iPhone 18 Pro Face ID bug: freezing and restarting, and what to do

If your brand new iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max froze and restarted while you were opening an app with Face ID, you are not alone, and your phone is very likely not faulty. Here is what is going on, what you can do today to avoid it, and how to make sure the fix is installed. This page was last checked on September 27, 2026, and we will update it when the fix is released.

What is the iPhone 18 Pro Face ID bug?

Shortly after the iPhone 18 Pro went on sale, owners began reporting the same pattern on Reddit and Apple’s forums: Face ID fails, the screen stops responding to touch for a few seconds, and then the iPhone restarts by itself and returns to the Lock Screen. 9to5Mac reproduced it on its own iPhone 18 Pro, and Apple then confirmed to 9to5Mac that it was working on a software fix.

• Models: iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max running iOS 27.
• Symptom: the phone freezes after a failed Face ID scan, then restarts on its own within seconds.
• Scope: not every owner is affected, and Apple has not said how many phones are.
• Data: no one has reported lost data. The phone restarts normally and asks for your passcode once.

What triggers the freeze and restart

The bug does not usually happen when you unlock the phone from the Lock Screen. It happens when Face ID is used inside an app and the first scan fails. The most commonly reported places are:

• The Passwords app, when it asks for Face ID before showing your saved passwords.
• Private browsing tabs in Safari, which are locked behind Face ID.
• Apps you locked yourself with Require Face ID, and hidden apps.
• Some reports also mention Apple Pay and the Wallet app, especially when a payment takes too long and times out.

The key step is what happens next. When the scan fails, the iPhone offers Try Face ID Again. Tapping that button is what most often freezes the phone. 9to5Mac triggered the bug on purpose by covering their face during a scan in a locked app and then tapping Try Face ID Again.

Is it hardware or software?

The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max have a redesigned, smaller Face ID system. The infrared camera now sits under the display, near where the time appears in the status bar, which is what makes the smaller Dynamic Island possible. Because the problem appeared together with this new hardware, some owners worried their phone was faulty.

Apple’s answer points to software. It told 9to5Mac a software update would fix the issue, and reports describe the crash as a kernel panic, which is a system software crash that forces a restart. One owner said an Apple diagnostic flagged their phone as faulty, so Apple may still replace a small number of units, but for most people the update should be enough.

What to do until the fix arrives

The fix: iOS 27.0.1

On September 24, 2026, Apple confirmed that a software update with a fix for the Face ID issue would be released early the following week. Reports expect it to be iOS 27.0.1, which has already appeared in website analytics, but Apple has not confirmed the version number. Here is how to install it as soon as it is out:

After updating, test it in the place that crashed before, such as the Passwords app. If Face ID works, or fails without freezing, the fix is in place.

Other early iPhone 18 Pro problems

• Touch stops responding: Macworld reported a separate bug where the screen briefly ignores touches while scrolling in apps. It is not tied to Face ID, and the cause is unclear.
• Face ID is Not Available during setup: a few owners saw this message when setting up. Restart the phone and try setting up Face ID again in Settings › Face ID & Passcode. If it persists after the update, contact Apple.
• Face ID unlocks without eye contact: some owners say the phone unlocks even with Require Attention for Face ID turned on. Check that setting is on and wait for the update.

Early bugs like these are common in the first weeks after a new iPhone and a major iOS release, and Apple usually fixes them in the first point updates. If your phone restarts at other times, not after Face ID, the cause is something else; see our guide to an iPhone that keeps restarting.

Still happening after the update?

If the phone still freezes or restarts after Face ID once the fix is installed, the problem may be the hardware after all. Contact Apple Support through the Apple Support app or visit an Apple Store, which can run diagnostics on the Face ID system. Mention that you have already installed the fix.

• Apple’s standard US return window is 14 days. If you are still inside it, you can ask for an exchange rather than a repair.
• If you bought from a carrier or retailer, their return policy applies, and it may be shorter or longer.
• You can add AppleCare+ within 60 days of buying the iPhone. It covers accidental damage and makes future repairs much cheaper.

For Face ID problems that do not involve restarts, such as Face ID simply failing to recognize you, our general guide to fixing Face ID that is not working covers every setting and cause.