The release of iOS 18 introduced a serious bug in the Messages app, causing repeated crashes. This issue arises when an Apple Watch face is shared in a message thread, with replies within the thread acting as the trigger. Unfortunately, the only known solution is to delete the entire conversation history, which carries the risk of data loss, raising concerns among users.

The Severe Bug in the iOS 18 Messages App

Right after the release of iOS 18, users began reporting that the Messages app was crashing repeatedly. The bug seems to be specifically triggered when an Apple Watch face is shared in a message thread, causing the app to malfunction. Once the crash occurs, it becomes impossible to reopen the affected conversation thread. This issue affects a wide range of users and is not limited to just a few individuals.

Even worse, this problem has been reported across multiple devices, including iPads and Macs, running iPadOS 18 and macOS 15, respectively. The crash disrupts both personal and professional communications, making it a pressing issue that requires a quick fix. Unfortunately, Apple has yet to issue an official response, leaving users to rely on temporary solutions.

How Apple Watch Face Sharing Causes the Crash

The bug stems from the feature introduced in watchOS 11, which allows users to share custom Apple Watch faces via the Messages app. However, in iOS 18, sharing these faces causes the app to crash. Specifically, when a reply is made within the message thread containing the shared Apple Watch face, the app crashes. The problem becomes even more pronounced when the “thread reply” feature is used, making normal communication within the thread impossible.

Once a crash occurs, accessing all messages in that thread becomes impossible. Some users have even reported that the entire Messages app becomes unusable, especially for those using multiple devices under the same Apple ID, as the bug spreads across all synced devices.

Fixing the Bug and Its Associated Risks

At present, the only solution is to delete the affected conversation thread entirely. However, this comes with significant risks. Deleting the thread will result in the loss of all messages, attachments, photos, and videos within it, which could mean the permanent loss of important data. Worse still, restoring the deleted thread from the “Recently Deleted” folder may re-trigger the bug, making data recovery difficult.

For users who sync their messages via iCloud, the bug could affect not just local devices but all Apple devices synced to the same iCloud account. Disabling iCloud sync might be a temporary solution, but it doesn’t resolve the root cause of the issue. Until Apple releases an official fix, the best course of action for users is to avoid sharing Apple Watch faces via the Messages app and inform friends and family to avoid replying to affected threads.

Apple’s Response and Expectations for Future Patches

While Apple has not officially commented on this issue, reports suggest they are investigating the matter. Historically, Apple has been quick to release patches for serious bugs, so a fix is expected in a future update, possibly iOS 18.1 or iPadOS 18.1.

Given Apple’s track record of addressing bugs in beta releases before the official launch, users can hope for a swift resolution in upcoming updates. Until then, users should remain cautious when using the Messages app or sharing Apple Watch faces, and closely follow Apple’s announcements for potential fixes.