How to fix the annoying ! [?] text bug on iPhone and iPad

iOS 11.1.1 is now available through Settings > General > Software Update. It fixes the weird bug going around where the letter i was being autocorrected as I️ (an exclamation mark with a box, originally containing the letter A, now the ?).

The bug seemingly spread through Apple's new Machine Learning facility in the QuickType keyboard. The feature is supposed to identify, learn, and share new trends in online language and usage. So, for example, if everyone starts typing Animoji, the system learns it's a new, popular word and corrects for it, rather than trying to correct away from it.

In this case, somehow, the letter i got paired with a non-display character meant for emoji rendering and ridiculousness ensued.

Apple is no doubt working to prevent this from happening again. Meanwhile, if you're suffering from the problem on your ! [?]Phone or ! [?]Pad — sorry, had to — you can fix it by downloading and installing the iOS 11.1.1 update.

If, for some reason, you can't or simply don't want to update to iOS 11.1.1 yet, you can use the following temporary workaround until you update:

1. Launch Settings from your Home screen.
2. Tap on General.

3. Tap on Keyboard.

   

4. Tap on Text Replacement.
5. Tap on Add (looks like +).
6. Type I for Phrase.
7. Type i for Shortcut.

8. Tap Done.

   

You can also use a third-party custom keyboard from the App Store. Since 3rd-party keyboards can't access the iOS autocorrect system, they can't experience the bug.

• GBoard
• SwiftKey
• Swype

Any questions?

If you have any questions, comments, or tips of your own to share, drop them in the comments below!

Updated November 9, 2017 with information on the release of iOS 11.1.1.