iOS 17.1 Beta 2 Fixes Messages Search Bug on iPhone 15 Models

A bug impacting search functionality in the Messages app for some iPhone 15 users appears to be fixed in the second beta of iOS 17.1 released this week.

iOS 17 Messages Feature
Some early adopters of iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro models have complained that the Messages app's search tool only displays recent messages after transferring content from another iPhone. The issue has been mentioned by several users across the MacRumors Forums and Reddit since the devices launched earlier this month.

The bug is present on all iOS 17 versions up to the first iOS 17.1 beta, but many affected users said it has been fixed as of the second iOS 17.1 beta. It may take a day or longer for the device to index and restore the older messages after installing the update. Some users said they needed to open the Settings app, tap on Messages, tap on Siri & Search, turn off all of the settings shown, restart the iPhone, and re-enable those settings to fix the issue.

iOS 17.1 is expected to be released in late October, so users not interested in installing the beta might have to wait a few more weeks for the fix.

(Thanks, Ray Wong!)

Related Forums: iOS 17, iPadOS 17

Popular Stories

m5 macbook pro deal

Why You Shouldn't Buy the Next MacBook Pro

Tuesday February 10, 2026 4:27 pm PST by
Apple is planning to launch new MacBook Pro models as soon as early March, but if you can, this is one generation you should skip because there's something much better in the works. We're waiting on 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, with few changes other than the processor upgrade. There won't be any tweaks to the design or the display, but later this...
iOS 26

Apple Releases iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3

Wednesday February 11, 2026 10:07 am PST by
Apple today released iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3, the latest updates to the iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 operating systems that came out in September. The new software comes almost two months after Apple released iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. According to Apple's release notes, ...
Apple Logo Zoomed

Apple Expected to Launch These 10+ Products Over the Coming Months

Tuesday February 10, 2026 6:33 am PST by
It has been a slow start to 2026 for Apple product launches, with only a new AirTag and a special Apple Watch band released so far. We are still waiting for MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, the iPhone 17e, a lower-cost MacBook with an iPhone chip, long-rumored updates to the Apple TV and HomePod mini, and much more. Apple is expected to release/update the following products...
iPhone 16e Bottom Crop

Apple Reportedly Unveiling a New iPhone Next Week

Tuesday February 10, 2026 1:51 pm PST by
Apple plans to announce the iPhone 17e on Thursday, February 19, according to Macwelt, the German equivalent of Macworld. The report said the iPhone 17e will be announced in a press release on the Apple Newsroom website, so do not expect an event for this device specifically. The iPhone 17e will be a spec-bumped successor to the iPhone 16e. Rumors claim the device will have four key...
Apple Logo Black

Apple Acquires New Database App

Wednesday February 11, 2026 6:44 am PST by
Apple acquired Canadian graph database company Kuzu last year, it has emerged. The acquisition, spotted by AppleInsider, was completed in October 2025 for an undisclosed sum. The company's website was subsequently taken down and its Github repository was archived, as is commonplace for Apple acquisitions. Kuzu was "an embedded graph database built for query speed, scalability, and easy of ...

Top Rated Comments

Mr. Dee Avatar
31 months ago
My iPhone X is stuck at iOS 16, but if it supported iOS 17, I wouldn't be upgrading until late summer 2024 anyway.
I am realizing, both the hardware and software these days, its best to wait a while before upgrading.
I won't purchase the iPhone 16 Pro Max until iOS 18.3.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tobefirst ⚽️ Avatar
31 months ago
Ooh. Interesting. I think I was one of the ones affected. I just assumed I was losing my mind. I guess that still might be true.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Joe Rossignol Avatar
31 months ago

Thank goodness. Very frustrating losing all my message photos and links, making search useless.

Can anyone else confirm that this truly fixes the problem?
@Banglazed just commented in another thread that Apple told them via Feedback app that there was a change/fix implemented in iOS 17.1 beta 2.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Risco Avatar
31 months ago

@Banglazed just commented in another thread that Apple told them via Feedback app that there was a change/fix implemented in iOS 17.1 beta 2.
Brilliant, I will wait until final release. At least there is now a fix.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Risco Avatar
31 months ago
Thank goodness. Very frustrating losing all my message photos and links, making search useless.

Can anyone else confirm that this truly fixes the problem?
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
31 months ago
I have messages dating back to 2013. With iOS 17 and my iP15Pro, messages were indexed to Aug 2023, and with iOS 17 beta 2, it indexed to 6/30/2021. I downloaded iOS 17 beta 3 last night, reset Siri and Search settings, restarted, plugged in my phone, and I woke up with messages indexed back to 2013.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)