University student Connor Byrne found his iPhone 13 unusable after updating from iOS 18 to iOS 26.4 on April 5. The upgrade stripped the lock‑screen Czech keyboard of the háček (ˇ), a character he relies on for his alphanumeric passcode. Unable to enter the symbol, he’s been locked out of a device that stores irreplaceable photos.

Byrne’s choice of a custom passcode reflects a security‑first mindset, but Apple’s removal of the háček from the lock‑screen keyboard—while keeping it in the regular keyboard—means the key registers a tap without inserting the character. Support staff suggested a full restore, which would wipe his data, and the subsequent iOS 26.4.1 update failed to re‑enable the symbol.

Testing by The Register confirmed the bug on an iPhone 16 upgraded to the same version, showing the accent key’s animation and sound but no output. With Face ID unusable until the first unlock and external keyboards blocked, Byrne resorted to a cheap Android phone while awaiting a fix that Apple has yet to provide.