Bug in iOS 9.3 lets you make folder icons circular – here's how to take advantage of it

posted by Luis D. / May 11, 2016, 9:54 AM

Bug in iOS 9.3 lets you make folder icons circular – here's how to take advantage of it

Bugs in iOS aren't usually very fun. In fact, they can mess up your beloved handset or tablet pretty bad if Apple's developers have had a particularly rough patch at work. Strange as it may seem, though, happy accidents do happen as well! For all the system errors that could crash your iPhone or iPad when you needed it the most, there's one glitch that does something completely zany and unexpected – like make all the app folders you created appear as circles, instead of rounded rectangles!

The bugger was found in iOS 9.3 and 9.3.1 and occurs when you choose to do something most users will probably never think of in their lives – which is set up a 3x3 pixel wallpaper. That's literally it – no additional modding is required to round out your folders.

Check out the slideshow for the instructions and the hearty selection of colorful 3x3 pixel wallpapers that you can download on your iOS device and make it do the magic trick. Just keep in mind that rounded folders won't work if you have turned on the "Reduce translucency" setting inside the Accessibility settings menu.

Bug in iOS 9.3 lets you make folder icons circular

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30 Comments

1. oozz009

Posts: 520; Member since: Jun 22, 2015

I really hope that this isn't a bug at all and instead it's an "Easter egg" for the folder shape in iOS X (10)!!!

posted on May 11, 2016, 10:01 AM 1

30. Brewski

Posts: 722; Member since: Jun 05, 2012

iOS users get so excited over the stupidest sh¡t. Simple pleasures for simple minds.

posted on May 12, 2016, 12:58 AM 2

2. Khmer-Geek unregistered

just zero deal apple gonna fix it unlike other copycat os

posted on May 11, 2016, 10:22 AM 3

3. tedkord

Posts: 17452; Member since: Jun 17, 2009

Sure. Enjoying those lead paint chips?

posted on May 11, 2016, 10:31 AM 8

4. Mxyzptlk unregistered

He does make a fair point. Unless you're using a Nexus, bug fixes and patches can sometimes be delayed. Even the Nexus devices don't get the patches right then and there because it gets sent out in waves.

posted on May 11, 2016, 10:33 AM 1

15. buccob

Posts: 2978; Member since: Jun 19, 2012

So having the option to make folders rounds is a bug and needs a patch? Hmph... no wonder Apple lacks customization and functionality, if the people behind it think like you...

posted on May 11, 2016, 11:23 AM 7

16. techspace

Posts: 1037; Member since: Sep 03, 2012

Staged rollouts are safer, remember what happened with iOS 8.0.1?

posted on May 11, 2016, 11:31 AM 5

20. tedkord

Posts: 17452; Member since: Jun 17, 2009

Can be. Bugs have persisted for months and longer on iOS, also. So what's the actual point? Other than trolling. Besides, I think this is a cool option, I wouldn't even call it a bug. Unless it causes other issues.

posted on May 11, 2016, 1:11 PM 4

6. sissy246

Posts: 7129; Member since: Mar 04, 2015

Or its not a bug and the are copying others to let you change it on your ios.

posted on May 11, 2016, 10:40 AM 4

8. submar

Posts: 713; Member since: Sep 19, 2014

Copying customization on Android.

posted on May 11, 2016, 10:44 AM 4

11. Jimrod

Posts: 1605; Member since: Sep 22, 2014

Pretty sure Android didn't invent customization of a homescreen, that's been around forever with this program called "Windows".

posted on May 11, 2016, 10:59 AM 2

17. techspace

Posts: 1037; Member since: Sep 03, 2012

When it comes to customization, Android is the best in the world. Skins make Windows slower, that doesn't happen with Android launchers/icon packs.

posted on May 11, 2016, 11:42 AM 6

19. MrElectrifyer

Posts: 3960; Member since: Oct 21, 2014

Depends on which skin you install. Just like some used to find Tiuchwiz laggy and prefer a different launcher 'cause of that.

posted on May 11, 2016, 12:50 PM 1

22. tedkord

Posts: 17452; Member since: Jun 17, 2009

TouchWiz was laggy, though not to the extent some liked to claim. I always used Nova Prime launcher paid version. Zero lag. I don't even know what TW home is like on my Note 5, because Nova goes on immediately on setup. I'm just so used to it, and can just load the saved configuration. It's set up exactly how I like.

posted on May 11, 2016, 1:18 PM 0

25. techspace

Posts: 1037; Member since: Sep 03, 2012

Nothing can beat Android when it comes to customization, most of the other operating systems get slower when you try to use skins etc, Android actually gets faster when you customize it.

posted on May 11, 2016, 2:05 PM 2

28. MrElectrifyer

Posts: 3960; Member since: Oct 21, 2014

Yeah, same here, Nova Launcher is one of the first things I configure on a fresh ROM install. Seamlessly handles themes, widgets, custom layouts, etc. It's like a dozen or more jailbreak tweaks packed into 1, and it works much better and smooth. Only thing I wish it eventually gains is this ActionLauncher pop-up widgets feature: http://feedback.novalauncher.com/forums/145180-nova-feature-requests/suggestions/6430398-add-a-shutters-like-popup-widget-feature

posted on May 11, 2016, 6:59 PM 0

24. techspace

Posts: 1037; Member since: Sep 03, 2012

I am talking about the launchers/icons that you get to install yourself on your device... and touchwiz is not heavy just because of the icons/launcher , it's heavy because it comes with a lot of extra stuff that you may never use, like those useless programs in HP laptops.

posted on May 11, 2016, 1:57 PM 0

27. MrElectrifyer

Posts: 3960; Member since: Oct 21, 2014

Oh, just changing the icons/shortcuts and their layout via a launcher doesn't slow it down for sure, neither does changing the start menu and app icons slow down Windows. What will slow it down is adding multiple applications that constantly run in the background, same thing with Android.

posted on May 11, 2016, 6:49 PM 0

31. techspace

Posts: 1037; Member since: Sep 03, 2012

There are many Android launchers that completely change the UI, icons, add gestures, floating apps etc without making the device lag, and all of it via a single app installation from the play store, that doesn't happen on Windows,transformation packs are too heavy, sometimes difficult to install/uninstall.

posted on May 12, 2016, 1:49 AM 0

32. MrElectrifyer

Posts: 3960; Member since: Oct 21, 2014

There are Windows Store apps like Tablet Pro and TouchMe Gesture Studio that add a whole bunch of system-wide usage improvements without 'causing any lag. There's also apps for totallly changing the start menu and Window looks, like offered by StarDocks Start10 and Windows Blinds software, without needing to constanstantly run in the background, thus 'causing lag. TLDR: Such software exists on Windows, you just gotta know how to use it...

posted on May 12, 2016, 8:38 AM 1

33. techspace

Posts: 1037; Member since: Sep 03, 2012

I know what you are talking about but they all run on top of the default Windows UI so they do make the PC use more resources, Android launchers just replace default launcher instead of running on top of it, Android has been built to be customized.

posted on May 12, 2016, 12:49 PM 0

34. Plutonium239

Posts: 1239; Member since: Mar 17, 2015

Certain Windows Blinds skins actually make Windows seem to respond faster if your PC has low to mid range specs.

posted on May 12, 2016, 4:22 PM 1

21. tedkord

Posts: 17452; Member since: Jun 17, 2009

I always find it interesting that when Samsung offers something that was on Windows for years but after Apple, they're copying Apple. But when it's reversed, the opposite is true.