June is one of the best time of 12 months to provide suggestions to Apple on betas for iPhone, Mac, iPad and Apple Watch. Simply after the corporate releases the preliminary betas of its upcoming software program updates, that is when Apple engineers have probably the most time to handle bugs and make adjustments. And that makes this the optimum time to file an Apple bug report.
It gained’t be lengthy earlier than Apple engineers’ activity lists replenish by way of the autumn, when the brand new software program will likely be launched. After that, groups are rearranged to make the dash towards the subsequent 12 months’s updates. So if in case you have any enter, you’d greatest make your self heard now.
How do you file a bug report or ship in suggestions to Apple? Apple made a instrument known as Suggestions Assistant that may information you thru the method. It’s out there for those who’re operating a developer or a public beta of iOS, macOS or iPadOS. Right here’s how.
Tips on how to file a bug report and suggestions to Apple
Screenshot: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
Able to report a bug to Apple? Simply open the Suggestions app in your iPhone or iPad or Suggestions Assistant on Mac. You’ll must sign up together with your Apple ID. Then faucet the New Suggestions button.
You’ll see an inventory of classes. As an finish person, you’ll most likely choose from the primary 5 gadgets (iOS & iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, watchOS and HomePod). The others are for builders, enterprise gadget managers and accessory-makers.
Subsequent, you might want to write a title to your Apple bug report. You need the title to be quick and exact, like a headline. You may naturally describe a difficulty like, “If I don’t have the Contacts app put in, I can’t get an AirDrop of a contact card.” Nonetheless, you’d need to title your suggestions, “Can not obtain contact over AirDrop with out Contacts app put in.”
Think twice about the way you categorize your suggestions
Screenshot: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
The following query you will notice is among the most vital: “Which space are you seeing a difficulty with?” Within the previous instance, the suggestions may very well be filed underneath both AirDrop or Contacts.
There are just a few forces at play behind the scenes. Apple’s engineers will take any excuse to say, “This suggestions doesn’t apply to us, I’m going to shut it.” So that you positively don’t need to categorize your Apple bug report incorrectly. Alternatively, for those who assign a suggestions to a class with a skeleton crew of three individuals, like Sport Middle or Calendar, your suggestions is like yet one more physique within the 2-mile-long iPhone line.
Again to the instance, each AirDrop and Contacts could be absolutely staffed, particularly if each apps obtained new headlining options this 12 months. So for this instance, I’m going to file my Apple bug report underneath Contacts.
Now, you might want to choose what sort of suggestions you’re reporting:
- Incorrect/Surprising Habits is Apple’s euphemism for a bug. One thing goes mistaken contained in the app when you’re utilizing it, or doesn’t work because it ought to.
- Utility Crash is self-explanatory — you’re utilizing the app when it all of the sudden disappears and drops you to the iPhone Residence Display with no warning or animation.
- Utility Sluggish/Unresponsive is for when issues appear to be functioning as supposed, however the app feels gradual, jittery or doesn’t react to your contact.
- Battery Life is a catch-all for complaints about an app degrading your battery life.
- Suggestion is for suggestions and concepts. Apple’s engineers learn these, allegedly, however few obtain any consideration.
Write description
Screenshot: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
Within the subsequent part, you need to describe find out how to re-create the issue as exactly as you possibly can. See if you will get the bug to occur once more for those who do the identical factor. Additionally, see for those who can arrange a state of affairs the place it doesn’t occur. The extra info you possibly can put on this field, the higher. Step-by-step directions are nearly as good as gold when submitting an Apple bug report.
On the very least, retrace your steps. Define what you have been doing earlier than the unhealthy or surprising conduct occurred in as a lot element as potential.
If you wish to connect screenshots or display screen recordings, faucet Add Attachment. It’ll solely be seen by Apple Developer Relations and relayed to Apple engineers, however it’s best to nonetheless censor any personally revealing content material contained in the screenshot if potential. A sysdiagnose — an routinely generated report on the state of the gadget — will likely be hooked up to the suggestions. This report of assorted system settings will assist in the debugging course of if needed.
When you get every little thing finalized, faucet Submit to ship in your suggestions.
Be sure you observe up in your Apple bug report
There are some things it’s best to know after you submit your bug report:
- Your suggestions will likely be relayed by way of Apple’s Developer Relations system. Any replies you placed on the suggestions with follow-up or new info will not be assured to be handed alongside to the engineers who’re really tasked with dealing with it.
- For those who make an vital discovery after submitting the suggestions, don’t hassle replying to your unique report. File a contemporary suggestions with all the data in a single place.
- If it’s a very catastrophic bug that’s afflicting you, submitting the identical suggestions once more instantly after Apple releases a brand new beta may assist. Apple pays particular consideration to bugs which might be filed round that point.
- In case you are blessed with a response, you might want to file a reply as quickly as potential. Typically, for those who don’t reply inside just a few days of testing on the most recent developer beta, Apple will take into account the problem resolved.
You simply could be fortunate sufficient to have your bugs and suggestions addressed earlier than the month is over for those who observe all the following pointers. If that occurs, purchase a lottery ticket and take me to Vegas when you’re at it.
We initially printed this submit on find out how to file an Apple bug report on June 14, 2023. We up to date the data on June 24, 2024 and June 12, 2025.
