iOS 9.3 - Safari/Mail freezes after clicking links on iPhone 6S

Several users as of earlier this evening (3/29) at least either thought Ben's method through, or tried something similar:

"The article makes sense. Apparently the universal link database is part of the iTunes backup. That explains why the feature works as the phone was freshly restored back to a clean 9.3. But it fails as soon as a restore from iTunes backup was done. The corrupted DB was put right back in place. One almost has to have a "clean" backup in order to get it back to working order. If this proves to be the root cause, may be they should consider allowing an option to restore data only in iTunes backup. I stay away from a clean resinstall because I'll lose thousands of iMessages. Most of other things like mail and contacts are restored once you log in to iCloud but not iMessage. I think there is a way to download all the apps purchased on App Store on to a freshly restored new phone (at least I have done it once over the last couple days during all the experiments I did). So getting only all my messages back in a restore works for me. Well, this is just my situation. I'm sure others may need other options. Hope they fix this soon. Just amazed that Apple engineers overlooked a simple file size test if a huge association file did corrupt their DB. It almost like they focus so much on protecting from malicious intends, they let in a careless mistake."

"I did similar to get my phone working again

backed up photos to iPhoto on mac

(backed up my current phone through iTunes for a later date when a fix comes out)

erased phone from the phone

restored from a backup pre 24.03.2016

immediately put phone into flight mode before the apps started downloading back onto the phone

deleted the offending apps before they caused any hassle and were greyed out still

came out of flight mode

allowed the apps to download i was keeping

working now"

"I dowloaded iOs 9.2.1 through https://ipsw.me/

Installed this .ipsw file in iTunes

Hold the Alt key (on Mac OS X) / the Shift key (on Windows) and hit “restore” in iTunes

iOs Restore went ok but all data is gone from the iPhone

Restore from backup does not work because the latest backup was with iOs 9.3

On my iMac I restored the MobileSync backup folder (1 day before upgraging to 9.3) via Time Machine (~\library\Application Support\MobileSync\Backup\)

Long live Time Machine!!!

Now I could restore my iPhone from backup

Everything works fine again

Waiting for the upgrade "

"SOme people can't really do that since we use OTA backup to icloud...

I stopped using a pc to do my backups years ago because I keep changing laptops practically every month or so (work related, gotta keep up with the latest and greatest tech) and I was just chewing through my activated devices faster than apple could release them....

I have lost en contracts and money as it is now. "

<Link Edited by Host>

Dear Friend,

Please use this following link

https://bencollier.net/2016/03/how-to-fix-ios-9-3s-broken-safari-links/

*please disable all your internet connection on your mac or pc*

It's fix the issue on my phone, I can confirmed that only booking.com that causing this bug *so far*. Some of the forum mention other apps (trip advisor) causing but I doubt that is the case.

The only reason why it can work is because booking.com has made a patch on 29 March 2016 to fix this issue.

Regards,

<Link Edited by Host>

It is shocking that a bug this bad and widespread can go so long without a fix.

Here are my suggestions:

For news sites, the app, as opposed to the shortcut to the webpage, may work. I have the NYT app AND the shortcut. The app works.

Also, Flipboard and Apple News apps work.

If an app, like Mail, freezes because you tapped a link, you don't have to fully restart. Just clear the RAM. Much quicker:

A. Hold power button until you see the Slide To Turn Off screen. B. Let go of power button and hold Home button down until home screen returns.

This is not just a 9.3 problem. My 5 has the problem with 9.2.1.

Turning off Javascript did nothing for me. Also, resetting and such did nothing to solve the problem. Only a software patch is going to do it, I think.

I just spoke to Apple Support here in Sweden. They told me that they are all too aware of the problem and that it is a bug in IOS 9.3.

Apple Support said that Apple is working intensively on the problem and that an update will be released "any moment now". I told them that I hope this won't take days and they reiterated that the update will be released any moment now. In the meantime they advised me to deactivate Javascript om Safari. It is not a solution, of course but a temporary workaround.

IT is now 36+ hours since I posted a fix for this, phone still going strong, so the fix works

1. backed up photos to iPhoto on mac
2. (backed up my current phone through iTunes for a later date when a fix comes out)
3. erased phone from the phone
4. restored from a backup pre 24.03.2016
5. immediately put phone into flight mode before the apps started downloading back onto the phone
6. deleted the offending apps before they caused any hassle and were greyed out still
7. came out of flight mode
8. allowed the apps to download i was keeping
9. working now

Hi

Plugged in phone to iTunes and it asked to reload OS 9.3.1 as an update and now works fine. Must have been an error when loading it this am was telling me that it had upgraded already. Sorted now so happy 🙂

Thanks all

Leonie

Yeah, with 9.3.1 everything works fine again!

I would like to thank all of you in this thread for all the information and support you provided,

it helped me through the last 6 days!

Have a great bugfree time

Regine from Germany

Just for the record, in case 9.3.1 is still buggy.

- Apple support page of 31 March (today) If hyperlinks don't open in Safari, Mail, or Messages after updating to iOS 9.3 - Apple Support

Twitter (full web version) had numerous stickies up top...mobile Twitter version less so...and that's where I found the link to the 9.3.1 Support page (not Google)

- According to ArsTechnica http://arstechnica.com/apple/2016/03/poorly-behaved-app-causing-crashes-and-link -problems-for-some-ios-9-x-users/

the suspected mechanism is what's detailed in this: https://developer.apple.com/library/ios/documentation/Security/Reference/SharedW ebCredentialsRef/

- Pretty good rundown of steps to do to prepare to upgrade here (in between irritating ads): https://www.gottabemobile.com/2016/03/31/10-things-to-do-before-installing-ios-9 -3-1/ and they also gave a rundown on why you might want to hold off still, and what the attractions might be once all the bugs are ironed out at https://www.gottabemobile.com/2016/03/31/4-reasons-not-to-install-ios-9-3-5-reas ons-you-should/

- If I understood the posts here, some did try what Ben Collier posted to defeat the Universal Link/Shared Web Credential bug, and it didn't work for them. In fairness, Ben said it seemed tricky to get the timing right and that it could take several tries with his workaround routine. Developers will probably get the word if the implementation of the , but there may be other apps out there that need reworking. If this is the real root cause.

<Link Edited by Host>

Did you just trying going to Safari - advanced - switching of JavaScript? I just did it and it worked! Yay! But yes, shame on Apple. Not being able to use the internet made my smart phone pretty dumb.

As other users indicated, turning off Java Script in the Advanced settings of Safari allows pages to be loaded. It is still annoying...

I have just downloaded and installed 9.3.1. All problems (dead links, frozen apps etc) seem to be solved. 🙂

installing 9.3.1. I did and all is well.

If you want to forget this problem you have to update to iOS 9.3.1

I re-installed 9.3.1 and it works perfectly…everyone needs to go into settings, hit software update, then install the latest update, this fixes all bugs I had with native apps….hope this helps!

By gosh, you're right. Thanks for the the tip.I disabled JavaScript for Safari and the hyperlinks do seem to work now.

The problem still persists with Mail, Notes, and other apps that contain links though.