A newly discovered issue in Apple’s Messages app prevents users from sending voice messages that include the ampersand (“&”) special character. This affects brand names like H&M, Dave & Buster’s, and Tiffany & Co., making them impossible to mention in voice recordings shared through iMessage.
The problem was first identified by the team behind the Search Engine podcast and later examined in detail by app developer Guilherme Rambo. When a user tries to send a voice message containing, for example, “Dave & Buster’s,” the recipient only sees an indicator showing three dots, suggesting that the message is being typed. However, after a few seconds, the message disappears without ever reaching the recipient.
Parsing Error Linked to Transcripts, Not Audio
Interestingly, the root of the problem lies not in the audio itself but in the auto-generated text transcripts that accompany the voice messages, notes NIXSOLUTIONS. Apple’s decoding engine attempts to transcribe recognized phrases—including brand names with ampersands—into text. These transcripts are then embedded in the message using XHTML.
The ampersand symbol, however, is not correctly handled within this formatting language. This leads to a parsing error on the recipient’s device. As a result, the message fails to send. Instead of delivering the audio clip, Apple’s built-in BlastDoor security feature blocks it entirely. BlastDoor is designed to protect users from potential attacks that could be carried out by sending malicious data through iMessage.
Apple’s BlastDoor Feature Prevents Delivery
Guilherme Rambo explored this issue further in a detailed blog post. He explains that the ampersand’s incompatibility with XHTML likely causes the message to be flagged as unsafe. BlastDoor then intervenes by discarding the message silently, leaving no trace for the recipient.
At this time, Apple has not publicly addressed the bug or announced a fix. Since the issue stems from a conflict between transcription formatting and security protocols, a resolution may require adjustments to how ampersands are handled in transcripts.
For now, users should be cautious when including brand names or any phrases with “&” in voice messages. We’ll keep you updated as more information or fixes become available.