iPhone 16 Pro touchscreen freeze issue fixed — update to iOS 18.0.1 now

iPhone 16 Pro Max shown in hand
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Apple has released iOS 18.0.1 to bring fixes to several issues that iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro owners started to report following the launch last month. Both models suffered from a bug that froze the touchscreen under certain circumstances, which caused quite a bit of frustration for users.

In addition, iPhone 16 Pro users found that the camera became unresponsive when recording in macro mode on the ultrawide camera in 4K with HDR switched off. And finally, it was reported that the Messages app would sometimes unexpectedly close down when replying to a message with a shared Apple Watch.

All of these problems have reportedly been fixed with the new update, alongside some general performance improvements due to memory allocation on certain iPhone models. So, even if you're not an iPhone 16 or 16 Pro owner, you should download and install this update right away.

Apple hasn't added any new features or animations in this update — it's simply a case of fixing those annoying bugs as fast as possible. If you're new to iOS 18, here's a comprehensive list of all the new features available on your iPhone.

The source of the touchscreen bug hasn't been determined, but some users have speculated it comes from the accidental touch detection system surrounding the new Camera Control button. But other users reported the issue affected all areas of the screen, not just the area close to the new button, and was instead a result of the phone's palm rejection technology to stop you from accidentally interacting with the touchscreen via your palm.

iPhone 16 Pro touchscreen issue

(Image credit: @willrbishop via Mastadon)

Khaos Tian on Mastodon demonstrated the bug (see above) showing that once the iPhone 16 Pro’s palm rejection kicks in, the phone freezes up and doesn’t respond at all.

Hopefully, this new update will fix this problem for good. Alongside the iOS 18.0.1 update, Apple also issued iPadOS 18.0.1 and macOS Sequoia 15.0.1, both of which fix issues related to Messages.

To install the latest update on your iPhone, open the Settings app, navigate to General and then hit Software Update.

YouTube YouTube
Watch On

More from Tom's Guide

Category
Arrow
Arrow
Back to Mobile Cell Phones
Brand
Arrow
Storage Size
Arrow
Colour
Arrow
Condition
Arrow
Price
Arrow
Any Price
Showing 10 of 118 deals
Filters
Arrow
(256GB White)
Our Review
1
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max White...
Mint Mobile
(256GB 12GB RAM)
Our Review
2
SAMSUNG Galaxy S24 Ultra Dual...
Amazon
Our Review
3
Google Pixel 8 Pro - 128 GB
Verizon
Our Review
4
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra 512...
Samsung
(512GB)
Our Review
5
OnePlus - 12 512GB (Unlocked)...
Best Buy
(128GB)
Our Review
6
Pixel 8 Pro Bay 128GB...
Google Store NA
Our Review
7
Google Pixel 8 Pro - 128 GB
AT&T Mobility
(Black)
Our Review
8
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max 256...
Visible
(256GB White)
Our Review
9
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max 256...
Total Wireless
(256GB Black)
Our Review
10
iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB...
Straight Talk
Show more
TOPICS
Jeff Parsons
UK Editor In Chief

Jeff is UK Editor-in-Chief for Tom’s Guide looking after the day-to-day output of the site’s British contingent. Rising early and heading straight for the coffee machine, Jeff loves nothing more than dialling into the zeitgeist of the day’s tech news.

A tech journalist for over a decade, he’s travelled the world testing any gadget he can get his hands on. Jeff has a keen interest in fitness and wearables as well as the latest tablets and laptops. A lapsed gamer, he fondly remembers the days when problems were solved by taking out the cartridge and blowing away the dust.

Read more
iPhone lock screen showing Control Center shortcuts and the iOS 18 logo
iOS 18.3 is available now — here’s the new features for your iPhone
iOS 18 Notes
iOS 18.3 beta just arrived — here's what's changed
iOS 18.4 logo on an iPhone
iOS 18.4 public beta 2 is here — all the new features to try on your iPhone
iOS 18 logo on an iPhone 15 Pro
iOS 18.4 beta is live — here’s all the new features for your iPhone
iPhone 16 Pro Max shown in hand
iOS 18.4 has dropped — 5 new iPhone features to try first
iOS 18 home screen customization features
Apple will no longer allow users to downgrade from iOS 18.3 — here’s why
Latest in iPhones
An image of an iPhone screen showing the Safari app icon in the center
I got tired of Safari revealing my web searches in iOS 18.4 — this setting fixes that
iPhone Flip Concept
iPhone Flip should have been released years ago — it's time Apple started taking risks again
iPhone 17 Air render
iPhone 17 Air — new survey could be bad news for Apple's super thin iPhone
Render of the alleged design of the iPhone 17 Pro
New iPhone 17 Pro dummy leak highlights redesigned camera and part glass body
Siri in iOS 18 on iPhone
Users complain that Siri can’t answer even the most basic questions — here’s what we know
iPhone 16 next to samsung galaxy watch 7 and bose wireless earbuds on a composite image
Apple's walled garden is crumbling — EU orders iOS to open up to third-party devices
Latest in News
iPhone 16 Pro vs iPhone 16 Pro Max in hand showing displays
Forget iPhone 17 — iPhone 18 could get this huge upgrade
The new Husqvarna iQ series robot lawn mower.
Husqvarna’s new robot mowers offer GPS for less
Rendered images of rumored foldable iPhone.
Foldable iPhone report just revealed key details — here's what we know
NYTimes Connections
NYT Connections today hints and answers — Sunday, March 23 (#651)
NYT Strands on a cellphone
NYT Strands today — hints, spangram and answers for game #385 (Sunday, March 23 2025)
Nintendo Switch 2
Nintendo Switch 2 rumored specs — here’s what we know so far