iPhone users are BAFFLED as glitch installs random apps on their smartphones - here's what to do if your device is affected

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Apple's new software update finally brings new emoji and other hotly-anticipated features to millions of iPhones. 

But iOS 18.4 – released on Monday – is also delivering a bizarre bug that's leaving users 'confused'. 

After installing iOS 18.4, iPhone users are noticing random gaming apps on their device without their approval, such as Dropbox, GarageBand, Cooking Mama, Squid Game: Unleashed and Last War: Survival.

Bizarrely, these apps are appearing even though some users have never had them downloaded on their iPhone before.

Users took to Reddit to share the issue, with one saying they feel like they're 'using some cheap Chinese mobile'.

Another person asked: 'is apple pulling a samsung and allowing carriers to install random b*******?'

Already this week, users have encountered battery drain following the update, described by one as 'utterly horrendous'.  

Here's what to do if you've been affected by Apple's latest glitch. 

iOS 18.4 includes eight hotly-anticipated emoji and new AI-powered capabilities in Apple Intelligence - but it also seems to be bringing unwanted apps with it (file photo)

After installing iOS 18.4, iPhone users are noticing random gaming apps on their device without their approval, such as Dropbox, GarageBand and Squid Game: Unleashed (pictured)

On the Apple Community support page, one user flagged the issue, saying their iPhone installed Last War: Survival, a strategic zombie survival game.

'This app was previously installed on my iPhone a few months ago but uninstalled after a few hours,' they said. 'Now it appeared back on my Home Screen.'

Someone else on Reddit said: 'I recently installed iOS 18.4, and an application that I hadn't had installed for months has appeared – is that normal?' 

A fellow Redditor said: 'Mine just started randomly downloading the game last war', while another replied: 'Mine too! I've never had that app installed before!'

A fourth added: 'I saw it in my app drawer and was so confused.' 

Another said: 'Today I feel like I'm using some cheap Chinese mobile where after software update some random application installed in my phone for no reason.' 

Yet another had the game Ingress installed after updating to iOS 18.4 – even though they 'do not play games on my phone except chess'.

And it seems the App Store – Apple's marketplace where iPhone customers go to install such apps – is not registering the glitch. 

On the Apple Community support page , one user flagged the issue, saying their iPhone installed Last War: Survival (pictured)

One user pointed out: 'What's weird is that looking at the App Store, Cooking Mama shows "Get" instead of the redownload button. 

'So according to the App Store, I've never owned it but it appeared on my device.' 

One user said they had not one but five apps randomly installed after updating, adding that their phone was 'oddly hot'. 

MailOnline has contacted Apple for more information about the cause of the glitch and how to stop random apps appearing.

If you're affected, the solution may be just to uninstall them from your device until official advice arrives from the company. 

You can check your iPhone apps by swiping left past all your Home Screen pages to get to App Library, then scrolling up and down to browse the alphabetical list.

Tech tips site ZDNet said it's unclear 'what's going on' but added that it is 'clearly some sort of mistake on Apple's end' but we'll 'have to wait for Apple to explain'. 

'It is clearly rather embarrassing for a company that makes so much noise about security to start installing random apps onto people's iPhones,' said Adrian Kingsley-Hughes, a researcher at ZDNet.

If you're yet to get iOS 18.4 and aren't deterred by the prospect of battery drain your iPhone should alert you that the new update is available

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On Apple Community, a blogger said it seems 'very unlikely' that this bug has been caused by anything other than the iOS update. 

'Lots of users seem to report the same problem, all in the last few days, after the update,' they pointed out. 

Also, MacRumors said it doesn't seem to be related to Apple's Automatic Downloads option, which enables automatic downloads of apps purchased on other Apple devices – although you may want to turn this off just in case. 

