tell more stories Provide...

Top Rated Comments

marvz Avatar
143 months ago
Didn't install it yet but battery life is already worse than before...
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cwosigns Avatar
143 months ago
Strange... I'm not having any battery issues... After installing 8.1.3 on my Samsung Galaxy, battery life jumped to 80 hours of usage and web browsing. My only complaint there, is that I haven't been able to get any sleep since this battery refuses to die. :eek:

Only issue so far, is that when I installed 8.1.3 on my iPhone 6, my the phone spontaneously bent itself upon restarting during the install process. I've never seen anything like it. The phone was laying flat on the counter receiving the update through iTunes. Suddenly the phone started twitching, and then it popped up in the air a few inches, the two ends made some kind of gyrations, and then the phone landed back on the counter shaped like a V or tent. The acrobatics were cool. :cool:

On the amazing side, the screen on the iPhone 6 is not shattered. And the phone still works great. I've observed battery life improvement of 90 hours. My only complaint is that the phone no longer fits comfortably in my pocket. :o

Otherwise, great update Apple. :D

I miss the down vote button.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
hlfway2anywhere Avatar
143 months ago
It makes it hard to use warez/cracked apps or brag about how cool you are because you like running older software full of bugs and exploits.

^ oh look, someone who thinks jailbreaking is all about piracy.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mtzalex Avatar
143 months ago
iMessage fix

Please fix all the problems related to third party keyboards in iMessage!! Getting tired!
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SMIDG3T Avatar
143 months ago
I just updated to 8.1.2. I guess I pass on this one.

What's wrong in updating again?
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Cloudsurfer Avatar
143 months ago
3rd party keyboard improvements or GTFO.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)