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. Problems Apple has not confirmed are labeled Unconfirmed or Watching, and the steps we recommend come from Apple unless we say otherwise. Start with the status board, then jump to your problem. If yours is not there, report it and it joins what other readers are seeing.

How is each update going overall? iOS Health tracks reader check-ins and problem reports for every iOS 27 version.

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. Apple sent a further AT&T carrier settings update, version 72.0.3, to iOS 27.2 beta testers on October 9. It does not change the advice for phones that have already lost service.

Apple released iOS 27.2 on October 26. Its release notes don't mention this problem, so the steps above still apply.

No fix yet

Inner screen cracks along the hinge on iPhone Duo

Since the iPhone Duo reached customers on October 22, owners have posted photos of the inner screen cracked along the fold, usually with a bright line of pixels down one side, and two said the hinge turned stiff or popped just before. On October 26, Apple confirmed the problem in a statement to MacRumors: "We are aware of an issue impacting the inner display on a small number of iPhone Duo units." Apple says affected owners should contact AppleCare for a replacement. It has not said what causes the cracking or how many phones are affected. iFixit's teardown points to the hinge, where several parts meet and a center support bar that should retract may not be doing so; that is iFixit's read, not Apple's. Several owners say an Apple Store replaced the phone the same day at no charge, though MacRumors reports replacement stock is limited and some owners are waiting.

What to do: If the hinge suddenly feels stiff, makes a popping or grinding sound, or a line appears along the fold, stop opening and closing the phone and photograph it. Contact AppleCare or book an Apple Store visit and ask for a replacement, as Apple's statement says; a crack from normal use is also covered by the one year warranty. If you would rather not keep the phone, Apple’s 14 day return window gets you a refund or exchange. Our step by step guide covers returns, warranty and AppleCare+.

Apple released iOS 27.2 on October 26. Its release notes don't mention the iPhone Duo display, and Apple's advice is still to contact AppleCare.

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. As of October 19, Apple still has not commented, and early testers of the iOS 27.2 release candidate have not reported a change either way.

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.

Apple released iOS 27.2 on October 26. Its release notes don't mention the crackling, so this one stays open.

Attention Aware not working on some iPhone 18 Pro models

A smaller group of iPhone 18 Pro owners, several of them testing iOS 27.2, say Attention Aware Features are not behaving: the phone does not dim or lock based on where they are looking, and Face ID can unlock without them looking at the screen. Other owners cannot reproduce it, so treat this one as unconfirmed. To check your setup, open Settings > Face ID & Passcode and make sure Attention Aware Features and Require Attention for Face ID are both on. If they are and the problem continues, report it to Apple Support so it is logged.

Apple released iOS 27.2 on October 26. Its release notes don't mention Attention Aware.

Reported by owners, not confirmed by Apple

These problems are described by many owners in more than one place, but Apple has not confirmed them. We list one only after at least 10 owners report the same thing over several days, and we remove it if the reports stop.

Alarms flash but make no sound or vibration

Since September 16, owners in an Apple Support Community thread say their alarm fires on time and the rear flashlight blinks, but the iPhone makes no sound and doesn't vibrate. The thread has 97 "me too" reports, and later posts say it kept happening after iOS 27.0.1. The person who started the thread fixed it by updating a paired Apple Watch to watchOS 27, and another owner by unpairing an older watch, but owners with no watch still report it. A TBTL reader with an older iPhone told us on October 26 that alarms stopped sounding with the phone on silent. Apple hasn't commented.

What to do: Set a test alarm a minute out before you rely on one. iOS 27 can give alarms their own volume, so open Settings > Sounds & Haptics and look under Alarms and Timers: check that the slider isn't turned down, or turn Match Ringtone Volume back on. If you wear an Apple Watch, make sure it's up to date in the Watch app. Restart the iPhone, and report it to Apple Support so it is logged.

Home Screen freezes when moving widgets

Since iOS 27 launched, owners have reported the Home Screen freezing, flickering or restarting while they edit it, usually when dragging a widget from one page to another. Demonstrations show it on the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, and owners report the same crash on older iPhones, including an iPhone 13 Pro. Apple's iOS 27.0.1 release notes do not mention it, and Apple has not commented.

What to do: If the screen locks up, force restart: press and release volume up, press and release volume down, then hold the side button until the Apple logo appears. Until a fix arrives, move widgets slowly and one at a time, and if one widget keeps misbehaving, remove it and add it again. Keep the app behind the widget updated from the App Store.

