If your brand new iPhone 18 Pro has suddenly stopped responding to touch, or frozen and restarted right after Face ID failed, you are not imagining it. A growing number of users are reporting the exact same two issues, just days after the phone launched. Here is what is actually happening, what to try in the meantime, and what Apple has said so far.
Quick Answer
- iPhone 18 Pro owners are reporting two separate bugs: a touch screen freeze, and a Face ID related freeze and reboot
- These reports started appearing around September 20, 2026, less than two weeks after the phone’s launch
- Apple has not officially confirmed either issue yet
- These are being called software bugs, not hardware problems, and are expected to be fixed in a future update
- A similar reboot bug also exists in iOS 27 itself, affecting other iPhone models too, not just the 18 Pro
What’s Actually Going Wrong
Bug 1: The screen stops responding to touch
Multiple users have reported their iPhone 18 Pro suddenly becoming completely unresponsive to touch, with no warning. One theory being discussed is that swiping down both the Notification Center and Control Center at the same time may trigger it, though affected users say the freeze has also happened without doing that specific gesture. A few reports also mention touch sensitivity problems tied to screen protectors, though that may be a separate, unrelated issue.
Bug 2: Face ID failure causes a freeze and reboot
The second issue appears to be linked directly to Face ID. When a Face ID scan fails to recognize the user, some phones freeze immediately afterward and then restart on their own. This is more concerning for a lot of people, since it happens during something as routine as simply unlocking the phone.
Is This a Hardware Problem or a Software Bug
Based on current reports, this looks like a software issue, not a hardware defect. One affected user says Apple support suggested a hardware swap when they reached out, but tech outlets covering the story believe this was likely a misdiagnosis on the support side, and that a future software update is the more probable fix. Nothing about these reports suggests a physical component failure.
Is This Related to iOS 27
Partly, yes. There is a separate, already known bug in iOS 27 that can cause reboots on a wide range of iPhone models, not just the iPhone 18 Pro. If you want the full picture of what iOS 27 changed and how to manage it, we covered that in our iOS 27 guide. That said, the Face ID freeze issue specifically appears to be more concentrated on the iPhone 18 Pro, suggesting it may also involve something specific to this model’s Face ID hardware and software combination, rather than being purely an iOS 27 issue across the board.
What to Do If This Happens to You
Since there is no official fix yet, these steps will not guarantee the bug won’t happen again, but they are worth trying if you are dealing with either issue right now.
If your screen freezes and stops responding:
- Force restart your iPhone by quickly pressing and releasing the volume up button, then the volume down button, then pressing and holding the side button until you see the Apple logo
- Once restarted, go to Settings > General > Software Update and install any available update
- If you use a screen protector, try removing it temporarily to see if the freezing stops, since a small number of reports have linked touch issues to certain screen protectors
If Face ID freezes or reboots your phone:
- After the phone restarts, unlock it using your passcode instead of Face ID for the first attempt
- Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode and try resetting Face ID, then set it up again
- Keep the phone updated to the latest available iOS version, since this is the most likely place a real fix will appear
Has Apple Responded
Not yet, officially. Apple has not issued a public statement confirming either bug or a timeline for a fix. Given how quickly Apple typically responds to widely reported issues on brand-new flagship devices, a fix through a point update to iOS 27 is a reasonable expectation, though there is no confirmed date for that yet.
Should You Be Worried About Buying an iPhone 18 Pro
If you already have one and haven’t experienced either issue, there is no reason to assume you will. These reports, while genuine and coming from multiple independent users, do not appear to affect every device. If you are still deciding whether to buy one, it may be worth waiting for Apple’s next software update to see if these issues get resolved, particularly if the idea of your phone freezing during Face ID unlocks is a dealbreaker for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What bugs are affecting the iPhone 18 Pro right now?
Two separate issues are being reported: the touch screen becoming unresponsive, and the phone freezing and rebooting after a failed Face ID scan.
Has Apple confirmed these bugs?
No, Apple has not issued an official statement confirming either issue as of this writing.
Is this a hardware problem with my iPhone 18 Pro?
Current evidence points to a software issue rather than a hardware defect, despite one user being told by Apple support that a hardware swap might be needed.
Will a software update fix this?
That is the most likely outcome, based on how Apple has handled similar issues in the past, though no specific update or timeline has been confirmed yet.
Is this the same bug as the iOS 27 reboot issue?
Not exactly. There is a separate, broader iOS 27 reboot bug affecting multiple iPhone models. The Face ID freeze issue appears more specifically tied to the iPhone 18 Pro.
What should I do if my iPhone 18 Pro freezes?
Force restart it using the volume up, volume down, then side button sequence, and make sure you’re on the latest available software update.
Should I avoid buying an iPhone 18 Pro because of this?
Not necessarily. The issues are real but do not appear to affect every unit. If it concerns you, waiting for Apple’s next software update before deciding is a reasonable approach.
