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ios7 dictionary management bugs?

I like the new dictionaries in ios7. However they seem to behave unexpectedly:


- open a Japanese book in iBooks

- select a word

- choose Define

- get "No definition found"

- click Manage

- all the dictionaries have a "cloud with arrow" icon next to them, which I assume means that the dictionary data need to be downloaded from the cloud

- click the "cloud with arrow" icon next to "Japanese-English", it turns into an "x" icon

- go back

- Done (back to the book)

- select the word again

- choose Define

- now I get dictionary entries


This is good. But I'm not online, so where did the dictionary data come from? It certainly wasn't downloaded from anywhere. That's one unexpected thing.


The other thing is that dictionaries seem to randomly disappear, so I often need to keep following the steps above to re-add the "Japanese-English" dictionary (for example). It seems impossible to "permanently" add a dictionary.


Finally, I tried clicking the "cloud with arrow" icon while I was online, to see what would happen. This time a circular progress icon appeared, and it took several minutes to complete -- so it seemed to be downloading data for the Japanese-English dictionary. But the next day, the Japanese-English dictionary was gone again.


How can a dictionary be enabled permanently? And why does it seem to be unnecessary to download dictionary data?

iPod touch, iOS 7

Posted on Oct 3, 2013 8:50 AM

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Posted on Oct 3, 2013 9:29 AM

There have been other reports of disappearing dictionaries. I think all you can do is report this to Apple for them to fix:


http://www.apple.com/feedback


It may be that some dictionaries have to be downloaded and some are already present but not activated. I suppose you could test them all when you had no wifi connection to see if that is correct...

46 replies

Apr 6, 2016 3:53 AM in response to idontknowidontknow

Jesus thank you so much. I registered this account just for this. I have been searching solution for weeks and, finally. 🙂


For anyone with similar issues, here's my devices and how I got them to work:


iPad Air, iOS 9.3.1: Go into "Notes" app, enter something and "Define" on any word. Manage dictionaries (Swipe left to delete first! Even though the icon prompts you to download, it's actually downloaded already so delete it first just to be safe) there.


iPhone 6 Plus, iOS 9.3: For unknown reason, "Notes" app doesn't work but "Reminders" does as mentioned by @idontknowidontknow.


And Apple please, fix this bug! A bug that lasted for 2 years? Unacceptable.

ios7 dictionary management bugs?

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