Something Weird Just Happened, iPhone
July 8, 2023 5:50 PM Subscribe
So I downloaded a few photos from my phone onto my computer like I have done a hundred times, and then opened another program. But when I clicked back over to the phone, part of the file name was in Chinese* characters, and it definitely has always been all English. And then I closed it and opened it again, and more of the address of my phone was in Chinese characters.
Also, a couple of the photos files would not open - but that happens sometimes so I wasn't worried (before I noticed the strange characters). I tried to open one and it was taking a long time to open so I closed the window. And then I adjusted some of the photos in Adobe Elements. And that's when I clicked back over and saw the strange characters. And then I got a random message that something had downloaded on my computer, which may have just been a picture file or I may have accidentally downloaded a short video, but uh, might have been something else? It didn't say what had downloaded.
Then I closed that and unplugged my phone and now I'm just a little bit freaking out about it. I am a bit of an idiot about my phone, apologies, please explain like I am 5. (But not a current 5-year old who probably knows more than I do.)
It is an iPhone Xr.
Perhaps it was just glitchy older phone thing because it probably has Chinese and other languages on it? I have not tried to look at the phone again after I turned off the screen. I did not turn it off.
Still on my computer writing this question, though.
*I am only guessing Chinese - I am not familiar enough to know which of probably several Asian languages it was, very blocky and with some tiny flourishy bits.
Also, a couple of the photos files would not open - but that happens sometimes so I wasn't worried (before I noticed the strange characters). I tried to open one and it was taking a long time to open so I closed the window. And then I adjusted some of the photos in Adobe Elements. And that's when I clicked back over and saw the strange characters. And then I got a random message that something had downloaded on my computer, which may have just been a picture file or I may have accidentally downloaded a short video, but uh, might have been something else? It didn't say what had downloaded.
Then I closed that and unplugged my phone and now I'm just a little bit freaking out about it. I am a bit of an idiot about my phone, apologies, please explain like I am 5. (But not a current 5-year old who probably knows more than I do.)
It is an iPhone Xr.
Perhaps it was just glitchy older phone thing because it probably has Chinese and other languages on it? I have not tried to look at the phone again after I turned off the screen. I did not turn it off.
Still on my computer writing this question, though.
*I am only guessing Chinese - I am not familiar enough to know which of probably several Asian languages it was, very blocky and with some tiny flourishy bits.
Best answer: Reboot the phone. Your file name got misinterpreted as "mojibake".
posted by kschang at 6:21 PM on July 8, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by kschang at 6:21 PM on July 8, 2023 [3 favorites]
I have had Steam, on my Windows PC, switch to Chinese. But not on my iPad or android phone.
posted by Windopaene at 7:18 PM on July 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Windopaene at 7:18 PM on July 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thank you. Rebooted. Computer and phone seem fine.
posted by Glinn at 7:25 PM on July 8, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by Glinn at 7:25 PM on July 8, 2023 [2 favorites]
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posted by mekily at 6:10 PM on July 8, 2023 [1 favorite]