iOS 16.0.3 & watchOS 9.0.2 updates arrive with bug & security fixes

iOS 16.0.3 is available to download

Apple has released iOS 16.0.3 and watchOS 9.0.2 to address known bugs that affect CarPlay, Mail, and Spotify streaming.

The release cycle for Apple's latest operating system has been more buggy than previous releases. Owners of the iPhone 14 had to update right after purchase to address activation bugs, then another update was released days later to fix iPhone 14 Pro camera problems.

This third iOS 16 update addresses a few specific bugs. One bug prevented call and app notifications from appearing in a timely fashion, if at all. Another bug caused low microphone volume during CarPlay calls.

Apple also fixed a bug that could cause the camera app to be slow at launch or when switching camera modes. Finally, a bug that crashed the Mail app on launch due to a malformed email has been fixed.

watchOS 9.0.2 addresses a Spotify streaming bug

The watchOS 9.0.2 update was also released with a handful of bug fixes. Spotify users haven't been able to stream audio with the Apple Watch app in watchOS 9, and that has been fixed.

The update also addresses issues with snoozing alarm notifications for AssistiveTouch users. A bug that causes incomplete syncing of Wallet and Fitness data for new Apple Watches has been addressed. Also, a fix for microphone audio, which could be interrupted for some Apple Watch Series 8 and Apple Watch Ultra users.

Users should see a notification for the update, and it will install automatically overnight for most. However, if you'd like the update to install right away, it will need to be initiated manually.

How to update iPhone

Open the Settings app
Scroll down and tap "General"
Tap "Software update"
Select the software update option when it appears

The iOS 16.0.3 update once the iPhone is charged above 50%. This update should be installed as soon as is reasonable.

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12 Comments

elijahg

said about 1 year ago

iOS 16 has some pretty glaring bugs still.

AirPlay to my Homepods often fails, or takes so long to start that iOS times out and resumes playing locally; only for the Homepod to start playing a few seconds later. Then it's a case of stopping the local playback, clicking the Airplay icon again and then choosing "control other devices" then touch the HP. A proper mess.

The new home screen's notifications show up with square edges sometimes only for them to pop to round ones when you interact. The Music widget sometimes shows half sized so the controls are chopped off. It's more like a late stage beta than a final 3 versions in.

Battery drain is still *much* higher on iOS16 too. Used to get to the end of the day with 80% battery remaining on my 13 Pro, I was stunned. Now it's more like 65% left.

Not a bug but the new video controls are idiotic. Why put the play/pause/skip controls in the middle of the screen overlaying and therefore obscuring the video?! Oh and they sometimes show up squashed too. They moved for the sake of moving.

As an aside, the HPs have lost the ability to play news by saying "What's the news" too, replying with "I found some web results". But Homepod Siri is broken most of the time so it's actually surprising when it works. Asking to play my favourites mix stopped working the other day, it starts playing "Favourites Mix" by some artist I've never played before. Seems to be fixed now. Do they do no regression testing at all at Apple?

pslice

said about 1 year ago

Does this Watch update fix the “stop double pinch” glitch.

mike1

said about 1 year ago

Could be wrong, but it seems like the Watch alarm, when in nightstand mode, is much louder than it previously was. Do not remember it being as jarring as it is now.

Anilu_777

said about 1 year ago

I’d like to see my focus modes be stable

mpantone

said about 1 year ago

elijahg said:

iOS 16 has some pretty glaring bugs still.
...

Do they do no regression testing at all at Apple?

This is why for the past 3-4 years I wait until Q2 the following year to upgrade to the latest macOS and iOS. It makes for a less hair-pulling transition and user experience.

I'm on iOS/iPad OS 15 and macOS Monterey and I won't transition to iOS/iPadOS 16 and macOS Ventura until April 2023.

Apple's software QA has really gone down over the past five years. Not worth it to be a beta tester which is basically what you are through the x.3 release these days.

It got significantly worse with macOS Crapalina which I never ran as the primary operating system. I tested it multiple times on a practice drive but ultimately spent 1.5 years on Mojave before upgrading directly to Big Sur (somewhere in early 2021) bypassing Crapalina completely.

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