iPhone 18 Pro Face ID malfunctions cause crashes and bypass security
Users of newly launched iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max devices reported that Face ID authentication fails unexpectedly, sometimes triggering device crashes and forced restarts. Some users also reported that the 'Attention Aware' safety feature designed to require eye contact for unlocking failed to work, allowing the device to unlock without proper verification.", "event_date">2026-09
What happened
Shortly after iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max launched in September 2026, users reported Face ID verification failures when attempting to unlock apps, sometimes followed by device crashes and forced restarts.
Some users encountered the error message 'Face ID is currently unavailable' during initial setup, while others found that the 'Attention Aware' feature requiring direct eye contact to the screen failed to function, allowing the device to unlock without proper verification.
Reported impact
The malfunction disrupts normal workflow and multitasking. Users reported being returned to the lock screen after involuntary restarts.
The security bypass of the 'Attention Aware' feature creates a potential security vulnerability, as the device can unlock without proper eye contact when that protection is enabled.
Index analysis
The exact scope of the issue remained unclear, as some users experienced problems intermittently while others reported stable operation on subsequent use.
The malfunction appears specifically tied to Face ID verification within apps rather than Face ID used from the lock screen. Apple relocated the Face ID infrared sensor to beneath the display to reduce the Dynamic Island size, which media reports suggested could be related to the issue.
Governance controls
Apple reportedly planned to address the issue through a short-term software update, possibly iOS 27.0.1 released before the full iOS 27.2 update, to resolve the problems for iPhone 18 Pro users.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.