playing against computer characters has been crashy since the iOS update

Same here, I'm playing against computer (on iphone 13) and  since yesterday 16 October almost all my games  at some point freezes or the app just crash and after restart usually the game is gone. The app was auto-updated to last version, removed and reinstalled it and  restarted the phone but still having same problem.

What app version?

Version 4.1.0 (2), for me.

4.1.1 (2) is coming out soon, so going to the new version may help when it's available. Though. 4.1.1 (1) was the previous version as I understand it.

4.1.0 (2)

Updated to the last 4.1.1 (2) version and the problem's still there, perhaps a little less (or I just got used to it).

I agree with Snowleopardktm, it seems like taking back a move freezes the app, after quitting and restart I can usually continue the game, but sometimes I just have to start over.

Sometimes the app also just crash and quits, when back the game's gone.

Same issue. In version 4.1.0 if I play against the computer, if I take back a move and then play another move, then the computer doesn’t make a move anymore (played against Nelson 1300). Consequently, the game is dead and has to be restarted. Note: the app itself isn’t frozen as e.g. flipping the board horizontally is still possible.

Developers know of the new bug and are going to release a fix for it.

I had hopes for 4.1.2 - “Fixed several bugs that were affecting Play vs. Computer?”

Nope.

Time for a lichess break. I’ll check back in a few releases.