Apple made an unexpected software update available Thursday with a bug fix across devices, releasing macOS Sonoma 14.3.1, iOS 17.3.1, iPadOS 17.3.1 and watchOS 10.3.1 for users to install.
The fix relates to text that automatically duplicates or overlaps in various apps, like Safari, Mail and Messages.
Time to update: Apple fixes bug in macOS 14.3.1, iOS 17.3.1, iPad OS 17.3.1 and watchOS 10.3.1
Users have experienced problems with text duplicating or overlapping in various places for some time, according to various sources — and on Macs, iPhones, iPads and Apple Watches, apparently.
On each device, the incremental update says the same thing about what it’s fixing: “Text may unexpectedly duplicate or overlap while typing.”
The small fix comes a few weeks after recent releases like iOS 17.3 and macOS 14.3, significant updates following recent major software releases for devices.
How to update your OS:
Make sure your device is connected to Wi-Fi. On your device, go to Settings > General > Software Updates > and click Update Now or Update Tonight. You can update Apple Watch from your iPhone using the Watch app.
David Snow, an expert on Apple hardware and software, writes on a variety of technological and cultural topics for Cult of Mac. They include Apple news, technology buying guides, and features about computer setups and Apple TV shows and movies.
With 30 years of experience covering technology and other subjects, he has written and edited for numerous print and online publications, including CMP Media, TechTV.com, CNET, Wired News, Red Herring magazine, Law.com, The National Law Journal and Law Technology News magazine. Among other roles, he served as executive editor of the Law.com network of websites and editorial director, technology, for ALM Media.
Snow graduated with a B.A. from Syracuse University with majors in magazine journalism and psychology. While there, he worked as a reporter for The Daily Orange newspaper and associate editor of Equal Time magazine.
Founder of the blog At the Waterline, he can be reached on X (formerly Twitter) via @atthewaterline and on Mastodon via @dsnow.
