iOS 18.1 RC ― Bug Fixes, Changes, and Improvements

[kirbysmartsdawg]

Hmm, 16 Pro user and had solid battery from launch day phone on 18.1 betas.

Thats annoying for you. My next steps would be to determine if its hardware or something in my backup. If you’ve checked the obvious in battery settings to see if its a rouge app then…

… This is a pain, but a positive step to figuring out the problems, so do a full encrypted back up to your Mac or back up to iCloud. Then I’d factory reset the phone to new. When jumping through the splash screens on install don’t use your back up, set up a fresh phone. Then see if you get drain.

If you don’t, it’s something in your back up, an app that needs an update or reinstall or just an old back up that’s got buggy. Happened to me when I had my 12. Had to do a fresh install of apps and settings, deleted my iCloud back up to start from fresh and everything was fine. If you still have battery drain, as you haven’t uploaded your back up, it’s pointing more likely to hardware, a guess would be your cellular receiver or Bluetooth, something over running potentially that’s at fault and you can take it to Apple for a check up.

That’s just what I would do to try and get to the bottom of it. As my iPhone 16 Pro has had solid battery I can’t seem to find why it would be the iOS and get fixed with an update. Lots of things in your situation could clash with what I’ve suggested, but you catch my drift of what your trying to achieve.

Thanks, I completely understand your point.

To clarify, it was not iOS 18.1 beta that came out of the box. I was using the prerelease version of 18.0 on the iPhone 16. After setting up my phone, I used that iOS version for a day. I then updated to the latest version of 18.0 as prompted. That’s when the battery issues began. The battery has not returned to normal since then, even after performing a clean install that was not from a backup.

Not to clog up the thread, but there are a number of us experiencing this and it doesn't seem to be hardware. Maybe there are this many bad iPhones, but it seems to be a bug within iOS.

 

[krishnajha]

Well the people who are installing this update would fall into one of 3 camps, correct?

1. Updated OTA
2. Updated via IPSW on a Mac
3. Updated via IPSW on Windows “Apple Devices”

We have plenty of people chiming in that 1. Is functional
We even had one person upthread chiming in that 2 is functional

So, people in camp 3 are being very quiet. And I am asking because I genuinely want to know how it is going for these people. It is either still bricking devices or the problem has been fixed. There are only so many choices here.


“hi everyone! I updated via Apple Devices, and my iPhone is working! I’m on iOS 18.1 now!”

Or

“Hi everyone, I have bad news. I tried to update to iOS 18.1 in Apple Devices, and my iPhone is bricked now”


I’m asking because these people are not sharing their experiences unprompted. I’m only getting frustrated at those who are basically saying “who cares, I did things a different way and you can too”

Is either there are not many people experiencing that, or, they had another fix and now they don’t have an issue, because when is a brick issue, people complain, and there’s not much in here.
And have you tried update in another computer, either windows or Mac, because you like wired updates, maybe it’s your computer, or maybe it’s a cord problem or both.
Maybe it’s life saying “update thru OTA”

 

[Pearsey]

Thanks, I completely understand your point.

To clarify, it was not iOS 18.1 beta that came out of the box. I was using the prerelease version of 18.0 on the iPhone 16. After setting up my phone, I used that iOS version for a day. I then updated to the latest version of 18.0 as prompted. That’s when the battery issues began. The battery has not returned to normal since then, even after performing a clean install that was not from a backup.

Not to clog up the thread, but there are a number of us experiencing this and it doesn't seem to be hardware. Maybe there are this many bad iPhones, but it seems to be a bug within iOS.

So maybe iOS 18.1 fixes this issue as I’ve not had any battery drain on it. Weird it doesn’t affect all 16Pros though running 18.

I mean, as your phone is so new, maybe worth a replacement at Apple. And hope you get lucky with a new device.

 

[zfletch74]

Siri reverted back to previous UI after downloading the RC. Anyone else?

 

[StumpyBloke]

How is the VPN control in Control Centre supposed to work. If I tap to turn on VPN, it just says Connecting…

However, unless Connect On Demand is enabled in VPN settings, it never connects.

Surely this is not how it’s supposed to be? If I enable Connect On Demand then the control works but the VPN is constantly on. I would have thought the Control Centre VPN control is supposedly to make it quicker to turn it on/off rather than going to settings?

