Apple has released iOS 27.0.1 for the iPhone, the first update since iOS 27 launched on September 14. It fixes a Face ID bug that could restart the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, along with a camera color artifact and a frozen touchscreen.
The update is available now over the air. Open Settings, go to General, then tap Software Update. Apple said last week that a software update would address the Face ID bugs, and iOS 27.0.1 had already turned up in testing.
iOS 27.0.1 Fixes a Face ID Reboot, a Camera Artifact and a Frozen Touchscreen
Apple lists three fixes in the release notes. The first two are specific to the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the notes read as follows.
This update provides bug fixes for your iPhone, including fixes for the following issues:
- iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max may unexpectedly restart when Face ID fails to authenticate
- A color artifact may appear on photos captured at 2x under certain lighting conditions at f/1.48 on a small number of iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max devices
- Opening Notification Center and Control Center simultaneously may cause the touchscreen to become unresponsive
The Face ID fix comes first in the list. The bug froze the phone after a failed scan and forced a restart. It was first reported as a random reboot problem on the iPhone 18 Pro when unlocking protected apps.
The camera fix applies to photos taken at 2x under certain lighting conditions at f/1.48. Apple says the color artifact showed up on a small number of devices.
The touchscreen fix covers opening Notification Center and Control Center at the same time, which could leave the screen unresponsive. Apple does not name a specific iPhone model for that item.
iPhone 18 Pro Owners Reported More Face ID Problems Than the Reboot
Some owners said Face ID authentication failed when unlocking a locked app, and in some cases the phone froze and then rebooted. Others saw a “Face ID is Not Available” message during Face ID setup, and some ran into trouble with the Require Attention for Face ID setting.
The release notes only mention the restart. It is unclear whether the setup message and the attention setting are covered by iOS 27.0.1, so anyone who saw those errors should test them after updating. If they persist, the usual troubleshooting steps are in the guide to fixing Face ID on the iPhone.
The iPhone 18 Pro models are the first iPhones with the infrared camera under the display. Whether that hardware played a part in the problems is unclear. Apple had already confirmed the reboot fix was coming, and some owners had swapped their phones at an Apple Store before that.
iOS 27.0.1 Installs Over the Air in a Few Taps
The update installs like any other iPhone software release.
- Back up the iPhone to iCloud or a computer
- Open Settings, go to General, then Software Update
- Tap Update Now and enter the passcode if asked
Apple also released iPadOS 27.0.1 and visionOS 27.0.1 today. Devices that have not moved to iOS 27 or iPadOS 27 get iOS 26.7.1 and iPadOS 26.7.1 instead. Each one installs from the same Software Update screen.
Automatic Updates can be switched on in the same menu, so future patches install without checking by hand. Apple also released watchOS 27.0.1 for the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 on September 23 to fix an unexpected restart issue.
Our Take
Apple shipped this within two weeks of the iPhone 18 Pro launch and within days of saying a fix was coming. I would install it on any iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max right away. Afterward, I would test Face ID setup and a few locked apps, since the release notes only mention the restart.
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