iOS 9.3 Bug Prevents Some Users From Clicking Links

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Posted March 28, 2016 at 4:39pm by iClarified

Following the launch of iOS 9.3 some users are experiencing a bug which prevents them from opening links.

On Apple's discussion forums, user mizmantha describes the problem:

HELP! The Safari on my fairly new iphone 6s has gone haywire. Safari opens fine, and if you type in a direct URL, it will go to the website just fine. However, if i attempt to search any subject it will pull up the pages of websites, but will not allow me to connect to any of the links and when I select a link it then freezes and crashes safari. Additionally, if i try to open any weblink imbedded in an email, it again freezes and crashes both mail AND Safari. SO FUN!

The problem stretches to Messages and other apps as well. The Google Chrome browser is only able to open links if you choose to open them in a new tab.

Temporarily turning off Javascript appears to better the situation but is not a long term fix. Another possible solution is a clean restore to iOS 9.3 without restoring from backup.

lotuseve110 writes, After 2 hours at the Genius bar, 2 full reset and restores (which did not resolve the issue) and 3 layers of escalation later, the last recommendation was to do a full reset and SET UP THE DEVICE AS NEW. This is not a fix, this is a "we don't know what's wrong and don't want to look into it so just start over with a new phone."

Are you experiencing this problem with iOS 9.3? Let us know in the comments...

iOS 9.3 Bug Prevents Some Users From Clicking Links

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David - March 31, 2016 at 9:00am

Same issue here... Any updates?

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Gavin - March 31, 2016 at 7:16pm

Update now released to fix

manos - March 30, 2016 at 1:29pm

Clean restore will fix the problem....at least for me.

dagi - March 30, 2016 at 6:54am

try to us use BING :) not Google

clown - March 30, 2016 at 6:26am

They probably wont them to release the jb, so they can block key functions from working correct unless you update the device.

Antonio Júlio Sousa - March 30, 2016 at 1:35pm

Not even one of my Apple hardware is jailbroken. And I won't ever do that. Hence I do expect Apple just deliver what it is supposed to.

ANTONIO Júlio Sousa - March 30, 2016 at 1:37pm

And I do have the last release of iOS installed.

Akbar - March 30, 2016 at 6:17am

Yes. Same problem with me also. Safari not working. Plz help

Airlineguy - March 30, 2016 at 2:22am

I cannot open any links from emails, email freezes and crashes. I can search a topic but when the search engine displays results I cannot open the links. Everything just freezes.

Victor - March 30, 2016 at 2:42am

Yes this exactly what happens to me as well

Flapple - March 29, 2016 at 7:34pm

After a couple of days you start to realise how deep this issue reaches into the OS functionality.

António Júlio Sousa - March 29, 2016 at 7:47pm

To you, the one who comments and doesn't leave a name: Apple is the one going all the way saying almost everyone always update their iOS, always with impressive percentages (90% or so). We're just following their implicit guidance. And in fact is their responsibilitie to check if those basic features work.

Flapple - March 29, 2016 at 7:50pm

Well actually no, I was on 9.2.1 when it started happening 2 or 3 days ago. Links stopped working in safari, in chrome you can only open links in new tab, come functions which try to automatically launch other programs no longer work. I actually upgraded to 9.3 now in the vain hope that if might change the situation (it didn't of course).

Flapple - March 31, 2016 at 7:15pm

.......And normal service is resumed with 9.3.1

Stuart the brew - March 29, 2016 at 7:23pm

This is all bullshit, no links work through safari on 9.0.2 jail broken so no fix in sight at all it's totally screwed up my phone and what do we get nothing a big scam to update to 9.3 bollocks! They better get it working before I throw my phone at the wall

Ole - March 29, 2016 at 5:44pm

Same on my iPhone 6s. This is huge, an update is required fast!!!

AVI - March 29, 2016 at 7:29am

Same thing happened to me! Other bugs are appearing too! When I enter the settings and search for something the whole screen goes white and there is no option to go back. What happened to Apple?? Ui have never seen so many bugs!

gamerscul9870 - March 29, 2016 at 12:44pm

What happened? They've gotten better, but this is just one tiny flaw. At least try copying pasting methods.

Antonio Júlio Sousa - March 29, 2016 at 6:05pm

I wouldn't consider the inability of surfing the web a "tiny flaw". This is the primordial and most basic function you should be able to do with a "smart phone".

VuRaLTysZ - March 29, 2016 at 5:17am

I found a workaround solution to fix this problem. Here are the steps: 0- Always back up * * * 1- First of all downgrade your iOS device from 9.3 to 9.2.1 Then you will see some apps might be now show up on your cell phone, dont worry, all of them are there we just need a quick trick to bring them back. 2- DO NOT RESTORE YOUR IPHONE FROM THE BACKUP 3- Go to the settings of your iphone which is downgraded to ios9.2.1 and update your iphone. DO NOT USE iTUNES to update your iPhone. The above steps helped me, now i have iOS9.3 installed and have no issue at all... Hope that helps.

António Júlio sousa - March 29, 2016 at 6:08pm

A workaround is unacceptable. This should just work by default. Plain and simple!!

skylander - March 29, 2016 at 3:58am

That explains why I had that problem in the past couple days!

lollot - March 29, 2016 at 2:25am

That is why it always a good habit to wait for a few weeks before actuallty updating to the latest iOS version especially to those who use their iPhone for work and needs it to always function 100%. Saved me alot of times, from previous version and is now a requirement after iOS 6.

clown - March 29, 2016 at 1:53am

You could a comedy roast of just their updates.

clown - March 29, 2016 at 1:52am

I have the same problem. Best way to avoid it is get a different phone

jayrilogan - March 29, 2016 at 12:07am

yes i do,.i cant check my software,everytime i check my software updates always rosponse retry.

Pete Flamders - March 28, 2016 at 11:07pm

Same problem on iPhone 6 with 9.3 and soon after (like a few minutes) the update from nowhere my iPad Air2 that's on 9.2.1 (didn't update yet) started having the same issues!?!?

Ehab - March 28, 2016 at 10:44pm

Yeah I have the same problem on 9.3 :@

António Júlio Sousa - March 28, 2016 at 10:10pm

Try to click a link within a contact (there's an 'URL' field that you can edit for each contact and I had the Facebook link for everyone of my contacts there). It won't work. Safari won't open if I click the link.

António Júlio Sousa - March 28, 2016 at 10:11pm

Oh yes.... I have an iPhone 6.

Shelley - March 28, 2016 at 8:14pm

Same problem here, iPhone 6s, 2 months old, regretting getting it big time!!!! Tried everything suggested and no joy. If anyone gets any more work arounds please post!!!!

Bogdan - March 28, 2016 at 9:39pm

Please Steve, from up above , show the right way to captain Cook, because without you he has totally lost it.

gamerscul9870 - March 28, 2016 at 9:52pm

The only thing that deserves to come out of a grave is your act and get it together! It's only a minor flaw that Apple will eventually fix, but what's this meltdown here? Steve making iOS also had flaws to even if you argue about failed Apple products.

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