 

[MrRom92]

Is either there are not many people experiencing that, or, they had another fix and now they don’t have an issue, because when is a brick issue, people complain, and there’s not much in here.
And have you tried update in another computer, either windows or Mac, because you like wired updates, maybe it’s your computer, or maybe it’s a cord problem or both.
Maybe it’s life saying “update thru OTA”

It’s not a cord problem because an iPhone 14 and an iPhone 16 do not use the same cord
It’s not a problem with my computer because there were others who reported the same with iOS 18/18.0.1
It’s an Apple problem and this is me saying “hey somebody should see if Apple ever fixed that problem”

 

[kirbysmartsdawg]

So maybe iOS 18.1 fixes this issue as I’ve not had any battery drain on it. Weird it doesn’t affect all 16Pros though running 18.

I mean, as your phone is so new, maybe worth a replacement at Apple. And hope you get lucky with a new device.

It might be worth trying. I’m giving Apple a chance with the feedback app. My case is open, and there are several similar cases, so it’s possible that Apple are investigating.

 

[Roctavious]

It’s not a cord problem because an iPhone 14 and an iPhone 16 do not use the same cord
It’s not a problem with my computer because there were others who reported the same with iOS 18/18.0.1
It’s an Apple problem and this is me saying “hey somebody should see if Apple ever fixed that problem”

Maybe you should look elsewhere for your answer. Pretty sure if someone in this forum had their device bricked by using a Windows computer, they would use the same Windows computer and say "guys I got bricked" or some variation. Instead of complaining that no one is saying if they got bricked, maybe take the fact that no one is here saying they got bricked could be the answer to your question.

 

[sbailey4]

I was on 18.0.1 and updated to RC 18.1. Isn’t it better if Apppe always releases a freh install for any update?

When you updated from RC it DID do a full install this time. But when the actual release hits we will only get deltas OTA. Most likely not necessary since not ALL the files change between updates. So they only update what changed with the deltas. Makes for a faster install and less download bandwidth not downloading files that you already have.

 

[ibookemo]

24 hours into the RC on a 16 Pro Max and I’ve yet to see a single bug. Battery life seems normal and the phone has been cool since install.

Pretty happy with the update. In Ireland so no Apple AI but that feels like a benefit. AI seems like bloatware at this early stage with gimmicky features that are not really necessary. Interesting, but I’d actually rather have a cleaner experience.

Apart from Siri or course. I’d love a better Siri - I’ll be a bit jealous of that feature.

All good with the RC otherwise.

 

[Pearsey]

It might be worth trying. I’m giving Apple a chance with the feedback app. My case is open, and there are several similar cases, so it’s possible that Apple are investigating.

It will be out next week so hopefully it does the job 🤞🏼

 

[Pearsey]

24 hours into the RC on a 16 Pro Max and I’ve yet to see a single bug. Battery life seems normal and the phone has been cool since install.

Pretty happy with the update. In Ireland so no Apple AI but that feels like a benefit. AI seems like bloatware at this early stage with gimmicky features that are not really necessary. Interesting, but I’d actually rather have a cleaner experience.

Apart from Siri or course. I’d love a better Siri - I’ll be a bit jealous of that feature.

All good with the RC otherwise.

I’m in the UK, I just changed my region to US and then language to English US and all the AI works. It’s worth the change.

 

[kirbysmartsdawg]

It will be out next week so hopefully it does the job

Yes fingers crossed!

 

[sbailey4]

The evidence is that up to this point, all iOS 18.X IPSWs have been bricking devices if updating with Apple Devices. I posted yesterday asking if this has been fixed for or if it’s still the current behavior for the iOS 18.1 RC, I am keeping up with the thread and so far nobody has commented saying they’ve tried it and had a result one way or the other. So why would I not assume that it’s still failing the update and bricking iPhones if nobody has shown evidence to the contrary? I definitely don’t want to take the risk to find out for myself; yet again, after trying it on 3 devices the last time around.
If it bricks someone’s iPhone, that could be the device someone uses to post here. They wouldn’t even be able to tell us.
Did you update with Apple Devices? What was the result?

Apple Devices is a Windows app?
I personally have been updating my iPhone with IPSW for years now and it never bricked my phone but I'm updating on my Mac.

Yes same with Windows if using iTunes NOT Apple Devices app.

Yes, that is their current Windows program for managing iOS updates/restores, and backups. Unfortunately it seems to be riddled with issues to the point of being nonfunctional and actually damaging to the connected iPhone (or iPad)

Yep

So that seems to be an issue with "Apple Devices" on Windows and nothing to do with IPSWs bricking devices. I've been downloading every update from the developer site and installing them on my 15 Pro Max and 16 Pro Max with ZERO issues.

