Some iPhone Apps Receive Mysterious Update 'From Apple'

[MacRumors]

Apple appears to be quietly updating some apps, based on curious new update notes that have appeared on the App Store.

Over the last week, some app updates have included notes that suggest the update is coming from Apple rather than an app developer. "This update from Apple will improve the functionality of this app. No new features are included," reads the description.

Some of the apps that have been updated include Candy Crush Soda Saga, Sentry Mobile, Catan Universe, Bluetti, Mortal Kombat, Duet Display, VLC, and many more.

It's not clear what functionality Apple is improving with each app update, if any. One developer on Reddit said that Apple inserted the text into an app update that had the same version number and content as a prior update.

The update text is appearing on apps that have not been updated in some time, as well as apps that received recent updates, so it's not clear what the apps have in common. When analyzing the code of one of the apps that received an Apple update, MacRumors could not find what had changed.

Article Link: Some iPhone Apps Receive Mysterious Update 'From Apple'

 

[jmh600cbr]

This is incredibly odd. Could be an api that deprecated but function was replaced by a new one?

 

[Corefile]

Nice try, Apple. There's zero chance in hell I'll download candy crush.

 

[MrRom92]

I noticed the PayPal app was updated earlier today however it still won’t let me actually download it

 

[zantafio]

the Palantir plug in.

 

[iDento]

I bet it’s an AI employee that’s acting weird, and no one can figure out how to stop “him”.

 

[platinumaqua]

I have seen this before a couple of years ago. Probably to update the FairPlay certificates so it can continue to work after a certain time

 

[Non-Euclidean]

Any post with a subject like this needs to have the X-Files theme song auto playing.

 

[4 bit 9d api]

Then update Balatro to fix the Apple Pencil functionality that broke in 26.1.

 

[Reason077]

This is incredibly odd. Could be an api that deprecated but function was replaced by a new one?

That seems unlikely. APIs that are “deprecated”, as opposed to removed entirely, are still present and supported by the OS - they’re just not supposed to be used by new apps.

In the past, App Store submissions contained LLVM “bitcode” that enabled the App Store to potentially recompile apps to support new CPU architectures etc. However, bitcode was removed in 2024 and Apple no longer uses or supports it.

So, I’m guessing it’s likely just some change in the way the App Store package itself is configured or signed. Someone would have to get hold of an old and new package and run a diff on it to figure out exactly what changed.

 

[Reason077]

Any post with a subject like this needs to have the X-Files theme song auto playing.

Indeed. The truth is out there.

 

[tonmischa]

Maybe there is just some database glitch in the App Store? And instead of the actual update text, it displays just some generic "placeholder" update text?
Have any of the affected developers said anything?

 

[Pinterra]

That seems unlikely. APIs that are “deprecated”, as opposed to removed entirely, are still present and supported by the OS - they’re just not supposed to be used by new apps.

In the past, App Store submissions contained LLVM “bitcode” that enabled the App Store to potentially recompile apps to support new CPU architectures etc. However, bitcode was removed in 2024 and Apple no longer uses or supports it.

So, I’m guessing it’s likely just some change in the way the App Store package itself is configured or signed. Someone would have to get hold of an old and new package and run a diff on it to figure out exactly what changed.

This absolutely makes the most sense. Much more than API. Unless there’s some driver level fix, à la what Nvidia does with games?

 

[NapoleonIV]

I have seen this before a couple of years ago. Probably to update the FairPlay certificates so it can continue to work after a certain time

Yes, this is most likely a certificate update. It happens every so often.

 

[Happy_John]

This is incredibly odd. Could be an api that deprecated but function was replaced by a new one?

Sounds the most plausible. I’m probably being overly optimistic, but maybe this bodes well for the notion that 27 will be, across the board, focused on “under the hood” improvements rather than being “lots of new features, bells and whistles”.

 

[longofest]

I have seen this before a couple of years ago. Probably to update the FairPlay certificates so it can continue to work after a certain time

This is the way.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Every App now gets the U2 Album pre-installed!

 

[lepetitnicolas]

BREAKING NEWS
We finally know what the mysterious update was : Apple is gifting in all of the apps on your iOS devices "Songs of Innocence" by U2 for free. Totally free, you have nothing to pay, it's a gift for you and you won't be able to mute it, uninstall it or hide it. Even if you try to turn of your iOS device while it will be playing it will prevent it to turn off. Be happy, it's free.

 

[lepetitnicolas]

Every App now gets the U2 Album pre-installed!

😺 ahahahaha we thought exactly the same thing at the same moment ! My congratulations to you Sir

 

[CarlJ]

Any post with a subject like this needs to have the X-Files theme song auto playing.

Thanks, now that'll be stuck in my head for the next half hour.

 

[goonie4life9]

Once again, Apple’s obsession with secrecy strikes. Why Apple can’t just say why they are updating an app is beyond me.

 

[schappim]

Even though the Bitcode days are behind us (shipping Apple our semi-compiled form of apps), Apple still does app thinning (device-specific slicing) and asset optimisation.

 

[embot27]

Australia + other region social media age verification laws?

 

[DocMultimedia]

I saw that message with a few apps I updated this week. I always do manual updating just to look at the notes.

 

[insomniac86]

It’s just updated certs. Doesn’t need an article.