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Some iPhone Apps Receive Mysterious Update 'From Apple'

Apple appears to be quietly updating some apps, based on curious new update notes that have appeared on the App Store.

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Over the last week, some app updates have included notes that suggest the update is coming from Apple rather than an app developer. "This update from Apple will improve the functionality of this app. No new features are included," reads the description.

Some of the apps that have been updated include Candy Crush Soda Saga, Sentry Mobile, Catan Universe, Bluetti, Mortal Kombat, Duet Display, VLC, and many more.

app store updates from apple
It's not clear what functionality Apple is improving with each app update, if any. One developer on Reddit said that Apple inserted the text into an app update that had the same version number and content as a prior update.

The update text is appearing on apps that have not been updated in some time, as well as apps that received recent updates, so it's not clear what the apps have in common. When analyzing the code of one of the apps that received an Apple update, MacRumors could not find what had changed.

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Top Rated Comments

jmh600cbr Avatar
1 hour ago at 03:24 pm
This is incredibly odd. Could be an api that deprecated but function was replaced by a new one?
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
zantafio Avatar
50 minutes ago at 03:40 pm
the Palantir plug in.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Non-Euclidean Avatar
46 minutes ago at 03:44 pm
Any post with a subject like this needs to have the X-Files theme song auto playing.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
48 minutes ago at 03:43 pm
I have seen this before a couple of years ago. Probably to update the FairPlay certificates so it can continue to work after a certain time
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
2 minutes ago at 04:29 pm

I have seen this before a couple of years ago. Probably to update the FairPlay certificates so it can continue to work after a certain time
Yes, this is most likely a certificate update. It happens every so often.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iDento Avatar
48 minutes ago at 03:42 pm
I bet it’s an AI employee that’s acting weird, and no one can figure out how to stop “him”.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)