Apple says a software update for the iPhone 18 Pro rebooting bug is in the works and should arrive early next week. The fix targets a problem where the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max freeze and restart after a failed Face ID attempt.
Apple confirmed the timing to 9to5Mac, which first reported the issue on Monday. The bug did not hit every phone, but reader and social media reports suggest it was reasonably widespread.
The Bug Freezes the Phone After a Failed Face ID Scan
The problem showed up when Face ID could not read a face, such as when part of it was covered. 9to5Mac reproduced it by blocking a face with a hand while trying to unlock the Passwords app on an iPhone 18 Pro, and the sequence was the same each time.
- Face ID fails to authenticate
- The screen stops responding to touch
- The phone hard reboots after a few seconds
- A panic log appears in the Analytics section of the Settings app
The behavior looked like a software glitch and not a hardware fault. It also lines up with the earlier Face ID reboot bug reports from iPhone 18 Pro owners.
Both models use a redesigned Face ID system. The infrared camera has moved behind the display, near where the clock sits in the status bar, which makes the visible Dynamic Island about 25 percent smaller.
Do Not Swap Your iPhone 18 Pro for a Replacement
Some customers already exchanged their phones at an Apple Store, thinking the reboots pointed to a hardware fault. With a software fix now confirmed, that step is not necessary.
Apple has not said which release will carry the fix. iOS 27.0.1 has already turned up in testing, which makes it the most likely candidate, though nothing is official. When the update arrives, it installs the usual way, through Settings, General and then Software Update.
Yesterday, Apple also released watchOS 27.0.1 to fix a random restart issue on the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4.
Our Take
Apple naming a timeframe within days of the reports is the right response, and it should calm the owners who were thinking about exchanging their phones. Anyone whose iPhone 18 Pro keeps restarting should keep the phone and wait for the update.
