Apple's Safari browser: quick fixes to stop crashing

Days ago, pranksters took to social media to share a website link that crashes any iOS devices running the Safari browser.

Now, in an ironic twist of fate, Apple is doing it themselves.

There have been widespread reports of Safari crashing for users when they attempt to use that most vital aspect of internet browsers - the address bar.

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The bug has affected both mobile and tablet devices, as well as Mac computers. Unlike the crashsafari.com link being shared yesterday, it does not shut down devices.

According to Macworld, the glitch is being caused by the "Safari suggestions" feature which predicts internet URLs as you type them.

"These autocompletes come from Apple's server, so even if you haven't updated your browser or device recently, you could still experience the issue," they add.

Apple has issued no comment or fix regarding the problem just yet, but several tech websites have posted temporary ways to alleviate the glitch if your iPhone has encountered it.

The most obvious way to get around the annoying bug is to simply turn off the suggestions. This can be done under the Safari panel in the phone's main settings. Alternatively, The Guardian suggests switching Safari into private browsing, which appears to still function fine, or even downloading a different browser such as Google Chrome.

The issue is being reported worldwide. When Apple announced its figures for the last quarter after US markets closed last night, it reported there were more than one billion of its devices in use around the planet.

"The vast majority of those may have been affected, although the number also includes its set-top TV boxes and smartwatches, which do not use the browser", says the BBC.

Apple released iOS 9.2.1 this week, but it isn’t clear if the issue is related to the software update, says The Independent.