On September 23, Apple officially confirmed the sudden reboot problem on the iPhone 18 Pro. In this symptom, the screen freezes and the device restarts after a failed Face ID authentication, and Apple said it is a software problem, not a hardware one.
The fix update is expected early in the week of September 28. It is Apple’s first official position, coming five days after reports began just four days after launch.
iPhone 18 Pro — Source: Apple
iPhone 18 Pro Reboots — Panic-Full Reports Keep Coming
What Apple said
Apple logo — Source: Apple
Apple told US outlet 9to5Mac that it is preparing a software update to fix the problem and expects to release it early in the week of September 28.
- Symptom: on some iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max units, the screen freezes and the device restarts after a failed Face ID authentication
- Cause: a software problem, not a hardware defect
- Remedy: no device replacement needed; fixed by an update
Early in the reports, some users judged it a hardware fault and got their devices exchanged, and in some cases Apple support centers also recommended a replacement after diagnosis. Switching to a new device running the same software leaves the symptom unchanged.
When the reboot reproduces
In the first reports, when the reboot happened varied from case to case, but the conditions for reproducing it have since become clearer.
| Step | Situation |
|---|---|
| 1 | Open a locked app (Passwords, etc.) |
| 2 | Face ID authentication fails |
| 3 | Touch unresponsive for a few seconds |
| 4 | Device restarts on its own |
Reports followed that it reproduces fairly reliably if you attempt Face ID authentication with your face covered by a hand. The common condition is a screen that requires authentication, such as locked notes or a password app.
9to5Mac also noted that this model changed the placement of the Face ID components. The infrared camera moved under the display near the status bar, shrinking the Dynamic Island by 25%, but no link between this change and the symptom has been confirmed. Apple has not explained the specific cause either.
iPhone 18 Pro models by color — Source: Apple
A separate symptom of touch not working has also been reported. It describes the screen not accepting input while using apps, unrelated to Face ID; as of September 25, Apple had not mentioned it and the cause had not been identified.
Update timeline
Timeline of the iPhone 18 Pro panic-full response — Source: self-rendered from combined reporting
The release timing Apple gave is early in the week of September 28. It did not give a version number; going by the usual convention for point updates, iOS 27.0.1 was considered likely, but that is not confirmed.
Around the same time, Apple released watchOS 27.0.1, fixing random restarts on the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4. The wrist-device symptom is a separate matter, and the iPhone update has not been released yet.
Until the update is out, when Face ID authentication fails, it’s better to switch to entering your passcode rather than repeatedly tapping to retry. Since it reproduces with repeated authentication failures, this avoids that situation altogether.
Response in Korea
On September 23, Apple Korea told the office of lawmaker Kim Jang-kyum that it was identifying the cause of the panic-full issue and planned a software update. It explained that individual cases in Korea were being handled through AppleCare.
The Korean retail price starts at ₩1,990,000. As reports emerged that the symptom continued even after transferring data to a new device, cases of people demanding exchanges or refunds were reported; now that it has been confirmed as a software problem, the update has become the default remedy.
Cancellation periods apply separately depending on where you bought it. Carrier activations and online purchases allow change-of-mind returns only within a set period after delivery, so check that period before deciding whether to wait for the update or return the device.
Summary so far
iPhone 18 Pro panic-full summary — Source: summary of this post · self-rendered
What to watch next
- The actual release date and version number of the fix update
- Whether reboot reports continue after the update
- A separate explanation from Apple about the touch unresponsiveness symptom
- Whether compensation guidance is offered to users who already exchanged their devices
Sources
- [9to5Mac] Apple officially confirms, previews fix update (2026-09-23)
- [9to5Mac] Expected iOS 27.0.1 release (2026-09-24)
- [MacRumors] Fix update for the Face ID issue confirmed (2026-09-24)
- [Macworld] The two symptoms: reboots and touch unresponsiveness
- [Electronic Times] Apple Korea’s first position in Korea, AppleCare handling (2026-09-24)
- [Money Today] Spreading reports in Korea and the planned update (2026-09-24)