iOS 27 Problems and Fixes: Every Known Issue and What Actually Works

Something on your iPhone stopped working after the iOS 27 update, and now you need to know one thing: is it a known problem, is there a fix, and is it worth a trip to the Apple Store? This page answers that for every iOS 27 issue we have tracked, and we keep it current as Apple ships updates.

Our rule is simple. An issue is marked fixed only when Apple's own release notes or an Apple statement confirm the fix. Owner reports are labeled as reports, and the steps we recommend come from Apple unless we say otherwise. Start with the status board, then jump to your problem.

Fixed by Apple

iPhone 18 Pro restarts when Face ID fails

Within days of the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max going on sale, owners reported phones freezing and rebooting after a failed Face ID scan, usually inside an app protected by Face ID, such as Passwords or a private Safari tab, rather than on the Lock Screen. Apple said a software update would fix it. Apple's release notes for iOS 27.0.1, released September 28, list the fix: iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max "may unexpectedly restart when Face ID fails to authenticate."

What to do: Update to iOS 27.0.1 in Settings > General > Software Update. If Face ID still fails afterward, go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode, tap Reset Face ID, then set it up again. Our original report on the reboot bug covers how it was triggered.

Touchscreen freezes after opening Notification Center and Control Center

Opening Notification Center and Control Center at the same moment could leave the screen partly or fully unresponsive on any iPhone running iOS 27. It spread on social media as a viral prank, which is how many people found it. iOS 27.0.1 fixes it for every iPhone.

What to do: If your screen is frozen right now, force restart: press and release volume up, press and release volume down, then press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears. Then update. Apple's force restart guide has the steps for every model.

Color artifact in 2x photos on iPhone 18 Pro

Apple says a color artifact could appear in photos captured at 2x under certain lighting conditions at f/1.48 on a small number of iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max devices. iOS 27.0.1 fixes it. There is nothing to change in Settings, and Apple has not said whether the fix touches photos already taken, so retake anything important that shows an odd color cast.

Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 restarting

Apple released watchOS 27.0.1 on September 23 for Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 to fix unexpected restarts, then released the same version for every other watch on watchOS 27 on September 28. To check, open the Watch app on your iPhone and go to General > Software Update. The watch needs to be on its charger with at least 50 percent battery to install.

Prevented, but not repaired

iPhone 18 Pro Max on AT&T stuck in SOS

In late September, some iPhone 18 Pro Max owners on AT&T saw their phones drop into SOS and stay there, unable to call, text or use data. Apple confirmed it in a statement, saying it had "identified an issue affecting a small number of iPhone 18 Pro Max users on the AT&T network." iOS 27.0.1 is now required to set up a new 18 Pro Max, and Apple released AT&T carrier settings 72.1 on October 2.

What to do: If your Pro Max on AT&T works normally, install iOS 27.0.1, then open Settings > General > About and accept the carrier settings prompt if one appears. Those updates are designed to stop the problem from starting. They do not repair a phone that has already lost service. Apple says those phones need a replacement, so ask Apple or AT&T for one. Our iPhone 18 Pro problems report has the full timeline.

No fix yet

iPhone 18 Pro earpiece crackling and popping

Owners of both iPhone 18 Pro models report crackles, ticks and pops, mostly from the earpiece speaker, while switching apps, changing volume, quickly adjusting brightness, scrolling web pages, or using dictation. iOS 27.0.1 does not mention it, most owners say it did not help, and some hear the same sound on replacement phones. Apple has not commented publicly.

What to do: Contact Apple Support so the problem is logged against your serial number, and keep a screen recording with the sound audible. Because replacements have not reliably helped, avoid repeated swaps until Apple says more, and keep automatic updates on so a fix reaches you as soon as it ships. One owner told Macworld that switching Mic Mode from Voice Isolation to Standard during calls greatly reduced the crackling, so it is worth a try while you wait.

Not a bug: things that look broken but are working as designed

Heat and battery drain right after updating

Apple's support page on software updates says that after an update, especially a major one, "you might notice a temporary impact on battery life and thermal performance" while your device finishes background work such as indexing files, downloading assets and updating apps. A new iPhone restored from a backup does even more of that work in its first days. Our explainer on the Optimizing Search and Siri banner shows how to track that progress. If heat and drain continue well after the banner is gone, that is the point to contact Apple.

Using cellular data while on Wi-Fi

iOS 27 replaces Wi-Fi Assist with Connectivity Assist, which uses cellular data alongside Wi-Fi when Wi-Fi is slow or unusable. Apple says it is on by default if you had Wi-Fi Assist on before updating, and that you may use more cellular data with it on. To turn it off, open Settings > Wi-Fi and scroll to the Connectivity Assist switch. If one network needs to stay on Wi-Fi, such as a home network with an ad blocker, Apple lets you turn it off for that network only. Apple's Connectivity Assist page has the details.

Notifications, dictation and updates behaving differently

Some of the most common iOS 27 "problems" are changes. Notifications now open with different gestures, and our notification gesture map shows every one. Dictation may behave differently depending on your iPhone, because iOS 27 has two dictation systems. And if you are waiting for iOS 27.1, it is expected to stay exclusive to the iPhone Duo: here is why you will get iOS 27.2 instead.

The first steps that solve most iOS 27 problems

Before you book an appointment, run through the fixes Apple recommends for almost any misbehaving iPhone. Install the latest update in Settings > General > Software Update. Restart the phone, or force restart it if the screen is frozen. Check Settings > General > About for a carrier settings update if calls or data are acting up. Update your apps from the App Store, since an app that has not caught up with iOS 27 can look like a system bug. If a problem survives all of that, contact Apple Support, which can check your device and log the issue against its serial number.

How we keep this page current

We update this page when Apple releases an iOS 27 update, publishes a support article about a known issue, or makes a statement about a problem, and when a new issue is widely reported by owners. Fixes move to the top once Apple confirms them. The next big checkpoint is iOS 27.2, which Apple has not dated yet, and its release notes will tell us whether the earpiece crackling was ever a software problem. When it lands, our update tracker will have it within hours.