Apple Releases iOS 16.0.3 and watchOS 9.0.2 with Bug Fixes and Improvements

By AppleVis, 10 October, 2022

Member of the AppleVis Editorial Team

Apple has today released iOS 16.0.3 and watchOS 9.0.2 to the public.

At the time of posting, it is unclear whether these updates contain any fixes specific to blind and low vision users. If you do notice any changes to VoiceOver or low vision features during your use of these releases, please let us know by posting your findings in the comments.

iOS 16.0.3 Release Notes

This update provides bug fixes and important security updates for your iPhone including the following:

  • Incoming call and app notifications may be delayed or not delivered on iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max
  • Low microphone volume can occur during CarPlay phone calls on iPhone 14 models
  • Camera may be slow to launch or switch between modes on iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max
  • Mail crashes on launch after receiving a malformed email

watchOS 9.0.2 Release Notes

This update includes improvements and bug fixes for your Apple Watch.

  • Interruptions to streaming audio on Spotify
  • Snooze alarm notifications continue after the alarm is deleted for AssistiveTouch users
  • Incomplete syncing of Wallet and Fitness data for newly paired Apple Watch
  • Audio from microphone interrupted for some Apple Watch Series 8 and Ultra users

How to Update

iOS 16.0.3 is available via Over-the-Air Update (Settings > General > Software Update), via Finder on a Mac with macOS Catalina or later, or via iTunes on a PC or Mac with macOS Mojave or earlier.

watchOS 9.0.2 is available via Over-the-Air Update (Settings > General > Software Update) or by going to the Watch app on your iPhone and navigating to General> Software Update. To install the update, your Watch must be connected to its charger and have at least 50% battery power.

Options

Comments

By Scott Field on Sunday, October 23, 2022 - 11:50

Hi
Since updating to 9.02, the watch face doesn't read out the time. I have the infograph face which reads most but not all the complications, and never the actual time. My other face is numerals, this face doesn't work at all with VO on. Has anyone else encountered this or know how to fix it?
thank you

By Lily Rose on Sunday, October 23, 2022 - 11:50

After updating, and go into podcasts and go to an episode, then there's the information section, th instead of saying "Show, ___", "Length ___", "Rating ___" etc it just says, Information, before the information on those little panels.

By bonerobot on Sunday, October 23, 2022 - 11:50

I think I could reproduce this bug since IOS 15.5: whenever I connected my Focus 40 Braille display via Bluetooth to my iPhone 12 Pro, my Braille display doesn't reacted in the first try. You should lock your phone and try again. After the second or a third try a connection could be finally reached.
With the new update to IOS 16.0.3 this issue has been fixed in my view. My Focus Braille display seems to behave like before the bug was existing.

By Magic Retina on Sunday, October 23, 2022 - 11:50

I can no longer access the app switcher by holding the bottom of the screen and dragging my finger up. Using an iPhone 13 Pro Max.

They did fix the issue with the Safari address bar disappearing while reading though and I sure do like that.

Also have not been able to hold an item in Safari to drag the page up or down since 16.o.1

Edit: okay it looks like that drag problem is just on Youtube’s site. However on top of not being able to access the app switcher I’m having problems opening anything in the dock. The ‘single finger double tap that has been actighating things since the begining is suddenly not working regularly in the dock. This combined with the suddenly miss app switcher is making my phone almost unusable.

By Curtis Chong on Sunday, October 23, 2022 - 11:50

I am not experiencing the problem where I cannot access the app switcher with an iPhone where there is no home button. The app switcher is clearly visible and function on my iPhone 12 mini.

By Holger Fiallo on Sunday, October 23, 2022 - 11:50

No issues with the app switcher. Lucky me.

By Magic Retina on Sunday, October 23, 2022 - 11:50

I was thankfully able to get the app switcher back by restarting my phone. Hopefully that will keep the issue from happening again. A restart also solved the problem with apps in the dock not responding to a single finger double tap.

By Lily Rose on Sunday, October 23, 2022 - 11:50

I can't reproduce the bugs with the dock and the appswitcher, and no one else seems too, so that's good that a restart helped. Glad the dock isn't a widespread bug because I rely heavily on the dock.

By mat-83 on Sunday, October 23, 2022 - 11:50

When reading notifications from the Lock Screen I can't tap on them to open the associated application as I could do in iOS 15 and earlier. It's a bit annoying . I find this problem on my iPhone 8 . any idea ?

By Sarah F on Sunday, October 23, 2022 - 11:50

I had the same issue with not being able to open notifications with the usual double tap. Apparently this has been updated to a triple tap now. You still sometimes have to open the messages app to reply but at least it opens. It was very annoying and thanks to another user's comment, I was able to figure it out!