There’s a silver lining for iPhone 15 owners who’ve faced a frustrating issue: Apple’s latest software update, iOS 17, has finally fixed the problem where wireless charging in certain cars would disable the phone’s NFC capabilities, including Apple Pay.
The problem was first noticed back in October. Some BMW drivers found that after placing their iPhone 15 on the car’s wireless charging tray, the NFC chip wouldn’t work, rendering services like Apple Pay inoperable. Owners of the new Toyota Supra experienced the same hiccup, which wasn’t too surprising given both car models share similar technology for wireless charging.
The situation was bothersome, with affected users encountering an error that read, “Could Not Set Up Apple Pay,” when they tried to access their Wallet app. For some, the only solution was getting their phone replaced.
Now, Apple has stepped in with a resolution. The iOS 17.1.1 update comes with a note that reads, “this update provides bug fixes for your iPhone.” It specifically addresses the glitch that caused Apple Pay and other NFC features to go awry after being wirelessly charged in specific vehicles. Another quirky bug, which incorrectly displayed the lock-screen weather icon—showing a generic file icon when it was supposed to indicate snow—has also been corrected.
Apple advises iPhone 15 owners, especially those with a BMW, to install the update without delay to ensure their wireless charging works seamlessly once again.
Beyond the vehicle wireless charging debacle, it seems Apple has been putting out fires left and right with the iPhone 15. Early adopters have had their patience tested with several issues at launch, including a bug that froze the phone during data transfer from an old device. Apple responded quickly with updates to mitigate these teething problems.
In a broader move, there were reports that Apple paused iOS 18’s development to focus on rectifying prevalent bugs. This decision, highlighted in a Bloomberg article, suggests that Apple’s software engineering team encountered more errors, or ‘escapes,’ than they were comfortable with in the early builds of iOS 18 and iPadOS 18. This step back is aimed at enhancing the stability and performance of future software before it progresses further in development.
This initiative by Apple could be a strategic one, anticipating that a smoother, more robust software will pave the way for a better user experience, potentially reducing the frequency of such inconvenient glitches in the years to come.
Owners of the latest iPhone models are hoping that this careful attention to detail in software development will translate into fewer headaches and more reliable use of their beloved devices. With this update, at least for now, it seems they can enjoy the full suite of their iPhone’s features, whether they’re behind the wheel or braving a blizzard, reflected accurately on their lock screens.
