iPhone 18 Pro Face ID reboot bug: Apple says a software fix is coming next week

If your brand-new iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max freezes and hard reboots after a failed Face ID try inside an app, you are not imagining it. 9to5Mac reproduced the bug earlier this week, and Apple has now confirmed a software fix is on the way.

According to 9to5Mac’s September 23 follow-up, Apple told the site that a software update to address the problem should be available early next week. Apple did not publish a Support document naming a build in that report, and Apple did not confirm a version number in the coverage. Do not treat a guessed build label as official until Apple ships it.

What goes wrong

The pattern 9to5Mac describes is specific:

• It shows up on some iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max units.
• It tends to happen after a failed in-app Face ID challenge (examples in reporting include the Passwords app, Safari private browsing protection, and other app locks), especially after tapping Try Face ID Again.
• Lock-screen unlock often still works fine.
• The phone can stop responding to touch, then panic and reboot. Afterward, Analytics Data may show a panic log.

Not every Pro unit is affected. Reports look widespread enough to matter if you just upgraded, but plenty of people will never hit it.

Hardware redesign is context, not a proven root cause

iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max moved the Face ID infrared camera under the display and shrank the visible Dynamic Island. That redesign is useful context for why this generation is in the news, and 9to5Mac discussed it alongside the bug. It is not proof that your unit needs a hardware swap. Treat the redesign as background, not as a diagnosis you can make at home.

Do not swap the phone for this bug

Some owners were steered toward a replacement when support conversations treated the reboot as a hardware fault. 9to5Mac’s early write-up already called that likely a misdiagnosis, and the Apple confirmation makes the point clearer: a software update is coming, so swapping hardware for this specific Face ID reboot bug is unnecessary once you know a software fix is confirmed.

If your phone has a separate, unrelated hardware problem (cracked glass, battery swelling, Face ID that never worked from day one on the lock screen), that is a different conversation with Apple or your carrier. Do not conflate those with the in-app Face ID panic described here.

What to do until the update lands

1. Use your passcode when an in-app Face ID prompt fails. Skip the urge to mash Try Face ID Again if that is what triggers the freeze on your unit.
2. Check for updates under Settings → General → Software Update so you are ready when Apple’s fix appears. Install it promptly when it does.
3. Optional: reset Face ID under Settings → Face ID & Passcode if you want a clean enrollment while you wait. That is a comfort step, not a guaranteed cure.
4. If you like receipts, glance at Settings → Privacy & Security → Analytics & Improvements → Analytics Data for panic logs after a reboot. Useful if you open an Apple Support chat later. Not required for everyday use.
5. Keep normal backup habits (iCloud or computer backup) so a bad week of reboots does not also become a data scare.

Related: watchOS 27.0.1

On a related stability note, Apple also released watchOS 27.0.1 for random restart issues on Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4, as mentioned in the same 9to5Mac confirmation piece. If you bought a new watch alongside the phone, check the Watch app for that update too. Different product, same theme: install the boring stability builds when they show up.

Bottom line

Some iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max units can freeze and hard reboot after a failed in-app Face ID attempt, especially after retrying Face ID. Apple confirmed to 9to5Mac that a software update addressing the issue should arrive early next week. Until then, prefer your passcode over Face ID retries, check Software Update daily, and skip an unnecessary hardware swap for this specific bug. Earlier reproduction notes: 9to5Mac’s September 21 report.

Image: generated soft wallpaper atmosphere (no devices), for the Face ID software-fix story.