iPhone 5 Virtual Keyboard Display Flicker Issue Appears

Maura · Oct 18, 2012

AppleInsider reports today on a technical glitch with the iPhone 5s virtual keyboard, which has come to light on a thread on the Apple Support Communities forum. The flicker, as seen in the above video, apparently occurs when you press the .?123 key in the bottom-left corner of the screen when in portrait mode. Specifically, the problem seems to be confined to occasions when the user is prompted to enter their Apple ID password, such as when purchasing an app from the App Store. It does not happen every time though, according to AppleInsider, only occasionally. Although AppleInsider notes that the problem is most likely a software issue, as it only occurs in certain circumstances, and not a problem with the iPhone 5s display, it seems to be confined to the iPhone 5. On postings on the support boards, users have said that the glitch is not repeated on iPhone 4Ss, even when they are running iOS 6. One suggestion for fixing the glitch that comes from Apples technical support is to try a hard reset of your phone, by pressing the power and home buttons at the same time.

Source: Users experiencing graphical glitch with iPhone 5 virtual keyboard

Skull One · Oct 18, 2012

I got bad news for them. I have had that happen with a Folder with 13 apps in it.

My current working theory is that there is a screen electrical issue with over voltage due to static discharge from the person using the phone.

dbplumb · Oct 18, 2012

Skull One said:
My current working theory is that there is a screen electrical issue with over voltage due to static discharge from the person using the phone.

This would be bad news for my wife. Man, she has some static
I have seen it discharge from her getting out of cars at night
Always grounds herself getting out of car at gas stations after watching Mythbusters programe on cell phones causing fires at gas stations

faizanshakyboy · Oct 19, 2012

Static lines is yet another undocumented feature in :iphone4vert:.

faizanshakyboy · Oct 21, 2012

apple lack of quality control.... what a mess.... but the chipping black paint is the worst of all..

hookbill · Oct 21, 2012

I could see this being possible. Specially as we get into the cooler months, unless you have a humidifier around you're going to create more static electricity. No way is this Apple lack of control quality, Apple does a great job of quality control.

28offroader · Oct 22, 2012

This has happened to me several times with my i5 as well as a family members 4s. So it's ios6 related, not iphone 5.

Skull One · Oct 22, 2012

I ran iOS 6, since beta 1, on my 4S and never saw anything like that. Love to see a video of a 4S doing it. Would make me feel a heck of a lot better about the new display on the 5.

28offroader · Oct 22, 2012

Skull One said:
I ran iOS 6, since beta 1, on my 4S and never saw anything like that. Love to see a video of a 4S doing it. Would make me feel a heck of a lot better about the new display on the 5.

If it happens again I'll do my best to get video of it. Said family member said it was very brief and that it only happened once. She did see when it was happening to my i5 and says it was exactly the same on her 4s.

Skull One · Oct 22, 2012

28offroader said:
If it happens again I'll do my best to get video of it. Said family member said it was very brief and that it only happened once. She did see when it was happening to my i5 and says it was exactly the same on her 4s.

Don't worry about it. Apple just admitted today that it is an iOS 6 bug. Which I was thrilled to read

Still curious how I got that bug to happen without the keyboard displaying, but if they fix the display code it should fix my issue as well.

Crxx · Oct 23, 2012

I too am glad they are workin to fix it.... I've had it happen a few times.... It doesn't change my opinion about my iPhone at all

edwinmiller · Oct 25, 2012

Sometimes it seems like iPhone 5 is loaded with glitches. I am saying this since the launch of iPhone 5 several glitches like WiFi bug, purple haze etcand now one more with virtual keyword are being discovered. Currently , Apples discussion board is filled with screen flickering problem.

Same problems are widely reported in Japan too. But company did investigate and have replaced devices to a few.

And still the glitch persists. What will Apple do this time?

Thomasjtsi · Oct 25, 2012

They aren't replacing many devices for these issues due to it not being a hardware issue. Rather, it's a software issue... which hopefully will be resolved w/ iOS 6.0.1 that Apple is currently working on.