Apple Releases iOS 9.3.1 With Fix for Web Link Crashing Bug - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Releases iOS 9.3.1 With Fix for Web Link Crashing Bug

by

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.

Related Forum: iOS 9

Popular Stories

iPhone 18 Pro Rumored Colors

What's Coming in September: New iPhones, Apple Watches and More

Thursday August 13, 2026 4:20 pm PDT by
Apple will introduce at least five new devices at its iPhone-centric event next month, and it's also possible we'll get devices waiting on Siri AI like the Apple TV. iPhone 18 Pro The iPhone 18 Pro is going to look like the iPhone 17 Pro, but with a smaller Dynamic Island. It's getting some internal updates, including a new Wide camera with a variable aperture for more control over lighting ...
Read Full Article • 24 comments
Everything New Your iPhone Can Do on iOS 27 Feature 1

30 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 27

Friday August 14, 2026 6:24 am PDT by
Apple will release iOS 27 in September, and despite the company's focus this year on refining its flagship operating system and nixing bugs, there are still many additional features on the way, not least of which is Apple's new context-aware Siri, re-tooled for the generative AI era. This year's major iPhone software update isn't all about AI, though, as the following feature list...
Read Full Article • 33 comments
iPhone 17 One Year Later Thumb 1

Should You Buy an iPhone 17 Now or Wait for iPhone 18?

Friday August 14, 2026 12:15 pm PDT by
For the first time since Apple started selling standard and "Pro" iPhones, we're not going to get an entry-level iPhone model this fall. Apple doesn't plan to release an iPhone 18 in September, and will only launch the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and foldable iPhone Ultra. The lower-cost iPhone 18 won't come out until spring 2027. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more ...
Read Full Article • 82 comments

Top Rated Comments

gsmornot Avatar
gsmornot
135 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)
A
arnoz
135 months ago
I'll wait a couple days before installing that one...
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SMIDG3T Avatar
SMIDG3T
135 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)
I
IPPlanMan
135 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)
You are the One Avatar
You are the One
135 months ago
:mad::):D Have You Hugged Your Mac Today?
Every day!
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
O
OneTokenRing...
135 months ago
iPhone 6plus - bug did not show
iPad Air 2 - bug showed

Bookingdotcom - was once installed but removed from both devices at some point long before 9.3

Some sort of plist or cache for the app must still have caused the issue on iPad Air2. Not sure why iPhone was spared.

As for software freeze. I just can't see in today's climate of always adding features to keep users, stockholders and market share happy and growing that any company could do that. Bugs are going to get released. Known or unknown. It's just how things have become.

Every platform, every vendor, every device being created will suffer some form of an issue. Millions/Billions lines of code. Millions of programs/apps. Billions of devices. Billions of parts.

Tbh it's amazing that it all holds together as well as it does from concept to production to end user. One tiny defect in raw materials, programming, assembly, shipping, use etc can ripple thru in ways no one can predict.

I work as a technology integrator and use a wide array of products and manufacturers. I run into issues and problems daily as unexpected cases arise where something in the system has unexpected behavior. You work thru it, try to replicate and move on.

Technology is not infallible, people are not infallible. Expecting perfection on this scale is not realistic.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments