Bugs: Disappearing icons [Jailbreak]
There's a Jailbreak bug that affects Springboard (the Home Screen system on iPhone and iPad) and causes your icons to go fuzzy and disappear. Depending on which version of iOS 4 you're on, and which Jailbreak tool you used (limera1n, greenpois0n, redsn0w, etc.) you may or may not experience it or be able to replicate it, but if you do we have a simple if temporary fix for you after the break.
Though the disappearing/fuzzy icon bug isn't much more than a annoyance -- you can still use the icon in question -- is also quite easy to go around.
You can tell if you have the problem simply by swiping quickly from Home Screen to Home Screen. If you you have the bug, some icons will disappear or turn fuzzy. To fix it, just swipe some more and they'll eventually re-render.
Again, this bug is not incapacitating for your iPhone but it is a bit disconcerting when you see one of your icons has disappeared. (Luckily the name remains under the icon so you can still figure out which app it is).
This bug seems to have started after iOS 4.0 came into effect. We will have to see if it is still in effect in iOS 4.3.
Effect
- Your icons will appear fuzzy and difficult to see.
Cause
- Swiping rapidly through Home Screens
Fix
- Keep swiping until the icons re-render properly.
- If you're desperate, restore your iPhone and re-Jailbreak with a more recent tool
If you've had this problem let us know which version of iOS you're using and which tool you used to Jailand come up with any better fixes, let us know in the comments!
Senior Editor at iMore and a practicing psychotherapist specializing in stress and anxiety. She speaks everywhere from conferences to corporations, and co-hosts of the iMore show and ZEN and TECH podcasts.
There are 21 comments. Add yours.
Wow thats strange. I haven't seen this yet but good to know a fix if it does happen.
I cannot reproduce this no matter how hard I try. Maybe it's more of a problem with a specific tweak than the general jailbreak.
I agree, I have never seen this before and I have been jailbroken on iPhone 4 since Jailbreakme was out. Currently running iOS 4.1 jailbroken with redsnow.
Same here on a 3GS iOS 4.2.1, jailbroken with PwnageTool. I have many many tweaks installed, but have never seen this happening and can't reproduce it.
Maybe those who can, should write up their specs, JB tool they used and installed Cydia packages to narrow it down.
(By the way, cute illustration.)
I have jail broken my iPhone4 on 4.2.1 with greenposi0n and I have no camera, no calculator and (lol) no App Store icons. Anyone else having this problem?
Jailbroke iOS4,4.1 and 4.2.1 never seen it.
Just happened on my iPad & the fix didn't fix it. No packages loaded other than those already loaded in Cydia when JB'd with GPoi. latest. RC6?
just restored & now re-loading.
Even Cydia disappeared & many other probes including all Apps in miniature size etc. Cannot re-spring. Frozen in portrait mode.
If this bug requires multiple home screens, I'll never see it because I only have one. I use Folder Enhancer to achieve this.
Off topic kinda but I love Folder Enhancer!
Same happened to me, but my iPod Touch 4 on iOS 4.0 was not jailbroken. This issue has been resolved for me in iOS 4.3 beta.
My phone isn't jailbroken, but I've experienced the disappearing icons.
J/B my iPhone 4 is starting to sound like a wast of time to me now.
Apps going missing, iBooks not working.
iPhone 4 + jailbreak = iphone 4 with windows xp/vista headache
On 4.2.1 JB with RedSn0w on 3Gs old boot. I have no Cydia or Messages icons at all. Have to Spotlight it or double tap home for the quick app switcher to see them. wondering if I run GreenP over it it will help.
Also to mention no space or descript for them at all. Total poof status.
Try re-booting or re-springing your iDevice. I had a similar problem yesterday with my jailbroken (Redsn0w) iPhone 3GS running 4.1, where my apps disappeared from my Entertainment folder. I re-sprang and everything went back to normal and haven't had any problems since.
My 'Phone' icon has disappeared twice now, first time I restored it and rejailbroke it with greenpois0n. Then I restored with AptBackup and it disappeared again after that. Now showing on Spotlight search either. iPhone 3GS OS 4.2.1.
my ebooks disappered after 4.3.1 iphone4 redsnow jaillbreak any help please
What does it mean keep swiping???
I just got that problem today.. but it happens differently: when i press down an app, the icon and the "x" disappear :s tried swiping between home screens, and nothing.. only restarting the ipod turns the icon back, but if i hold down another time, the same happens... grrr
I just got this on a non jail broken 3GS running ios5. I'd just tricked the phone into putting newsstand into a folder and this seems to have confused springboard.