Screen Freezing Glitch Found in iOS 17, Fixable with Simple Restart

Shortly after the announcement of the iPhone 15 lineup in September, Apple unveiled iOS 17 for its range of compatible smartphones. The initial release was marred by several issues, including connectivity problems, interface lag, and overheating, particularly with Apple's iOS 17 Launch Marred by Bugs and Screen Unresponsiveness Fixed by User Intervention.

Apple's September launch of iOS 17, contemporary with the unveiling of the new iPhone 15 series, was greeted with excitement that soon turned into frustration as users encountered a variety of bugs. These ranged from UI glitches and connectivity problems to overheating—especially pronounced in the iPhone 15 Pro devices. Notably, the overheating issue was originally attributed to the Pro model's new titanium chassis, but further scrutiny, including insights from a YouTuber, linked the fault to a software malfunction involving Instagram, prompting Apple to address the matter through a software update.

Two months later, Apple delivered several updates to rectify these initial hiccups, culminating in the release of iOS 17.0.3, which successfully resolved the overheating concern. However, new and unexpected challenges continue to emerge. The latest version, iOS 17.1.1, has introduced a curious bug that causes iPhone screens to freeze, refusing to register any touch input, immune to commands from either the volume or power buttons.

This anomaly seems to lurk within the App Library section of iOS 17 and, according to reports and video evidence from an iPhone X user, is not an isolated incident; testing revealed the glitch plaguing multiple models, including the iPhone 13 and the iPhone 14 Pro Max. The bug is particularly peculiar because it remains dormant until someone navigates to a specific interface element, meaning it could be accidentally triggered by anyone with access to the device.

For those encountering this daunting frozen screen, there is a straightforward remedy: a force restart. This can be accomplished by pressing and quickly releasing the Volume Up button, followed by the same action with the Volume Down button, then finishing with a sustained press of the Power Button until the Apple logo signifies the restart.

Apple is likely to address this screen-freezing glitch in the upcoming iOS 17.2 update, which is already being tested in beta. As soon as the issue is rectified, information will be shared to keep users well-informed.