Critical Bug Leads to Apple Pulling iOS 17.3 Beta 2, Affecting iPhone Users. In a sudden turn of events, Apple has withdrawn the iOS 17.3 beta 2 update following the discovery of a critical bug. Users who had been looking forward to downloading the latest beta were met with its absence, a decision taken by Apple to prevent further issues. The bug in question is particularly severe as it prevents the iPhone from restarting, leaving the device stuck and necessitating a complete reset.
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The issue, as reported by various American tech outlets and echoed by users on social media platforms like Twitter, appears to be linked to the ‘back tap’ function. This feature, which allows users to perform certain actions by tapping the back of the iPhone, seems to be at the heart of the problem. Intriguingly, some developers have noted that iPhones with the back tap feature disabled were also susceptible to the bug, indicating a broader issue with the iOS 17.3 beta.
Initially, it seemed that only the latest iPhone models, namely the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15, were affected by this startup loop. However, as more reports came in, it became evident that the issue was not confined to specific models but was widespread across various iPhone versions.
In response to this critical issue, Apple has promptly removed the problematic update from its servers, mitigating the risk of more users encountering this startup loop. For those who have already installed the beta and are facing the issue, developer Guilherme Rambo has suggested a workaround:
- Download the iOS 17.3 beta 1 IPSW file.
- Connect your iPhone to a Mac.
- Enter recovery mode by pressing the volume up, then volume down, and finally holding the side button.
- Perform a restore from the IPSW file by holding the option key while clicking the restore button in iTunes.
It’s important to note that this process will completely erase the contents of the iPhone. As an alternative, tools like iMazing (a paid app) or Apple Configurator can be used to restore the device without losing data, as recommended by Rambo and other experienced users.
This incident highlights the inherent risks associated with downloading and installing beta versions of software, which may contain bugs and glitches not yet present in the final, polished releases.