Apple Releases iOS 9.3.1 With Fix for Web Link Crashing Bug

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Apple today released iOS 9.3.1 to the public, marking the first update to iOS 9 since iOS 9.3 launched on March 21. iOS 9.3.1 comes just over a week after the launch of iOS 9.3 and likely brings a fix for a significant web link crashing issue that has been affecting many iOS users.

ios931linkfix
Today's iOS 9.3.1 release is available as an over-the-air update for all iOS 9 users and it can also be downloaded through iTunes. iOS 9.3.1 is the seventh update to iOS 9, following iOS 9.0.1, iOS 9.0.2, iOS 9.1, iOS 9.2, iOS 9.2.1, and iOS 9.3.

Shortly after iOS 9.3 was released, a number of iPhone and iPad users found Safari, Mail, Messages, Notes, Chrome and some other pre-installed and third-party apps would crash or freeze after tapping or long pressing on a web link. While most users affected were on iOS 9.3, some customers on earlier versions of iOS also complained of crashing problems.

The exact underlying cause of the problem has not been discovered, but there is speculation that it is related to Universal Links and the Shared Web Credentials daemon, which allows apps and websites to share login credentials. No quick fix has been available, but shortly after the bug was publicized, Apple said it was working on a fix and has made good on that promise in the iOS 9.3.1 update.

Any other changes found in the iOS 9.3.1 update will be listed below.

Top Rated Comments

gsmornot Avatar
gsmornot
67 months ago
No matter what anyone thinks about the bug in the first place you have to give some credit for acknowledging the issue and sending out a fix in a reasonable time.
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
arnoz Avatar
arnoz
67 months ago
I'll wait a couple days before installing that one...
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SMIDG3T Avatar
SMIDG3T
67 months ago
Glad they are on it, but this really shouldn't happen with so many betas before general release.
It wouldn't have mattered if there were 100 betas, this issue was NOT present in the betas. They must have changed something between the last beta and the GM. Apple acknowledged there was an issue and released a patch. On Android, you'd be waiting months for a fix...
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
You are the One Avatar
You are the One
67 months ago
:mad::):D Have You Hugged Your Mac Today?
Every day!
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
IPPlanMan Avatar
IPPlanMan
67 months ago
I find 9.3 to be very reliable and stable for the days it has been out. One little bug does not mean they have lost a focus on stability. However, the amount of different products they have is a bit of a concern, but that is a different discussion.
One little bug? This affected the usability of Safari, Mail and any apps containing links for 6 days. My device was largely a brick for work.

At least with Antenna-Gate on the iPhone 4, you could still make a phone call. This was bigger than that.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
citysnaps Avatar
citysnaps
67 months ago
Reasonable time? Is 6 days reasonable?

By the way, an anonymous PR drone acknowledged the issue. I've yet to hear Tim or Craig make any kind of statement.
It's excellent considering the elusive nature of the bug, the need to get as much feedback from as many users as possible, to discover, reproduce, and understand what the problem is and how it is triggered, to developing a solution, to creating an internal beta test program engaging many users to verify the solution works, and then to ultimately roll it out to the masses.

Perhaps you were expecting a one day turn around?

Tim's admin will be soon calling to schedule a lunch with him at your convenience.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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