ios7 dictionary management bugs?

Same problem here.

Built-in dictionary setting not getting saved under iOS 7.1.

I also reported it to Apple, which is probably useless.

This problem is also listed at the end of this thread:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5351395

By the way, the Japanese-English dictionary is somewhat broken since the iOS 6.1.3 (at that time, it simply vanished from iOS).

Old features getting new bugs seems to become a very Apple thing!

I was having the same issue with Safari and think I've found a workaround. I just used Notes app and added Japanese and Japanese-English dictionaries and they seem to stop randomly disappearing.

Hope this helps.

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...

Hi. Just wanted to chime in and say I found this thread while trying to figure this out. Having the same issue. The Japanese dictionary setting won't stick after the app is relaunched. My OS is also set to English. Hope for a fix soon!!

Hello Jasoniv,

I have the same issue when I using different dictionary like Chinese- English dictionary and American English Oxford. I had called applecare and the they passed my case to a senior staff to handle. And the senior staff upgrad my case to their engineering department. During the period, they called me and ask me to submit some of my iphone's log to them. I was happy about that.

However, I got reply today. I am the first one report such issue. They will not able to confirm whether this is a bug or not. They will keep an eye on it. But there is no solution for this issue right now.

It was so frustrate that waiting few weeks for such an answer.

I think all we can to is report via feedback form. And they might ignore it forever.

You can call apple care to ask their agent for help. But they told me I am the first one who report this issue. They will not able to confirm this is a bug or not. Maybe we need more people to report it.

I have exactly the same issue with the Chinese dictionaries. It is ridiculous that Apple does not fix this. What's the "Define" function good for if you can only use it with a dictionary of your system language.

I think if Apple does not fix this in the next iOS update, I'm moving over to Android.

Same problem. IOS 7. did not seem to have the problem before.

Everytime I restart an app the dictionary previously installed is gone. Have to go to manage everytime I want to use any dictionary.

Apple and Apple. How can you mess up so badly!

I have submttted the feedback using the link above. Hopefully it will get their attention.

Anyway, I am getting disapported as Apple does not look at the forum. "Help yourself, we're busy" is what my feeling now.

Pls look at this guy's solution,it works v well.

idontknowidontknow

Re: ios7 dictionary management bugs?

Jun 10, 2014 5:54 PM (in response to jasoniv)

I was having the same issue with Safari and think I've found a workaround. I just used Notes app and added Japanese and Japanese-English dictionaries and they seem to stop randomly disappearing.

Hope this helps.

jasoniv wrote:

Shame Apple wasn't involved at all, I guess nobody at Apple is using their iOS dictionaries.

Or they couldn't duplicate the problem perhaps. I've never had it, perhaps because I always activated additional dictionaries using Notes rather than iBooks. But of course it should work with either.

Don't know why, but began having the same issue with new iPhone...Didn't experience this with my old iPhone. Cannot believe I eventually got an answer. Many thanks, it still works after a year! Thanks the forum as well!

The supposed Notes workaround doesn't work at all. What's the point of downloading a dictionary if it's not there the next time you want to use it? That doesn't exactly fit my definition of "download". It's been like this since Day One, and still present here with iOS 9.1.

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.

Recent (Summer 2016) used purchase of iPhone 4 running 7.1.2 with same trouble. In my case adding dictionaries from Safari or Chrome did not work, but adding in "Notes" was successful. So for us:

1. Go to Notes, open new and type any word

2. Select your word, then "Define"

3. On blank definitions page, select "Manage"

4. Next page select desired Dictionary and wait for the circled "x"

5. Select "Dictionary" to return to definitions page

6. Select "Done"

When I did this the first time, returning to the definitions page after loading a dictionary still only presented a blank page. But starting fresh from "Notes" or any other app is fine. Also rebooted to make sure, and we're still good to go.