Automatic random app install after iOS 18.4 update

After upgrading to iOS 18.4, my iPhone randomly installed “Last war survival”. This app was previously installed on my iPhone a few months ago but uninstalled after a few hours. Now it appeared back on my Home Screen. A lot of users are reporting the same with different apps:

https://www.reddit.com/r/ios/s/MwYoHRvTUy

https://www.reddit.com/r/ios/s/7BCTZDM56x

https://www.reddit.com/r/ios/s/4J2gl2nDUg

https://www.reddit.com/r/ios/s/LhDkeudJnn

and more. So it seems to be a bug.

iPhone 13 Pro, iOS 18

Posted on Apr 1, 2025 1:54 AM

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10 replies

Apr 1, 2025 2:18 AM in response to Someandroiduser

Someandroiduser wrote:

After upgrading to iOS 18.4,

It's not always the iOS update's fault!  Many things can cause phone problems.  If you tell people you think it's an iOS update, it might make it harder to fix or find a solution for the real issue.



Remember, the right question often leads to the solution!



Was/Is your device Jailbroken? If that's the situation, please be informed that attributing the issues to iOS updates may not be accurate.



iOS updates aim to enhance user experience, boost security, and fix bugs rather than disrupt core features. The majority of the issues after updates might stem from underlying, unmentioned factors. Updates won't typically alter personal data but may refine settings or features. Backup before major updates for safety. Review Apple's update details and backup advice for a smooth process.


Kindly consider checking your settings and addressing any device issues before attributing the issue to external factors. This could be a pure coincidence that the iOS update affected the iPhone functions.


Before initiating a standard iOS update, it's advisable to create a backup. Have you completed this step? If yes, proceed with the restoration from the backup.



See what each update does: About iOS 18 Updates, About iOS 17 Updates, About iOS 16 Updates, About iOS 15 Updates, About iOS 14 Updates, About iOS 13 Updates, About iOS 12 Updates, and so on...



Apr 1, 2025 2:51 AM in response to SravanKrA

Thanks for your response SravanKrA.

I wouldn't have phrased my question this way if I wasn't fairly certain that the iOS update caused this bug. My iPhone was never jailbroken, I have never had alternative app stores installed and automatic app installs (sync from other devices) was and is not enabled.


From the attached reddit threads it seems very unlikely that this bug is NOT caused by the iOS updates, as lots of users seem to report the same problem, all in the last few days, after the update.


Also, thanks for reminding me about the aim of iOS updates in general, but I don't see how this this would help. Of course updates are not intentionally introducing bugs and I wouldn't have submitted this question in the first place if the update went well.


I uninstalled the app again, so a backup restore is not necessary, but I'd like to know the reason for this behavior.

Apr 3, 2025 4:59 PM in response to Someandroiduser

I caught this article on Weird iOS 18.4 bug reportedly installs apps you don’t want and had to leave a comment. I also previously played “Last war survival” for a day, months ago. After the IOS 18.4 update, I also had noticed it was re-installed on my home screen. I have exactly 1 blank app "square" left on my home screen in the lower corner and that's where it appeared. If I hadn't, it would've ended up in my app library and I probably wouldn't have even noticed. I've since deleted the app... again, but didn't think anything of it until I came across this post.

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Automatic random app install after iOS 18.4 update

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