Apple Executive Responds to Annoying iOS 16 Copy and Paste Prompt: 'Absolutely Not Expected Behavior'

[MacRumors]

Apple has responded to user complaints regarding an annoying pop-up in iOS 16 that asks for user permission if an app wants to access the clipboard to paste text, images, and more.

The new prompt was added to iOS 16 as a privacy measure for users, requiring that apps ask for permission to access the clipboard, which may have sensitive data. The prompt, however, has become an annoyance for users as they install iOS 16, as it constantly asks for permission whenever they wish to paste something into an app.

As user annoyance with the behavior boils high, Apple has finally responded, saying the constant pop-up is not how the feature is intended to work. MacRumors reader Kieran sent an email to Craig Federighi and Tim Cook, complaining about the constant prompt and advocating for Apple to treat access to the clipboard the same way iOS treats third-party access to location, camera, microphone, and more.

Ron Huang, a senior manager at Apple, joined the email thread saying the pop-up is not supposed to appear every time a user attempts to paste. "This is absolutely not expected behavior, and we will get to the bottom of it," Huang said. Huang added that this behavior is not something Apple has seen internally but that Kieran is "not the only one" experiencing it.

Responding to the suggestion that clipboard access should be added within the Settings app on a per-app basis, Huang said it would make a "good improvement" and added that Apple "certainly need to fix and make apps like Mail just work even without this setting, but it's nonetheless helpful for apps which users want to share data with even if they didn't initiate it." "Stay tuned," he added.

Huang is listed as one of several inventors of the feature in a patent application dated January 29, 2021.

Apple is currently beta testing iOS 16.1 with developers and public beta testers, but it'll likely be weeks before the update is ready to ship. The latest iOS 16 update for the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max is iOS 16.0.1, which addressed, among other things, a bug impacting iMessage and FaceTime activation. All other compatible devices are still running the initial version of iOS 16 released last week.

The clipboard access bug is one of several features Apple could fix in an update to iOS 16, including reports of excessive battery drain and an issue facing iPhone 14 Pro models becoming unresponsive after data is transferred from an older iPhone.

Article Link: Apple Executive Responds to Annoying iOS 16 Copy and Paste Prompt: 'Absolutely Not Expected Behavior'

 

[adamw]

How could Apple not be aware of this issue during testing?

 

[ghostface147]

Lolololol.....Apple is doomed! No, these are just annoyances that will be corrected. However there do seem to be more annoyances than usual compared to some more recent launches.

 

[omglolbbq]

Hold up. This was a patent-worthy feature!?

 

[sinoka56]

Patent application? they can patent a confirmation pop-up?

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

Lolololol.....Apple is doomed! No, these are just annoyances that will be corrected. However there do seem to be more annoyances than usual compared to some more recent launches.

Not really.
iOS 8.0.1 literally disabled cellular data, iOS11 had an update released in the middle of the night at 2 AM because it was so critical.

 

[DMG35]

Lolololol.....Apple is doomed! No, these are just annoyances that will be corrected. However there do seem to be more annoyances than usual compared to some more recent launches.

I think there are waaaaay less annoyances than recent launches.

 

[Freida]

More like they patented the system around it. The pop-up is the last step.

Patent application? they can patent a confirmation pop-up?

 

[SteveJUAE]

Will take ages to be fixed all developers are on vacation on Dynamic Island and have limited access to their mail

 

[thadoggfather]

Software quality control is impeccable though! How can it be

 

[antiprotest]

The weird thing is, I have pasted a bit across apps and also with hand-off and I have not seen this pop up to ask for permission even once. So while others are getting this too often, I am not seeing this at all on iOS 16.

In any case, this should be like any other category under privacy. For each app: always allow, allow once (ask every time), never allow.

 

[thadoggfather]

The weird thing is, I have pasted a bit across apps and also with hand-off and I have not seen this pop up to ask for permission even once. So while others are getting this too often, I am not seeing this at all on iOS 16.

In any case, this should be like any other category under privacy. For each app: always allow, allow once (ask every time), never allow.

Are you on an iPhone that isnt a 14 variant? That may be why I think its more prevalent with the new devices

 

[Mrkevinfinnerty]

This is fine ..

 

[Henry S]

While they're fixing this, can they also get rid of the Report Junk prompt every time you delete a text message?

 

[MayaUser]

Apple also should address the camera issue ASAP

 

[PsykX]

I had an issue in one of my apps when I was developing it, when I just wanted to know if something was in the pasteboard or not, it did trigger the popup because somehow it needed to access the content of the pasteboard. It was a bit confusing, but after searching, there was another API for that and it ended up being OK.

 

[therunningman]

Probably in the minority on this one, but I'm OK with the feature.

 

[walnuts]

I'm confused- I thought the whole point was that the phone was highlighting when an app was reading the clipboard contents without the user's consent. It seems to me:

• The only real way to do this is to alert the user that the clipboard is being used- I'm not sure there is a clear way to do this without badgering the user. Maybe there is some way that the app proves it makes the user aware that it is pasting (if an app uses the clipboard contents, there has to be a clear "paste" action for an app to use the clipboard, or the system throws up the alert)?
• Wasn't this (or a very similar feature) already issued with iOS 15? It was annoying for a while but went away
• I've had very few alerts this time around (maybe what I already cleared with iOS 15 was remembered?

 

[nortonandreev]

They should add options to allow once or always allow.

 

[MAlbi]

(Expected) Excessive battery drain (A feature implemented also in previous versions including IOS14). Please do be sceptical about arguments starring fairytales about expected extensive background computing related to the upgrade. Definitely take a backup before upgrade. Curiously waiting at 15.6.1. with old phone.

 

[antiprotest]

Are you on an iPhone that isnt a 14 variant? That may be why I think its more prevalent with the new devices

I have iOS 16 on an iPhone X and a iPhone 14 Pro. I have not seen this pop up even once.

Am I supposed to have seen it and this is another bug? Did I luck out and got a not annoying version of the bug?

 

[andrewxgx]

yeah, reading beta release notes i thought this will be per app permission ala GPS access, not everytime popup
good job, Tim, good job

 

[joehohoho]

The weird thing is, I have pasted a bit across apps and also with hand-off and I have not seen this pop up to ask for permission even once. So while others are getting this too often, I am not seeing this at all on iOS 16.

In any case, this should be like any other category under privacy. For each app: always allow, allow once (ask every time), never allow.

Yeah is odd. I'm only getting it on one particular app and I'm not even trying to paste anything when it pops up!

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

I actually like this feature. I don't think it's annoying and it makes it easier.

 

[citysnaps]

OMG!!! A software bug was revealed during a new OS update. Planet Earth just responded with an additional 20 degree tilt due to forum outrage. Tsunamis expected in the next hour - run for the hills. Stat!