Some iPhone Apps Receive Mysterious Update 'From Apple' - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

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.

Liquid Glass App Store Feature
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.

Popular Stories

intel macs no more updates

Mac App Store Apps Can Now Drop Support for Intel Macs

Tuesday September 1, 2026 4:50 pm PDT by
Apple today informed developers that universal Mac App Store apps that require macOS 13 or later can remove support for Intel-based Mac computers. We're reaching out to let you know that universal macOS apps on the Mac App Store that require macOS 13 or later can now remove support for Intel-based Mac computers. By removing support for Intel-based Mac computers, you can simplify your...
MapQuest Logo 2026

MapQuest Tops App Store Charts After Refusing 'Lake America' Change

Monday August 31, 2026 7:49 am PDT by
MapQuest is in the spotlight this week after refusing to change "Lake Ontario" to "Lake America" on its map following an executive order issued by U.S. President Donald Trump last week. As of Monday morning, the MapQuest app is the top free iPhone app on Apple's App Store charts in Canada and fourth on the equivalent U.S. chart. For our younger readers, MapQuest was once a popular service...
Liquid Glass App Store Feature

Apple Plans to Squeeze More Revenue From the App Store, Report Says

Monday September 7, 2026 3:19 am PDT by
Apple is looking at further ways to monetize the App Store and increase the company's recurring revenue from the platform, according to a new report. Writing in his latest Power On newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said that newly appointed Apple CEO John Ternus and services chief Eddy Cue are behind the effort to raise margins from the App Store, which already generates Apple an estimated ...

Top Rated Comments

turbineseaplane Avatar
23 weeks ago
Every App now gets the U2 Album pre-installed!
Score: 31 Votes (Like | Disagree)
23 weeks ago
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: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
zantafio Avatar
23 weeks ago
the Palantir plug in.
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Non-Euclidean Avatar
23 weeks ago
Any post with a subject like this needs to have the X-Files theme song auto playing.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
23 weeks ago
Nice try, Apple. There's zero chance in hell I'll download candy crush.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jmh600cbr Avatar
23 weeks ago
This is incredibly odd. Could be an api that deprecated but function was replaced by a new one?
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)