iPhone users shocked after discovering hidden iOS 26 glitch that could be ruining texts
The iOS 26 update breaks typing for iPhone and iPad users
Featured Image Credit: Fiordaliso / Getty
Apple began rolling out iOS 26 widely in September 2025, bringing a selection of new features, some of which Android users have enjoyed for quite some time.
iOS 26 certainly hasn't been short on discussion. Complaints have ranged from accusations that the Liquid Glass overhaul is just visual polish to battery-drain quibbles, as some people scrambled to revert the update.
Now, it appears Apple's major annual software update has severely broken the keyboard experience for countless users worldwide.
Over the past few weeks, users across social forums have been reporting a frustrating issue that's sabotaging their text messages and making typing feel like a gamble.
Advert
The glitch occurs in several infuriating ways.
Taps register completely wrong letters, while the spacebar randomly misfires, creating awkward gaps or missing spaces entirely. Words appear scrambled or out of order, even when autocorrect is switched off.
Perhaps most frustratingly, the keyboard occasionally registers the wrong keypress even after completely disabling autocorrect.
One YouTuber, Michi NekoMichi, filmed the glitch in slow motion to prove it wasn't user error. In the clip, you can clearly see every press landing squarely on one key while a completely different letter lights up instead. The keyboard is inserting characters that don't correspond to where the user's finger actually touched the screen.
The issue isn't limited to a specific iPhone model, either. Reports span across devices from the latest iPhone 17 Pro all the way back to last year's iPhone 16 Pro.
iPads are reportedly also being affected by the glitch.
Users hoping to work around the problem by switching to third-party keyboards like Gboard or SwiftKey have discovered that it doesn't solve anything.
Apple hasn’t publicly acknowledged the problem yet, though the company is expected to roll out a patch soon, considering the widespread complaints.
But to some users, iOS 26 isn't a total disaster. The same update that broke keyboards also quietly delivered some of the most useful upgrades iPhone users have seen in years.
One of the biggest surprises was tucked inside the Apple Calendar app.
After taking a screenshot of an event poster, flyer, or invitation, your phone now recognises the event details and instantly offers to add them to your calendar. It's a small touch, but an efficient one for anyone who understands the hassle of manually adding event information from a photo into their calendar app.