iPhone IOS 18 search “S” issue.

This from Apple support:

We've updated a dictionary to resolve this issue. This dictionary should download automatically the next time you perform a system software update.

If you don’t want to wait for the next system software update, you should be able to manually trigger a download of the updated dictionary simply by navigating to “Settings > General > Dictionary”.

Once the updated dictionary is downloaded, this issue should no longer occur.

From Apple Chat Support:

1 Make sure the device has an active Cellular or Wi-Fi data connection

2 Navigate to Settings > General > Dictionary

3 Tap to uncheck the Spanish dictionary, wait a moment, then tap to check and reactivate the same dictionary

4 Go back to Settings > General

5 Test the issue with Spotlight Search and the letter S

Workaround is to type the next character really quick to get past it. I called support and reported this a couple days ago.

Me as well. 16 pro Max.

word completion also is a workaround for a word starting with the letter s, if you select the whole word from the list along the keyboard.

Badmaj5 wrote:

How do you go about reporting a bug? This is driving me nuts after a few days already.

I prefer using the support app from my phone. Very easy to start a new issue and then you can just message them and share a screen recording if you wish.

Yes. Only way to use the S is to use the mic and sound out the word. Odd and not helpful. Too many words and apps starts with this letter.

I encountered and reported this very issue earlier today. iPhone 18 Pro Max. After restarting the phone, it worked properly only once. As previously noted, EVERYONE experiencing this needs to take a moment to open the Feedback app and report it. Thanks

You need to report this to Apple so they can update ios18. That’s what they told me. Enough people need to advise them directly before they can change it.

This also helped when search for settings such as Camera from the search bar in Settings. Search was not finding settings when I could see them in the Settings App. After unchecking the various dictionaries and re-checking them and re-downloading them Settings search works again. Thanks!

This fixed the issue! Dictionary automatically updates as soon as its clicked on settings

The suggested workaround from Apple fixes the 'S' issue, but try typing 'woman'; when I get to 'm' the app throws me out to my home screen, every time. The changes made to photos in ios 18 are incomprehensible; 'intuitive' has left the lexicon and been replaced with 'unecessary clutter' and the increased number of screen taps required to achieve a function is the antithesis of good design.

I also have this issue on iPhone 16 Pro Max

Same!

Same! Bug reported

No, I’m not from the future… iPhone 16 Pro Max