Apple Releases iOS 13.3.1 and iPadOS 13.3.1 with Some Improvements to Smart Invert

Apple has today released iOS 13.3.1 and iPadOS 13.3.1.

In these releases, Apple has addressed a number of issues with Smart Invert.

These are the fixes and improvements to Smart Invert that we are currently aware of:

• Smart Invert now works as expected with Safari webpages when Dark Mode is enabled.
• Apps which use a dark on light color scheme should now invert to light on dark when Dark Mode and Smart Invert are enabled.
• The onscreen keyboard for Spotlight searches now displays as expected when Smart Invert is enabled.
• The Lock screen camera now uses an appropriate color combination when Dark Mode and/or Smart Invert are enabled.

There are still issues with Smart Invert, but today's releases go some way towards restoring this feature to where it was prior to the regressions introduced with iOS and iPadOS 13.3.

The remaining issues with Smart Invert that we know of are:

• If Dark Mode and Smart Invert are enabled, your screen may briefly flash white when your device is woken.
• The Dock and open folders on the Home screen do not use the appropriate color combinations when Dark Mode and Smart Invert are enabled.
• The Notifications Center may not use the appropriate color combinations when Dark Mode and Smart Invert are enabled.
• The Today view may not use the appropriate color combinations when Dark Mode and Smart Invert are enabled.
• You may find on occasions that when switching to an app that supports Dark Mode it will initially display with a dark on light color scheme when Dark Mode and Smart Invert are enabled. On these occasions you should find that turning Smart Invert off and then on again will resolve the problem.

If you are a low vision user of the Smart Invert feature, please let us know of any additional issues or improvements by posting a comment below.

Thank you to SoYoung for providing the following information on the performance of Smart Invert:

Smart invert colours is still broken if you activate it while in dark mode. If you zoom in, the colours will invert again (example the background will be white again) and will revert back when zoom out. You have to switch first to light mode and then turn on smart invert to avoid this bug.

The flash bug in lock screen will happen if you activate smart invert just once and even if you turn it off, the lock screen will still flash in dark mode when you turn the screen on. Only method to get rid of it is to reboot the phone completely and not turn on smart invert at all. Also, some apps with dark text on white pages still don't invert if smart invert is enabled for me.

As far as we are aware at this time, there are no additional fixes or changes for blind or low vision users in iOS 13.3.1 or iPadOS 13.3.1.

According to Apple's release notes, iOS 13.3.1 includes the following changes and fixes:

• Fixes an issue in Communication Limits that could allow a contact to be added without entering the Screen Time passcode
• Adds a setting to control the use of location services by the U1 Ultra Wideband chip
• Addresses an issue that could cause a momentary delay before editing a Deep Fusion photo taken on ‌iPhone 11‌ or iPhone 11 Pro
• Resolves an issue with Mail that could cause remote images to load even when the “Load Remote Images” setting is disabled
• Fixes an issue that could cause multiple undo dialogs to appear in Mail
• Addresses an issue where FaceTime could use the rear facing ultra-wide camera instead of the wide camera
• Resolves an issue where push notifications could fail to be delivered over Wi-Fi
• Addresses a CarPlay issue that could cause distorted sound when making phone calls in certain vehicles
• Introduces support for Indian English Siri voices for HomePod

The release notes for ‌iPadOS‌ 13.3.1 are:

iPadOS‌ 13.3.1 includes bug fixes and improvements. This update:

• Fixes an issue in Communication Limits that could allow a contact to be added without entering the Screen Time passcode
• Addresses an issue with Mail that could cause remote images to load even when the “Load Remote Images” setting is disabled
• Fixes an issue that could cause multiple undo dialogs to appear in Mail
• Resolves an issue where push notifications could fail to be delivered over Wi-Fi
• Introduces support for Indian English ‌Siri‌ voices for ‌HomePod‌

As we always stress, we can make no claims on the completeness or accuracy of our testing. We are only a small team, and it is simply impossible for us to test all devices, configurations, applications, and use cases. Accordingly, to help us ensure that the information on this page is as complete and accurate as possible, please let us know in the comments of any fixes; enhancements; or regressions that you find in your own use of iOS 13.3.1 or iPadOS 13.3.1.

How to update

iOS 13.3.1 and iPadOS 13.3.1 are available via Over-the-Air Update (Settings > General > Software Update) via Finder on a Mac with macOS Catalina, or via iTunes on a PC or Mac with macOS Mojave or earlier.

Before updating, we strongly recommend making a full and complete backup of your device (either locally or in iCloud, depending on personal preference). This will ensure that, in the unlikely event that something goes wrong during the update process, you will have a current backup on hand in case a device restore becomes necessary. Also, if using OTA update, we recommend plugging your device into a power source for the duration of the download/installation process, so as to prevent the unlikely event of your battery going dead during the update.

More information on how to update the software on your device is available on this Apple Support page.

As always, we look forward to hearing your thoughts on these updates. Let us know by adding a comment below.