iOS 11 Predictive Text Bug Automatically Changes 'I' to 'A[?]' for Some Users [Updated]

[MacRumors]

A growing number of iOS 11 users have been encountering a strange predictive text bug over the course of the last few days, with the problem outlined on the MacRumors forums.

It seems some users are seeing "A[?]" as the first recommended predictive text word when using the iOS keyboard, and whenever "I" is typed, it autocorrects to A[?].

It's not clear what's causing the bug, but a fair number of MacRumors readers and Twitter users seem to be experiencing the problem. Not everyone is affected, though, and we have been unable to replicate the issue on our own devices.

It may potentially be linked to emoji, as a strange "I" character also appears under the frequently used emoji for some customers who are affected.

The problem seems to be affecting devices running both iOS 11.0.3 and iOS 11.1, and some users are also seeing the odd predictive text show up on Macs, too, as predictive text is available on all devices via iCloud.

Turning off predictive text is a reliable way of putting an end to the issue, as is using a third-party keyboard, but neither of these options are long term solutions for customers who want to use the full-featured built-in keyboard.

Resetting the keyboard dictionary does not appear to fix the issue, nor does a device restart or reset. One MacRumors reader who got in touch with Apple Support about the issue was told that Apple is aware of the problem and working on a fix.

Update: Apple's support staff is recommending customers affected by this bug use text replacement as a temporary workaround.

To do this, go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement. Type in an uppercase "I" for the phrase, and a lowercase "i" as the replacement.

Article Link: iOS 11 Predictive Text Bug Automatically Changes 'I' to 'A[?]' for Some Users [Updated]

 

[zorinlynx]

You should try punching the [?] as there might be a coin or maybe even a 1-Up in it.

 

[RuffyYoshi]

Seems the quality control team has been fired since Cook took over. At least when it comes to iOS.

 

[budselectjr]

This is the current state of the great AI people like Musk are scared of. Haha.

 

[iPhysicist]

A[?] don’t have this bug!

 

[44267547]

Seems the quality control team has been fired since Cook took over. At least when it comes to iOS.

You're making it sound as if iOS is a compete failure. They have the best operating platform of any smart phone. We know it's not perfect and has glitches, it's nothing Apple can't rectify through patches.

 

[theheadguy]

You're making it sound as if iOS is a compete failure. They have the best operating platform of any smart phone. We know it's not perfect and has glitches, it's nothing Apple can't rectify through patches.

Not really. They're just making it seem like the quality control team was fired.

The inability to type "I" for a large number of users is a pretty significant flaw/bug to released in a GM version of an update. That's the main point. We're all already aware that things can be fixed with patches, or, guess what, better quality control in the first place.

 

[FelixDerKater]

Also “shore” to “shire”.

Thanks Frodo!

 

[44267547]

Not really. They're just making it seem like the quality control team was fired.

Disagree. Which was also a complete exaggeration using Cook as a Snark passive comment. Regardless, I understand iOS 11 was not entirely well recepted in some respects , but some are making out the smallest artifacts to be the biggest issues. Given Apples time frame when the actually repair these issues, it's more so in a timely fashion versus "Quality control." As Previously stated, plenty of versions of iOS had issues before iOS 11, it's not something thats not unheard of.

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

No issue here on the 6 devices I've tried.

Here come the "What's happened to Apple!?!?!?" comments.

 

[marioguarneros]

iOS 11 pretty much bricked my iPhone 6 (unresponsive screen), I am waiting for my new iPhone X but I am certainly worried about how the experience will actually be.

I’ve been on iPhones since the 3G, upgraded every year until I stopped on the 6, now going for the X as mentioned, I am genuinely concerned about this operating system release.

I don’t subscribe to conspiracy theories about Apple slowing down devices and all that which makes it worse because I definitely believe this is just poor quality programming or poor quality control.

iPhone and Apple was always about the best experience, not about specs that meant nothing, these days I’m not feeling it.

Let’s hope it was just a bump in the road.

Rooting for you Apple, I don’t want to change ecosystems, plus I believe in perpetuating and honouring Steve Jobs’ legacy with amazing experiences through Apple products.

 

[alphaod]

It's good thing don't see this problem at all�

 

[C DM]

Seems the quality control team has been fired since Cook took over. At least when it comes to iOS.

Not really. They're just making it seem like the quality control team was fired.

The inability to type "I" for a large number of users is a pretty significant flaw/bug to released in a GM version of an update. That's the main point. We're all already aware that things can be fixed with patches, or, guess what, better quality control in the first place.

It's not like even worse issues, let alone something like this, popped up when Steve Jobs was around (like, for example an iOS version actually almost crippling some iPhone models to the point that Steve Jobs had to publicly address it all and promise that an upcoming software update would resolve the issue).

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

I wish something would change my iPhone X shipping status on ATTs website from "in progress" to "shipped"

You can do that yourself. Just open up the dev tools/inspector and make the change.

After you do that, take a screenshot of it and send it to AT&T. Let us know what they do in response.

 

[Sheppard]

Apple Skynet

Made. Better.

 

[69Mustang]

No issue here on the 6 devices I've tried.

Here come the "What's happened to Apple!?!?!?" comments.

Preceded by the "I have 5,245,487 devices. No issues. No issues with friends either. Nor family."

We all have different issues affecting us in varying ways. No anecdote is absolute.

 

[hlfway2anywhere]

It’s happening to me on my iPad Pro 10.5” with smart keyboard. Very frustrating. Turning off predictive text feature did not solve it. Turning off auto-correct does.

 

[DarrenC4]

I have the issue on my phone. I added “I” as a keyboard short cut, problem solved for the time being.

 

[C DM]

I have the issue on my phone. I added “I” as a keyboard short cut, problem solved for the time being.

Interesting, it used to be that the keyboard text replacement shortcuts had to be at least 2 or 3 characters long, but looks like that's no longer the case (perhaps as of iOS 11?).

 

[jbizzybeetle]

6s plus kybd turning o to i for me for 2+ years.

 

[stephen1108]

Thanks for making the post guys. The more attention this gets, the better.

 

[Wanted797]

iOS 11 pretty much bricked my iPhone 6 (unresponsive screen), I am waiting for my new iPhone X but I am certainly worried about how the experience will actually be.

I’ve been on iPhones since the 3G, upgraded every year until I stopped on the 6, now going for the X as mentioned, I am genuinely concerned about this operating system release.

I don’t subscribe to conspiracy theories about Apple slowing down devices and all that which makes it worse because I definitely believe this is just poor quality programming or poor quality control.

I’ve been using iphone the same as you.

My 3G became unusable when the 4 came out. Only lasted 2 years. I’m currently on a 6s that’s slowed but still usable.

One thing Apple stupidly does now is still sell old model iPhones. Back then when the 4 came out you could no longer buy the 3GS. Today we’re still selling new iPhone 6’s and 6s’s.

 

[Laird Knox]

On the iPad I use a swipe gesture to add a question mark to a sentence. Lately I've been having an issue where it inserts a single quote between the sentence and the question mark. In other words shift-swipe-/ gives me:

How are you'?

instead of:

How are you?

 

[AppleMad98004]

Under Jobs these people would have been fired.

 

[tjleonard]

My phone capitalizes random words and that’s quite annoying. It doesn’t have a rhyme or reason...