iPhone 18 Pro users report Face ID reboot bug

Some owners of Apple's new iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are reporting that their devices freeze and reboot after a failed Face ID attempt, with the problem surfacing in online discussions days after the phones went on sale. The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max launched on September 18, 2026. Reports of the issue appeared within days on Reddit and in owner communities. The freeze most commonly occurs when Face ID is used to unlock a protected app, such as the Passwords app or a private browser tab, rather than from the regular lock screen. In these cases the phone stops responding to touch and, after a few seconds, restarts and returns to the lock screen. The bug has been reproduced on at least one iPhone 18 Pro unit. The reproduction method involves covering the face during a Face ID challenge to force an authentication failure, then tapping the Try Face ID Again button in the alert, which triggers the freeze and a panic reboot on affected devices. The scope of the problem remains unclear, and not all units appear to be affected. Some owners report using their phones for days without issue.