Google sponsored links won't work on my iPhone 16 Pro Max after iOS 18.3.1 update

Question

Google sponsored links won't work on my iPhone 16 Pro Max after iOS 18.3.1 update

Sincere upgrading to iOS 18 (currently on 18.3.1) attempts in Google searches in: Google, Google Chrome, Firefox and Safari followed by selecting a GoogleServices sponsored link results in the following burp.

NSURLErrorDomain

We're not using any VPN and not any AdBlockers. If we erase all histories and cache or delete the browsers and reload them, it works one time and then the same results.

Does anyone have a solution to this?

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

iPhone 16 Pro Max, iOS 18

Posted on Feb 19, 2025 4:06 PM

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Answer 1

Feb 19, 2025 6:18 PM in response to steve chemist

Do you have VPN installed, even if you aren’t using it? If so delete the VPN profile.

Have you tried to reset network settings?

Open Settings
- Tap General
- Tap Transfer or Reset Phone
- Tap Reset
- Tap Reset Network Settings
- This will erase all Wi-Fi passwords, but will not result in any other data loss.

Do you have Cookies enabled in Settings/apps/Safari?

Have you changed any of the advanced settings there?

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Answer 2

Feb 19, 2025 7:35 PM in response to steve chemist

steve chemist wrote:

I've never had a VPN. It is off.

Resetting Network Settings has no effect.

I see no settings for Cookies in Safari. Searching for Cookies in Settings gives no hits. Again, please keep in mind that the behavior is identical in Firefox and Google Apps as well. This is not unique to Safari.

true, but all browsers in iOS are user interfaces to WebKit, which holds the configuration for all browsers. To find cookies, go to settings/apps/safari/advanced

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Answer 3

Feb 19, 2025 8:24 PM in response to steve chemist

In Safari, Blocking Cookies is off. I found and removed cookies the. This fixed Safari.

Clearing Firefox cookies and history and allowing popups didn't help.

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Answer 4

Feb 19, 2025 7:13 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

I've never had a VPN. It is off.

Resetting Network Settings has no effect.

I see no settings for Cookies in Safari. Searching for Cookies in Settings gives no hits. Again, please keep in mind that the behavior is identical in Firefox and Google Apps as well. This is not unique to Safari.

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Google sponsored links won't work on my iPhone 16 Pro Max after iOS 18.3.1 update

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