Some iPhone 5s owners reporting 'Blue Screen of Death' with iWork apps
A number of iPhone 5s owners have taken to Apple's support pages to report that their devices are occasionally plagued by a Windows-like "Blue Screen of Death" that resets the device when they are using Apple's iWork suite of apps.
Posts regarding the Blue Screen of Death (BSoD) began to appear on Apple's support boards in September, with users claiming that their iPhone 5s units would crash when using Apple's iWork apps. Some users have posted videos showing the problem occurring when accessing the multitasking function while using an iWork app, while others say the problem occurs after quitting one of the apps.
The issue, which has also been reported for the iPad, causes an iOS device's screen to show only blue. The device then resets. Some have reported that the issue has occurred even outside the use of Apple's iWork apps, including while using Siri and while switching between other apps.
Apple has yet to comment on the matter.
The iPhone BSoD issue could be seen as an ironic twist, as the name comes from a problem that has plagued Microsoft's Windows operating system since version 3.1. Windows' BSoD would display text informing users that their "PC ran into a problem and needs to restart." The bug was prevalent enough that the Blue Screen of Death has its own Wikipedia page.
One apparent workaround for the iPhone BSoD is to disable iCloud syncing for iWork apps. Other users suggest exiting from an iWork app to the iOS home screen before attempting to switch to another app.
Posts regarding the Blue Screen of Death (BSoD) began to appear on Apple's support boards in September, with users claiming that their iPhone 5s units would crash when using Apple's iWork apps. Some users have posted videos showing the problem occurring when accessing the multitasking function while using an iWork app, while others say the problem occurs after quitting one of the apps.
The issue, which has also been reported for the iPad, causes an iOS device's screen to show only blue. The device then resets. Some have reported that the issue has occurred even outside the use of Apple's iWork apps, including while using Siri and while switching between other apps.
Apple has yet to comment on the matter.
The iPhone BSoD issue could be seen as an ironic twist, as the name comes from a problem that has plagued Microsoft's Windows operating system since version 3.1. Windows' BSoD would display text informing users that their "PC ran into a problem and needs to restart." The bug was prevalent enough that the Blue Screen of Death has its own Wikipedia page.
One apparent workaround for the iPhone BSoD is to disable iCloud syncing for iWork apps. Other users suggest exiting from an iWork app to the iOS home screen before attempting to switch to another app.
Comments
just be happy you have your 5s :P
I haven't seen a BSOD in aeons. Thanks for the memories, Apple.
Mark
It's happened to me a single time while using iPhoto on the 5S. Sudden solid blue screen and then, bam, the iPhone rebooted. I've used iPhoto several other times without issue.
Mark
On iPhoto launch, or were you interacting with iPhoto when it happened? Thanks
Even with the iOS 7 betas I've been running on my iPhone 5 since it dropped in June, I've experienced crashes here and there, but *never* a blue-screen crash. Never. Not even once. And I don't experience them now, nor do I experience any crashes. I highly doubt it's an iOS issue. It seems to be iOS in relation to the iPhone 5s.
Additionally, Apple will likely fix this very soon. Because unlike BSODs on *other* platforms, this one's actually fixable, and by a company that actually cares about doing it.
It crashes on iPhoto and Pages for me, but I don't really use them very much...they are now free, which was a nice surprise, thanks Apple! I am having issues with it hanging. Once I have not been able to answer a call...swipe, swipe, swipe and nothing. Had to reboot the phone. A few times my 5s has said 'No SIM' and I had to reboot....that is a bigger concern for me.
Even with these annoyances I really really like the 5s. I find myself holding my thumb on the home button on my iPad mini and waiting for it to unlock...;)
I've used iOS7 on multiple devices since the first beta, it is fine, don't be a pussy.
If course it did, I believe you, really i do, all your posts seem to back up that you are a genuine ... Oh wait a minute .... :no:
If course it did, I believe you, really i do, all your posts seem to back up that you are a genuine ... Oh wait a minute ....
Huh? Am I missing something here? They just joined today and it's their first comment.
Thanks for a great column - these are precisely the symptoms I've been observing.
The only device with A7 chip...
Using iPod touch 5 iOS7 (A5 chip)
Have not experienced these issues.
I read about the blue screen issue today and can confirm iit exists. I ran Pages loading up a document and then switching back to the Documents tab (upper left corner), then double clicked home button and the blue screen and reset occurred. I tested this twice.
I have the same document on my iPad 3 upgraded to iOS 7 and followed the same steps and could not get the blue screen and reset to occur.
This look like a problem on the 5s only. I hope Apple fix this fast, as I do not think it happens on other IOS devices. I wonder if it might have something to do with the 64 bit processor on the Apple iPhone 5s?
It's a 5s issue.
Even with the iOS 7 betas I've been running on my iPhone 5 since it dropped in June, I've experienced crashes here and there, but *never* a blue-screen crash. Never. Not even once. And I don't experience them now, nor do I experience any crashes. I highly doubt it's an iOS issue. It seems to be iOS in relation to the iPhone 5s.
I'm sure it's an iOS issue. Remember that it's running in 64-bit on 5s, and have the iWork apps even been updated lately?