Skip to main content

iOS 13 bug allows third-party keyboards to upload your data without permission

iOS 13 has had a turbulent first few weeks as users continue to discover a new glitch seemingly every other day. Apple has quickly come to the rescue by releasing iOS 13.1 a week early but it turns out, the update doesn’t squash all the bugs.

In a brief advisory, Apple has warned iPhone and iPad owners about a bug concerning third-party keyboards. The issue allows any installed third-party keyboard like Gboard or Swiftkey to grant themselves “full-access” permissions — without your authorization.

Recommended Videos

Third-party keyboard apps, like any other iOS app, come with a set of permissions. You have the option to authorize only the ones you’re comfortable with. The optional permissions, when granted, enable these apps to offer supplementary features such as smart suggestions, spell check improvements, and more. To facilitate these abilities, keyboard apps need to process and collect your personal data, including your SMS messages in some cases, and everything you type.

Until now, users had the choice to use keyboard apps minus these extra tools. But on iOS 13, they can take advantage of the bug and function in full-access mode. It is worth noting that the glitch will be misused only if the developer wishes to and that most likely won’t happen as long as you stick to reputed brands such as Google and Microsoft-owned Swiftkey.

That doesn’t mean you should be worried about the third-party keyboard you’re employing at the moment — especially when you have already granted it full-access permissions. However, if there are multiple keyboard apps on your phone and you only actively operate on one of them, it’s best to get rid of the rest until Apple figures out a fix.

You can either uninstall them or disable the app in the keyboard settings. To do the latter, head over to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards > Edit.

“This issue does not impact Apple’s built-in keyboards. It also doesn’t impact third-party keyboards that don’t make use of full access. The issue will be fixed soon in an upcoming software update.”, wrote Apple in a support post.

The issue impacts both iOS 13 and iPadOS and, no, updating to iOS 13.1 won’t help. Fortunately, iOS 13.2 has entered the beta phase and should be available soon.

Shubham Agarwal
Shubham Agarwal is a freelance technology journalist from Ahmedabad, India. His work has previously appeared in Firstpost…
Why you shouldn’t care what number Apple puts on your iPhone’s software
The Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max's screen.

One number may change to another number at an important industry event on June 9, and despite some of the headlines that have been circulating around the news, this succinct explanation of what may happen allows you to guage its real importance. Apparently, Apple may use the WWDC 2025 keynote presentation to announce a change from the expected iOS 19 software’s name to iOS 26, and here’s why you shouldn’t worry about it. 

Many people won’t even know

Read more
iOS 19 isn’t coming this fall … because Apple is calling it something else
The back of the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max.

Apple will unveil the latest version of the iPhone operating system at WWDC next month, but apparently it won’t be “iOS 19.”

The tech giant is going to shake up the naming system for iOS, with the next version set to be called iOS 26, according to a Bloomberg report by prominent Apple tipster Mark Gurman on Wednesday.

Read more
5 lost iOS features I want to see return in iOS 19
Siri being shown on an iPhone 15 Pro on iOS 18.

In the second week of June, Apple will likely give the world a glimpse of its jazzed-up operating systems at WWDC 2025, and a major redesign is expected for iOS 19. Though I’ve always yearned for a return to the skeuomorphism look, we are hearing that Apple is eying a unified aesthetic language that is more reminiscent of Vision OS running on its uber-expensive headset.

A lot of eyes and ears will hunt for AI-related announcements, especially in the wake of Apple Intelligence flubs and delays. On the more practical side of things, an AI fitness coach might land this year with the iOS 19 update. But after going through all the hype and rumors, I hope Apple brings back the following features that it abandoned years ago, but with a modern makeover: 

Read more