A dangerous bug that can randomly disable iMessage and FaceTime apps, preventing them from reopening in any way, seems to be affecting iPhone users. In this news from various Twitter users, including renowned Apple leak source and Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, users detail their experience with the bug. So far, this issue appears to be limited to users on T-Mobile and Verizon networks in the US. The fact that the issue is limited to just two networks may seem like good news at first. However, T-Mobile has the largest service networks in the United States, and with more than 113 million iPhone users in the United States, the severity of the problem is increasing.
9to5Mac says the issue specifically affects the eSIM chip. The eSIM chip allows people to set up and activate their phones on a network via software without having to use a physical SIM card or visit a carrier store. It’s also a SIM card that allows your smartphone to make calls, send texts, and connect to the internet over a cellular network.
eSIM chip aims to make iPhone setup easier. However, it is unknown what exactly is causing the problem with the eSIM chip. This bug has been around for a while and affects phones running iOS 15.4, 15.5, and 15.6 beta 1, Gurman said.
Both Verizon and T-Mobile are aware of the bug, as some users, including Gurman, have contacted their carriers for assistance. However, Apple has not yet acknowledged the existence of the error.
Gurman says the only way to circumvent this error is to insert a physical SIM card into your iPhone. It is also possible to remove your eSIM account and have it sent back to your phone. However, Gurman says this process is too complicated for most people and Apple has to offer a definitive solution.
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