Apple Releases iOS 9.3.1, Bringing a Fix for the Link Crashing Bug Introduced in 9.3

By AppleVis, 31 March, 2016

Member of the AppleVis Editorial Team

Apple has today released iOS 9.3.1 to the public, bringing a fix for the web link crashing bug that many users have been experiencing since updating to iOS 9.3.

According to AppleInsider, this bug was “related to an iOS 9 feature called Universal Links, which allow third-party app developers to have certain domain names open links directly into their app. This means links tapped in apps like Safari, Mail, Messages and more will bypass Safari and open the content directly in an iOS app.”

At this time it is unknown whether this release includes any additional bug fixes or under-the-hood improvements. However, coming so soon after the release of iOS 9.3, it seems unlikely that this update will address any of the known accessibility bugs present in iOS 9.3. Of course, we would love to be proved wrong. So, if you spot any accessibility-related changes in iOS 9.3.1, please do let us know in the comments below.

iOS 9.3.1 is available via Over-the-Air Update (Settings> General> Software Update) or from iTunes on the Mac or PC. As always, we would encourage you to make a backup before installing this update.

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By Fatima.Hamoud10 on Thursday, April 7, 2016 - 23:42

Wait, how could Apple release iOS 9.3.1 without releasing any iOS 9.3.1 Betas?

This happens quite often, particularly when an urgent bug fix release is needed.

These X.X.1 releases usually don't affect how apps work so betas are not necessary.

I believe iOS 9.0.1 and 9.0.2 were also released without betas.

Cheers!

By Rafal on Thursday, April 7, 2016 - 23:42

Hi all,
I had a strange issue with the iOS update. On March 21st, I upgraded my iPhone to iOS 9.3. Yesterday, being prompted by the rumours about the new iOsS version, I checked the status and I could again update my iPhone to iOS 9.3. The difference was that this version weighed 1.4 gb instead previous 299 mb. This update was only visible on my iPhone and not on my iPod. After this upgrade, I got a notification about iOS 9.3.1. What has happened? Please note that I only update my devices through over the air and I neither use iTunes nor jailbreak my devices.
Thanks for explanation.

By alex wallis on Thursday, April 7, 2016 - 23:42

Hi, wondering is anyone else experiencing problems clearing notifications from the notification center? I am running into a problem since 9.3 where I tap on clear section, it asks me to confirm, I tap clear notifications, but they don't go away they just sit there. flicking down to the dismiss notification option on the rotor doesn't work either.
I have done some googling and found a thread from a sighted user experiencing exactly the same problem, I contacted apple accessibility as at first till I found this thread I thought it might be VoiceOver specific, but they were unable to reproduce the issue.
I pointed them to the thread and they still claim there is no problem, as usual with apple they suggested I should set up as new, but I don't want to do this as then I will lose all my content messages etc, and I really do think there is a problem, my work around is to toggle the group by app setting and then I seem able to clear them but when I toggle it off again they sometimes come back.
Just wondering if anyone else is experiencing the same issues? its so annoying I am thinking of just setting is so that none of my apps display notifications in notification center seeing as apple claim there is no problem. I am running 9.3.1 on a 6s plus, and the sighted user who's thread I found is also using a 6s plus.

By alex wallis on Thursday, April 7, 2016 - 23:42

thanks for the idea, unfortunately there will be one thing I lose, this is that I have a setting which has carried over from a jailbreak where the quality of my wifi signal is shown as a number, if I reset this will be lost, I know from past experience, having cellular and wifi signal displayed as numbers instead of bars is far more precise because you get a real sense of the quality which you don't get just from bars. unfortunately there is no official way to activate this setting for wifi only for cellular bars, so I want to keep this particular jailbreak related setting, no idea how it managed to survive in an unjailbroken phone but it has. and I know your probably thinking this could be the cause of my problems, it isn't I have had this particular setting in place for years going from jailbroken to non jailbroken devices and clearing of notifications worked fine up till 9.3. Of course once a jailbreak comes out I can then install it, reset settings and then reenable this setting but till then I don't want to reset.

By Ken Downey on Thursday, April 7, 2016 - 23:42

Isn't that one of the things you set up "dialling pound 12345 or whatever? I don't think it's jailbreak related at all.

By Ken Downey on Thursday, April 7, 2016 - 23:42

And I think you can search for the term field test in applevis site and it should show you how to get the setting back if I remember rightly.

By alex wallis on Thursday, April 7, 2016 - 23:42

Hi Ken thanks for the thought, when you use the dial pad to activate field test mode it won't activate if wifi is enabled, some how the boss prefs cydia tweek is able to activate so that both the cellular signal strength and wifi signal strength show as numbers, when you activate using the dial pad it will only activate numbers for cellular signal.

By charles on Thursday, April 7, 2016 - 23:42

After updating to 9.3.1, I was asked to create an added level of security by using a 6-digit code, provided by Apple. It is a good idea, and it works. Now, when you access your Apple account by going into Game Center, the app store to purchase, your account to make changes and so on, you have to enter your Apple ID password, then the 6-digit code if you are doing this for the first time with an iDevice.

Also, since updating to firmware 9.3.1, I am having an issue with Dice World after a "critical update" the other day. Voice-Over speaks one fewer dice than I roll on all games. If anyone has suggestions on how to fix this, I would appreciate knowing of the fix, if you have found one.

You have added what's called "two-factor auffentication." To me I think that's a great security feature for your Apple Id. Did you have to answer your security questions in order to make this change?

By Mattie SV on Thursday, April 7, 2016 - 23:42

Hello all!
Has anyone else encountered a bug where in the US holiday calendar does not have any alerts even when you enable the setting and also there are no notifications for this calendar? I even set default times for this calendar but still there are no alerts or notifications on holidays. Also when you ask Siri what is on my calendar this week if there is a holiday if she ask you if you want to hear more about it and you say yes she will say checking and then the Siri screen will freeze and you have to get out of the screen? Thanks!

By peter on Thursday, April 7, 2016 - 23:42

I was disappointed to see that neither the 9.3 or 9.3.1 release fixed the bug in which when dictating with VoiceOver turned on, VO repeats the entered text before leaving dictation mode. Thus not only is the dictated text entered, but so is whatever text is echoed by VoiceOver.

When I wrote to Apple Accessibility about this they said to turn VoiceOver speech off with the three finger double tap before starting dictation and then do the three finger double tap again to turn VoiceOver speech back on again when dictation is done.

Although that works, it is really a bit awkward. I hope other users will write to Apple about this so that this bug can get fixed soon.

--Pete