Apple has released iOS 11.2.6 for compatible iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch models, tvOS 11.2.6 for Apple TV, watchOS 4.2.3 for Apple Watch, and macOS 10.13.3 supplement update for Mac devices. The new software versions are mainly designed to address the Telugu character bug that was crashing Apple devices, including iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac machines, and blocking access to the pre-installed Messages app as well as third-party apps such as Facebook Messenger, Gmail, and Twitter.
As per the official iOS changelog, the iOS 11.2.6 update fixes the issue that was allowing certain character sequences to crash apps. These character sequences include the Telugu character that was last week reported to crash iPhone and iPad models when it is received or even pasted into a text area. Apple acknowledged the issue following the numerous reports and confirmed a fix would be issued shortly. The latest developer and public beta versions of iOS were not affected by the issue. Moreover, the new iOS update resolves the bug that was making some third-party apps fail to connect to external accessories. The security update contents of iOS 11.2.6 can be found here.
You can download the iOS 11.2.6 update on your iPhone 5s and above models, iPad Air and above models, iPad mini 2 and above models, or the sixth generation iPod touch. To download the update, you need to go to Settings > General > Software Update and then follow the on-screen instructions. Your device should be running on a Wi-Fi connection to download the over-the-air (OTA) update. Also, it is advisable to back up your data before beginning the update process.
Similar to the iOS 11.2.6 update, watchOS 4.2.3 also fixes the issue that was causing certain characters to crash apps. The update is designed for Apple Watch models, including the Series 1, Series 2, and Series 3. You can install the latest update on your Apple Watch by heading to the My Watch tab on the Watch app and then going to General > Software Update. The Watch needs to have at least 50 percent of battery charge to enable the installation process. Also, it is recommended to keep it on the charging dock while installing the new update. Your iPhone will also need to be in close proximity to the Apple Watch and will need to be on Wi-Fi. The Apple Watch should restart twice before the update is completely installed, and you need to enter the Watch passcode if prompted, after beginning the update and then follow the prompts from your iPhone.
In addition to the new iOS and watchOS updates, Apple has released tvOS 11.2.6 as a minor update with a focus on performance improvements and bug fixes to address issues that were discovered after the tvOS 11.2.5 update last month. There are also some security tweaks to deliver a more secure TV watching experience than before.
To update your Apple TV with the latest update, you need to open the Settings app on your TV and then navigate to Settings > Systems > Software Update. Once this is done, the Apple TV will search for the update and then you can proceed to download tvOS 11.2.6 by following the on-screen instructions.
For Mac machines, Apple has released macOS High Sierra 10.13.3 supplement update that also addresses to the Telugu character bug. You can check the security update contents of macOS High Sierra 10.13.3 supplement update from here.
To download the new macOS supplement update on your Mac device, you need to launch the App Store and then search for "macOS" (or go directly to this link from a macOS machine). Click the Download button on the App Store listing and then enter your Apple ID credentials in the provided box. Once downloaded, an information window will pop up on your screen. Click on Continue and wait until the update automatically installs on your device.
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