If you're yet to get iOS 18.4, your iPhone should alert you that the new update is available. 

iPhone users can download iOS 18.4 by going to the Settings app, clicking 'General' and then 'Software Updates' before following on-screen instructions.

iOS 18.4 includes eight new emojis, as well as a new Sketch Style option in Image Playground and recipes in Apple News+. 

The new emoji are a face with bags under its eyes, paint splatter, fingerprint, root vegetable, leafless tree, harp, shovel and flag of Sark (the island in the English Channel). 

Also in iOS 18.4 are AI-powered Priority Notifications, which highlights 'important notifications that may require your immediate attention'. 

With the update, Apple Intelligence – Apple's suite of AI features – is now available in French, German, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish, Japanese, Korean and Chinese (simplified), plus localised English for Singapore and India. 

THE TRILLION DOLLAR RISE OF APPLE

1976: Founders Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne created the company on April 1 1976 as they set about selling computer kits to hobbyists, each of which was built by Wozniak.

The first product was the Apple I. 

1977: Apple released the Apple II in June, which was the first PC made for the mass market. 

Steve Jobs unveils Apple Computer Corporation's new Macintosh February 6, 1984 in California.

1981: Jobs became chairman.  

1984: The Macintosh was introduced during an ad break for the Super Bowl and later officially unveiled during a launch event. It was discontinued a year later and Jobs left the firm.

1987: Apple released the Macintosh II, the first colour Mac.

1997: Apple announces it will acquire NeXT software in a $400 million deal that involves Jobs returning to Apple as interim CEO. He officially took the role in 2000.  

The then Chief Executive Officer of Apple, Steve Jobs, with the iPhone

2001: Apple introduced iTunes, OS X and the first-generation iPod.

The first iPod MP3 music player was released on October 23, 2001, at an event in Cupertino and was able to hold up to 1,000 songs.

2007: Apple unveils the iPhone. 

2010: The first iPad was unveiled.

2011: Jobs resigned in 2011 due to illness, handing the CEO title to Tim Cook. Jobs died in October from pancreatic cancer.

2014: Apple unveiled the Apple Watch. It also unveiled its first larger iPhones - the 6 and 6 Plus. 

2015: After purchasing Beats from Dr Dre, Apple launched Apple Music to compete with Spotify and other music streaming services. 

2016: Apple returned to its roots and announced the 4-inch iPhone SE. Meanwhile, the firm is embroiled in a legal battle with the FBI, involving the agency demanding access to the locked phone used by Syed Farook, who died in a shootout after carrying out a deadly December attack in San Bernardino, California with his wife. The court order was dropped on March 28 after the FBI said a third party was able to unlock the device.  

2017: Apple introduces the iPhone X, which removes the home button to make way for a futuristic edge-to-edge screen design and a new FaceID system that uses advanced sensors and lasers to unlock phones with just the owner's face.    

Apple CEO Steve Jobs speaks at an Apple event at Apple headquarters in Cupertino, Calif.

2018: In a first for the company, Apple introduces new features in its latest operating system, iOS 12, that encourage users to manage and spend less time on their devices. The move was spawned by a strongly worded letter from shareholders that urged the firm to address the growing problem of smartphone addiction among kids and teenagers. 

2019: In January, Apple reports its first decline in revenues and profits in a decade. CEO Tim Cook partly blamed steep declines in revenue from China.

2020: In March, Apple closes all its bricks and mortar retail stores outside of China in response to coronavirus. 

2021: In an online virtual event in April CEO Tim Cook declared Apple's goal of becoming carbon neutral for Earth Day. Later in the year the iPhone 13 was announced. 

2022: In September the iPhone 14 was announced. One of the new features included a new sensor to detect if a user had been in a car crash as well as an improved camera system. 

2023: Apple brought back its 'Home Pod' after the first generation was discontinued. The 'Home Pod' can be seen as an alternative to Amazon's Alexa or Google Home as it is powered by voice commands. 

2024: Apple makes its first steps into artificial intelligence with the release of Apple Intelligence. The features are not all released at once with many delayed until the following year.