Apple releases iOS 27.0.1 to fix iPhone 18 Pro restarts

Apple released iOS 27.0.1 on 28 September 2026, the first update to iOS 27, fixing a bug that could cause the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max to unexpectedly restart when Face ID fails to authenticate. The update is available for all iPhones running iOS 27. The update matters because iOS 27 launched two weeks earlier as a major new iPhone software release, and the restart bug affected Apple's newest flagship phones during everyday tasks like unlocking apps. Apple had said the prior week it would address the Face ID bugs with a software update, and iOS 27.0.1 delivers on that promise.zdnet.com+1

What the update fixes

Apple's release notes list three specific fixes. First, iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max may unexpectedly restart when Face ID fails to authenticate. Second, a color artifact may appear on photos captured at 2x under certain lighting conditions at f/1.48 on a small number of those devices. Third, opening Notification Center and Control Center simultaneously may cause the touchscreen to become unresponsive.

Of the three listed fixes, only the Notification Center and Control Center issue applies to all iPhone models able to run iOS 27. The two Face ID and camera fixes apply specifically to the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. Users install the update through Settings, General, then Software Update, and restart the phone afterward.

Why only the 18 Pro

The iPhone 18 Pro models place an infrared camera under the display for the first time, unlike earlier iPhone 16 and 17 models where the Face ID camera sits in the Dynamic Island. It remains unclear whether the hardware placement caused the problem. When Face ID authentication fails and the user taps "Try Face ID Again," affected phones lock up and restart after a few seconds.

Apple also released iPadOS 27.0.1, macOS 27.0.1, and visionOS 27.0.1, with release notes that say only that the updates provide bug fixes without specifying which ones. Apple additionally shipped iOS and iPadOS 26.7.1 for devices not yet updated to version 27. The iPadOS 27.0.1 notes read: "This update provides bug fixes for your iPad."9to5mac.com

Other devices get updates

Apple's security release page showed no security patches included in these updates, indicating this is a regular bug-fixing release rather than a security update. The update targets iPhone 11 and later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 4th generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 2nd generation and later, iPad Air 4th generation and later, iPad 9th generation and later, and iPad mini 6th generation and later.

A related restart problem affected other new Apple hardware. The prior week, Apple released watchOS 27.0.1 to fix a bug causing the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 to randomly restart. One affected user found a diagnostic log entry pointing to timeouts with the watch's Neural Engine, the chip responsible for machine learning tasks.

One iPhone 17 Pro user commented on 9to5Mac that after updating, they still saw a roughly 10-second lag when searching contacts. Apple's release notes are typically not comprehensive, so older iPhones may receive unlisted bug fixes in iOS 27.0.1 as well. Users can check for the update in Settings, General, Software Update.