Exactly

my experience so far is that updating from iOS 18.X IPSWs is bricking devices 100% of the time in a way that was not happening with any iOS 17.X IPSWs, so what do we call this issue and more importantly, does it still exist? I’m not sure what the argument is.

So far it has failed completely on iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 16 Pro Max, and an iPad Air. This is of course several weeks ago, before iOS 18.1 RC was available. So it either is still doing it with these new IPSWs or not. We KNOW the issue existed, nobody has been able to definitively say whether or not it still does.

Windows users were able to manage their iPhones using Windows PCs since day 1 in 2007, or even earlier when it came to iPods, and it was always without issue. It shouldn’t be failing so catastrophically in this manner, and we definitely shouldn’t be handwaving the issue and covering it up when it does exist.

This has been beat to death. Its been discussed at length (in previous threads and now this one) that the Apple Devices app is a pig and does not work. YOU know it and most everyone else who has tried it knows it. Just use iTunes if using Windows and all works perfectly! Not sure why you have this obsession on using a crap application that "bricks your device" when you can avoid it and not have the issue. OTA or iTunes both work flawlessly, Apple Devices app does not. Its as simple as that.

 

[phrekaru]

Apple Devices is a Windows app?
I personally have been updating my iPhone with IPSW for years now and it never bricked my phone but I'm updating on my Mac.

It bricked my 15 pm yesterday on windows pc, I have to restore via DFU

 

[phrekaru]

The dark mode folder bug still seems to be there. If you have dark mode enabled, open a folder and then tap away to close it, the folder background will flash brightly briefly. This happens on my iPhone 16 Pro and 11.

It happens to me as well, you have to reduce
motion or use light mode

 

[ibookemo]

I’m in the UK, I just changed my region to US and then language to English US and all the AI works. It’s worth the change.

Thanks for the tip. I’ll probably mess around with it at some point. If Siri improves a good amount I’d be very keen. Don’t need any of the other AI features I think.

 

[sbailey4]

Well the people who are installing this update would fall into one of 3 camps, correct?

1. Updated OTA
2. Updated via IPSW on a Mac
3. Updated via IPSW on Windows “Apple Devices”

We have plenty of people chiming in that 1. Is functional
We even had one person upthread chiming in that 2 is functional

So, people in camp 3 are being very quiet. And I am asking because I genuinely want to know how it is going for these people. It is either still bricking devices or the problem has been fixed. There are only so many choices here.


“hi everyone! I updated via Apple Devices, and my iPhone is working! I’m on iOS 18.1 now!”

Or

“Hi everyone, I have bad news. I tried to update to iOS 18.1 in Apple Devices, and my iPhone is bricked now”


I’m asking because these people are not sharing their experiences unprompted. I’m only getting frustrated at those who are basically saying “who cares, I did things a different way and you can too”

No. Item # 3 should be :
3: Updates via IPSW on Windows iTunes

All three of which work fine.

 

[sbailey4]

Is either there are not many people experiencing that, or, they had another fix and now they don’t have an issue, because when is a brick issue, people complain, and there’s not much in here.
And have you tried update in another computer, either windows or Mac, because you like wired updates, maybe it’s your computer, or maybe it’s a cord problem or both.
Maybe it’s life saying “update thru OTA”

No, its actually the Apple Devices application that has a 1 star rating ( out of 1K ratings) in the MS Store due to it not working for most everyone who has tried to use it for anything. Not just for iOS 18. That should shed a little light on the issue but somehow does not.

 

[MrRom92]

Maybe you should look elsewhere for your answer. Pretty sure if someone in this forum had their device bricked by using a Windows computer, they would use the same Windows computer and say "guys I got bricked" or some variation. Instead of complaining that no one is saying if they got bricked, maybe take the fact that no one is here saying they got bricked could be the answer to your question.

Nobody was saying it last time either, until I reported it, then other people tried it and replicated the issue.
Somebody has to stay on top of these things. Have you tried it yourself?

 

[MrRom92]

Yes same with Windows if using iTunes NOT Apple Devices app.

Yep

Exactly

This has been beat to death. It’s been discussed at length (in previous threads and now this one) that the Apple Devices app is a pig and does not work. YOU know it and most everyone else who has tried it knows it. Just use iTunes if using Windows and all works perfectly! Not sure why you have this obsession on using a crap application that "bricks your device" when you can avoid it and not have the issue. OTA or iTunes both work flawlessly, Apple Devices app does not. Its as simple as that.

