Waking up to find an unwanted app mysteriously installed on your iPhone after updating to iOS 18.4? You are not alone, as a bizarre bug is affecting some users.
Reports are surfacing across Reddit and Apple’s support forums detailing how the iOS 18.4 update is automatically installing apps, such as Squid Game and Cooking Mama, on a small number of iPhones. In some instances, users are reporting the re-installation of previously deleted apps.
Reddit user MoistCombination1991 stated that after updating to iOS 18.4, a “Chinese game install itself automatically” while updating apps in the App Store.
Scurry126, another Reddit user, reported Cooking Mama appearing on their home screen. Scurry126 also noted, “What’s weird is that looking at the App Store, Cooking Mama shows ‘Get’ instead of the redownload button. So according to the App Store, I’ve never owned it but it appeared on my device.”
MildAndClassic, expressing frustration, commented, “Today I feel like I’m using some cheap Chinese mobile where after software update some random application installed in my phone for no reason.”
Someandroiduser on Apple’s support forum also reported the unexpected reappearance of a previously installed game, Last War Survival, on their home screen after the update.
The cause of this issue remains unknown. The recommendation is to delete any unexpectedly installed apps.
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