ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Apple has released its first update to iOS 27.
- The update fixes a bug that caused the 18 Pro and Pro Max to restart.
- A bug fixer update is also available for the iPad, Mac, and Vision Pro.
Apple released its first update to iOS 27 to fix an intermittent but annoying problem that could cause the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max to freeze or restart without warning. Released Monday, iOS 27.0.1 promises to solve this freezing and restarting problem, which typically happens when Face ID can’t authenticate.
As an iPhone 18 Pro owner, I have already run into this hiccup several times. One time my iPhone froze for a few seconds but eventually recovered. Another time, however, the device completely restarted. Both times I tried to authenticate an app login via Face ID. I have since updated, hoping that it will put the kibosh on this problem.
Also: Your iPhone’s Action Button can trigger a whole folder of shortcuts in iOS 27
To update your iPhone, go to Settings, select General, and then tap Software Update. If iOS 27.0.1 is up, tap the button to update now. Restart your phone after the update has been applied, and you should be fine.
In addition to the Face ID glitch, the new update also resolves a specific glitch in which a color artifact appears in photos at 2x under certain lighting conditions at f/1.48. In its release notes, Apple said this happened to a small number of 18 Pro and Pro Max phones.
There is another specified bugfix, but this applies to more than just the two new 18 Pro models. Here, Apple said that opening the Notification Center and Control Center at the same time makes the screen unresponsive. This means that iOS 27.0.1 is available for all iPhones running iOS 27.
Furthermore, the iPad, Mac, and Vision Pro also received their first updates. With the new version 27.0.1 for iPadOS, MacOS and VisionOS, Apple simply said that the updates provide bug fixes, but did not specify what they fixed.
On its latest security release page, Apple did not reveal any security patches installed over the latest updates, so this appears to be a regular bugfixing update. The company simply confirmed that the update targets the iPhone 11 and later, the iPad Pro 12.9-inch 4th generation and later, the iPad Pro 11-inch 2nd generation and later, the iPad Air 4th generation and later, the iPad 9.
Also: Is iOS 27 draining your iPhone battery? 7 ways to extend battery life
Apple also did not share details about the nature of the Face ID restart glitch. Based on research by the folks at 9to5 Mac, however, the problem seems to arise when you use Face ID to lock certain apps and features such as the Password app, private tabs in Safari, and other programs that are locked behind facial recognition.
If Face ID authentication initially fails for some reason, try again by tapping the “Try Face ID Again” button in the alert. iPhones affected by the issue then lock up and restart after a few seconds, 9to5Mac explained.
Why are only the 18 Pro and Pro Max phones affected by this Face ID issue?
The answer could lie in how and where the facial recognition sensor is placed. On previous models, such as the iPhone 17 and 16, the Face ID camera is located on the Dynamic Island. On the new 18 models, the camera is below the display, appearing to the left of the Dynamic Island. When you authenticate yourself with Face ID on the 18 Pro or Pro Max, you may notice a small white line briefly below the time. That’s the Face ID camera that works.
The iPhone 18 Pro isn’t the only new Apple device plagued by unexpected reboots. Last week, Apple released WatchOS 27.0.1 to fix a bug in which the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 would restart randomly. A person who experienced this problem found an entry in the diagnostic log that points to timeouts with the clock’s Neural Engine.
Also: Apple Watch Series 12 review: Finally, the health tracker I’ve been waiting for
Feature bugs are certainly not uncommon with a brand new operating system and new devices. So far, Apple seems to respond to them in a timely manner with the necessary fixes. Fingers crossed that there will be no game-stopping flaws and that any bugs that do appear will be resolved with simple software updates.