Pale rings around the iPhone 18 Pro rear cameras

Since about September 30, owners of burgundy and black iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models have described pale or pinkish rings and patches around the rear camera lenses. Some say the marks were there at unboxing and others say they appeared after use, and wiping the area helps some owners but not others. The reports come from Reddit and Facebook, and Cult of Mac, Mashable, Gadget Review and Trusted Reviews have covered them. Owners describe it as cosmetic, and the reports do not mention any effect on photos. Apple has not commented or said what causes it.

What to do: Wipe the area gently with a soft, lint free cloth, following Apple's cleaning guidance, and avoid bleach, hydrogen peroxide and other solvents. If the marks stay, photograph them in daylight and contact Apple Support or the store you bought from before your return window closes, so the problem is logged.

Apple Watch can't install watchOS 26.6 after the iPhone updates to iOS 27

Since iOS 27 arrived in mid September, owners of older Apple Watch models, including Apple Watch SE (2nd generation), Series 6, Series 8 and the first Apple Watch Ultra, report that the watch asks for watchOS 26.6 and then fails with an "Unable to Install Update" error. Until that update finishes, the watch can't be set up or used. The thread on Apple's own support community has more than 500 "me too" marks, and new reports were still coming in on October 19. Apple has not commented, and owners say Apple Support hasn't been able to solve it either.

What to do: Owners have had the most luck installing the update on the watch itself. Turn off your iPhone, put the watch on its charger and on Wi-Fi, then on the watch open Settings → General → Storage and delete the watchOS 26.6 file. Next, open Settings → General → Software Update on the watch and install it from there. It can take close to an hour. If you have an iPhone still on iOS 26, pairing the watch to it to finish the update also works. Erasing the watch is a last resort, and it didn't help everyone. If nothing works, report it to Apple Support so the problem is on record.

Keyboard slow to appear in Messages and other apps

Owners on iPhone 15 Pro through iPhone 17 Pro Max have described the keyboard taking several seconds to appear after they tap a text field, most often in Messages, and sometimes freezing or disappearing mid sentence. The reports on Reddit date from mid September and include iOS 27.0.1. With 11 TBTL readers saying they have it on top of the Reddit threads, it now clears our bar of 10 owners in more than one place, so we list it as Unconfirmed. That means widely reported, not confirmed by Apple. Apple has not commented.

What to do: Owners report mixed results from turning off keyboard sounds and haptics (Settings → Sounds & Haptics → Keyboard Feedback) and from using a single keyboard language. Resetting the keyboard dictionary (Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Reset → Reset Keyboard Dictionary) helps some, but it erases the words your iPhone has learned. If it keeps happening, report it to Apple Support so it is logged.

Siri slow or stuck in CarPlay

Since late September, owners have described Siri in CarPlay pausing for up to 15 seconds before it responds, failing to finish requests, or showing a spinner on an outgoing message that only sends once they touch the iPhone. The reports come from several r/CarPlay threads and cover both wired and wireless CarPlay. Several owners say switching from the Siri AI beta back to classic Siri brought normal speed back, which points to the beta rather than CarPlay itself. We have not counted 10 separate owners describing the same failure yet, so we are watching it. Apple has not commented.

What to do: If you use the Siri AI beta, try classic Siri for driving and see whether requests speed up. One owner fixed stuck messages by turning off the Automatically Send Messages option in Siri settings. Change these settings while parked, not while driving. If it keeps happening, report it to Apple Support so it is logged.

Photos won't send in Messages after updating

Since October 22, TBTL readers have told us Messages stopped sending photos after they updated to iOS 27.0.1. Some see a blue progress bar that never finishes. One can still send screenshots but not pictures from the photo library, and another says Messages no longer shows up in Settings > Privacy & Security > Photos. The reports cover the iPhone 15, iPhone 16 and older models. These come from reader reports to TBTL, we haven't found matching iOS 27 threads elsewhere yet, and it's below our 10 owner bar so far. Apple hasn't commented. First reported to us by a reader on October 22.

What to do: Restart your iPhone and try sending again on Wi-Fi and on cellular. Open Settings > Privacy & Security > Photos and check that Messages is listed and allowed. If the other person doesn't use iMessage, make sure MMS Messaging is on in Settings > Apps > Messages. Report it to Apple Support so it is logged.

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. Reader reports feed in too: new issues show up in Reader reports, and the ones that reach 5 reader reports get filed with Apple. Confirmed fixes move into the Fixed group once Apple's release notes name them. iOS 27.2 arrived on October 26, and the board above reflects it. When Apple ships the next update, our update tracker will have it within hours.