Thank you for reporting that iTunes still works. Unfortunately (in what seems to be a case of online misinformation) I was told here that iTunes WILL NOT work with any iOS 18 IPSW and it was necessary to migrate to the new Apple Devices application.

I also seem to recall that when it was first released, it was officially stated that one could not revert back to iTunes once Apple Devices was installed. This is one reason why I stuck with iTunes until the last possible moment, at least up to the point when it was explained to me that Apple Devices would be necessary

Do you know if this information still holds true? If not, I would gladly revert back to iTunes. At least it worked.

At the same time, Apple is still providing downloads and instructions to use this new software that IS bricking devices. And that should not be the case. So if everyone keeps handwaving the issue, how can we ever expect Apple to fix it? If the users don’t care, why should they?

 

[MrRom92]

It bricked my 15 pm yesterday on windows pc, I have to restore via DFU

Thank you for reporting in, and I’m sorry that happened to you. People here were very quick to assume that everything is perfect just because nobody said otherwise. If only they took this issue more seriously, they could’ve saved you alot of time and trouble. I am only one person so I can only do so much to warn people of the dangers of using this program.

 

[d245770q]

Thank you for reporting that iTunes still works. Unfortunately (in what seems to be a case of online misinformation) I was told here that iTunes WILL NOT work with any iOS 18 IPSW and it was necessary to migrate to the new Apple Devices application.

I also seem to recall that when it was first released, it was officially stated that one could not revert back to iTunes once Apple Devices was installed. This is one reason why I stuck with iTunes until the last possible moment, at least up to the point when it was explained to me that Apple Devices would be necessary

Do you know if this information still holds true? If not, I would gladly revert back to iTunes. At least it worked.

At the same time, Apple is still providing downloads and instructions to use this new software that IS bricking devices. And that should not be the case. So if everyone keeps handwaving the issue, how can we ever expect Apple to fix it? If the users don’t care, why should they?

Please let’s move on from this. You’ve said your piece (umpteen times today). We get it… it doesn’t work for you. Send the issue up the chain, email Tim… but really you’re not getting the answers you’re looking for here, are you? Maybe try Google?

 

[sbailey4]

Thank you for reporting that iTunes still works. Unfortunately (in what seems to be a case of online misinformation) I was told here that iTunes WILL NOT work with any iOS 18 IPSW and it was necessary to migrate to the new Apple Devices application.

I also seem to recall that when it was first released, it was officially stated that one could not revert back to iTunes once Apple Devices was installed. This is one reason why I stuck with iTunes until the last possible moment, at least up to the point when it was explained to me that Apple Devices would be necessary

Do you know if this information still holds true? If not, I would gladly revert back to iTunes. At least it worked.

At the same time, Apple is still providing downloads and instructions to use this new software that IS bricking devices. And that should not be the case. So if everyone keeps handwaving the issue, how can we ever expect Apple to fix it? If the users don’t care, why should they?

There is just now (I was looking to see my version) even a newer update for iTunes. Perhaps what you are hearing is that it does not work with installing the betas. And yes I tried Apple devices way back for about 10 minutes and promptly uninstalled it and reinstalled iTunes and never looked back. Anyway it works and today there is even another new update/version that "adds support for new devices" so those would be iPhone 16 which ships with iOS 18 only. Perhaps make a new thread for Apple Devices application and continue this discussion there.

 

[sbailey4]

I know the whole battery life discussion is well................ Anyway, I have to say that my iP16 has been awesome since day 1 through 18.0.1. However after 18.1 RC yesterday it has seemed to have taken a bit of a hit. Only been 24 hrs and its not like its terrible but definitely noticeable. I am hoping its all the indexing, AI install, photos and such and not the AI stuff and it gets back to how it was previously once all that is completed.

It never did this when going to 18.0.1 from release day 18.0 so there's that.

[edit] Perhaps its worse that I thought. Yesterday almost 9.5 hours and 35% left. So far today 2 hrs 15m and 75%. Tonight I will stream via roku app for about 2 hrs (like normal) so that will add some usage. Been a slower phone day today but batt still going away.

[Edit 2] Sure enough things seem to be normal again. Guessing the indexing and such finally completed (ias expected). Battery seems back to awesome and the device is back to blazing. Whew!