Consumer Technology

iPhone 18 Pro hit by forced restarts after Face ID bug

Apple has pushed out iOS 27.0.1 to stop iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max from suddenly restarting after Face ID fails. User complaints had piled up fast.

By Priya Mehta October 2, 2026, 7:28 AM 3 mins read

iPhone 18 Pro hit by forced restarts after Face ID bug Nerds Magazine © nerdsmagazine.com — iPhone 18 Pro hit by forced restarts after Face ID bug © nerdsmagazine.com

Early buyers of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max ran into a nasty surprise. Their phones would freeze, then restart on their own after Face ID failed. The problem left users staring at black screens and forced reboots. It showed up as a "panic-full" entry in the device's analytics logs. According to SBS News, the error only happened when Face ID could not verify the user. The phone would lock up and then restart by itself.

Apple moved quickly. On the 29th, it released iOS 27.0.1. This update targets the bug that caused these sudden restarts after Face ID failed on the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. Users had seen their phones freeze and reboot with no warning. The glitch left a clear trail in analytics logs, which users could find in Settings under Privacy & Security, then Analytics & Improvements, and Analytics Data. Apple's official release notes confirmed the problem was in the software. A fix would come through an update. No need to swap out devices. 9to5Mac reported the same.

Apple had already acknowledged the Face ID bug on September 24 and promised a fix would arrive early in the week, which aligns with the rapid release of iOS 27.0.1.

ChosunBiz

This is not a first for Apple. The iPhone 16 series, launched in 2024, also had issues with frozen screens and sudden reboots. Apple fixed those with a later iOS update. Now, another high-profile bug has hit right after launch. It raises questions about quality checks and the rush to release new, complex phones. This time, the Face ID bug did not affect normal lock screen unlocks. It only showed up during authentication in apps and secure actions like private tabs, notes, or Apple Pay. TechTimes explained these details.

The iPhone 18 series also costs more. Prices are up because of higher memory chip costs. In South Korea, the iPhone 18 Pro starts at 1.99 million won for 256 GB. The 2-terabyte model goes for 3.79 million won. The iPhone 18 Pro Max ranges from 2.19 million to 3.99 million won, depending on storage. The 256 GB Pro Max is 200,000 won more than last year's model.

Apple's fast rollout of iOS 27.0.1 was needed. Still, the fact that panic-full errors made it to store shelves shows even top brands can stumble at launch. Buyers paying these prices expect more than new features. They want their phones to work. When a failed Face ID scan can knock a flagship offline, software stability matters. Apple can't let these problems grow.

Independent tech publications noted that Apple had proactively clarified the defect was software-related and not a hardware malfunction, so customers did not need device replacements.

9to5Mac

Topics:

Software Mobile Technology #iOS Updates #iPhone Devices #iPhone Update Problems

Technology Writer

Priya Mehta

Priya Mehta is a Technology Writer at NerdsMagazine covering mobile technology, apps, AI tools, privacy, subscriptions, and everyday software problems. She approaches technology from the user's point of view, focusing on confusing settings, hidden costs, permissions, reliability, and whether new features are genuinely useful in daily life.