Quick Bug Fixes in macOS 15.01 Sequoia, iOS 18.0.1, iPadOS 18.0.1, watchOS 11.0.1, and visionOS 2.0.1

Just over two weeks after the initial release of its 2024 crop of operating systems, Apple has released bug fix updates to its core operating systems. The bug that may have prompted the releases affects all five updated platforms: replying to a message containing a shared Apple Watch face could cause Messages to crash. Given that someone else could set the stage for the crash, the bug could allow some level of harassment. Other fixes are specific to the different operating systems:

• macOS 15.0.1: Apple says the update improves compatibility with third-party security software and reliability with single sign-on authentication in Safari. Reader Paolo Savonuzzi tells me that, after updating, you must turn Remote Desktop off and back on to be able to connect, so it’s best to connect a headless Mac to a keyboard, mouse, and display before updating.
• iOS 18.0.1: On iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models, the update prevents the touch screen from becoming temporarily unresponsive. On the iPhone 16 Pro, it fixes a freeze in the Camera app when recording macro mode vision using the Ultra Wide camera in 4K with HDR turned off. Apple also said the update addresses a problem that could impact performance due to an issue with memory allocation on some unspecified iPhone models. On the security side, the update prevents audio messages in Messages from capturing a few seconds of audio before the microphone indicator is activated on all iPhone 16 models. It also prevents a user’s saved passwords in the new Passwords app from being read aloud by VoiceOver.
• iPadOS 18.0.1: As usual, iPadOS follows in iOS’s footsteps, sharing the memory allocation fix and the solution for VoiceOver reading passwords aloud. MacRumors also reports that this version addresses the problem that caused a small number of M4 iPad Pro models to be bricked when updating to iPadOS 18.0.
• watchOS 11.0.1: This update may be the most welcome of the lot since it resolves unexpected restarts, problems with the battery draining more quickly than expected, the Music app quitting when loading media, and the touch screen temporarily becoming unresponsive for some users of the Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2.
• visionOS 2.0.1: The update addresses a potential freeze with the YouTube video player in Safari and Safari Web Extension data being lost after updating to visionOS 2.

Apart from the Messages and Passwords fixes in iOS 18.0.1 and iPadOS 18.0.1, there are no security updates with CVE entries for any of the other platforms.

Overall, these updates are worth installing soon, particularly on the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch, because they address bugs that could be troublesome. However, those cautiously waiting to upgrade from last year’s operating systems should continue to wait. These fixes address only the highest-profile bugs, and Apple is undoubtedly building more bug fixes into future updates.