Apple urges users to call on Siri to combat text message bug that is crashing iPhones
Apple has told its users how to get around a text messaging bug that crashes iPhones, Apple Watches, iPads and Macs when users receive a message loaded with certain characters.
It emerged this week that Apple's operating system can be shut down when users receive messages containing a string of Arabic, Marathi and Chinese text.
Apple has acknowledged the annoyingly effective power bug and has suggested a temporary workaround while it works on a permanent solution.
A spokesperson told the Press Association: "Apple is aware of an iMessage issue caused by a specific series of unicode characters and we will make a fix available in a software update. Until the update is available, you can use these steps to re-open the Messages app."
The first step is to ask Siri to "read unread messages" and then use Siri to reply to the malicious message.
Once inside the messages app, Apple advises them to swipe left to delete to entire thread or to simply delete the offending message from the thread.
It is not yet clear when Apple's bug fix will be ready.