Apple just rolled out iOS 18.3.1, a minor but crucial update that fixes a serious security vulnerability. While it doesn’t add any flashy new features, it follows the bigger iOS 18.3 update, which brought AI refinements, notification changes, and security improvements. If you haven’t updated yet, now’s the time – especially given the potential security risks of staying on an older version.
This latest update fixes a serious security flaw involving a vulnerability in USB Restricted Mode, a security feature designed to prevent unauthorized devices from connecting to a locked iPhone.
Hackers found a way to disable USB Restricted Mode through a physical attack with specialized hardware, but thankfully Apple has now patched the authorization issue.
Apple hasn’t revealed how many users were affected, but given that it was actively exploited in targeted attacked, updating immediately is the safest move.
Of course, if you’re still on an earlier version, updating will also bag you the changes from iOS 18.3, including Apple’s rollback of its controversial AI-powered notification summaries.
How to get iOS 18.3.1
Note that even with Automatic Updates switched on in Settings, it’s often faster to manually trigger the update process. Go to Settings > General > Software Update to check for the latest version of iOS, and App Store > Account to see which apps are due an update.