As of September 18 (local time), Apple’s latest models, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, have started reaching the hands of early adopters. However, a number of these users have encountered issues with Face ID. These include occasional verification failures when attempting to unlock apps, which can cause the device to freeze and restart; error messages stating “Face ID not available” during the setup process; and instances where the device unlocks even when the user is not looking directly at the screen. At present, the extent of these issues is uncertain, and not all users are experiencing them.

The position of the Face ID infrared camera has been slightly modified due to the introduction of the Dynamic Island feature, and it is yet to be determined whether this hardware change is contributing to the reported problems. Some tech bloggers have suggested that matte or privacy screen protectors may interfere with the proper functioning of Face ID, whereas transparent screen protectors do not seem to cause such issues.

Some affected users have received support from Apple and have been informed that their devices have a hardware defect, prompting the initiation of a device replacement process. On the other hand, there is speculation that these issues might be resolved through a forthcoming iOS 27 software update. Additionally, it has been noted that iOS 27 contains a vulnerability that can cause any iPhone model to restart unexpectedly, a problem that is also expected to be addressed in a subsequent patch.