Owners of the tech giant’s smartphones are facing a wave of serious technical problems after installing the latest software package released globally. What should have been a routine update focused on improving compatibility with new accessories turned into a frustrating experience for thousands of consumers, affecting everything from energy autonomy to biometric security features essential for the daily functioning of mobile devices.
The recently released version of the operating system, identified as 26.2.1, had the primary objective of optimizing integration with the new AirTag 2, ensuring more fluid communication between the tracker and the cell phone. However, reports accumulated on specialized forums and social networks indicate that the software introduced a series of critical errors that compromise the device’s basic usability, leaving many users without access to vital navigation and authentication functions.
Instability in native applications and network failures
Among the most frequent complaints, the erratic behavior of the Safari browser stands out, which has presented unexpected closures and the sudden loss of open tabs. Para users who use the device as a work tool, this failure represents a significant risk of data loss and interruption of the flow of productivity, as recent browsing history is often not recovered correctly after the application crashes.
In addition to the software problems, the device’s physical connectivity was also impaired. Diversos reports point to severe instability in Wi-Fi connections and mobile data networks, with frequent signal drops that prevent stable communication. The company’s maps application was also impacted, presenting location errors that make GPS navigation inaccurate, a defect that directly affects those who depend on the service for urban travel and travel.
Power drain and errors in facial recognition
Battery performance has become one of the most critical points of this update, disproportionately affecting high-end models, such as the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Usuários report that, even with the device at rest, the charge is consumed at an alarming rate, drastically reducing the time it is used away from sockets. Excessive heating during simple tasks has also been noticed, suggesting that background processes are demanding maximum processor capacity without apparent need.
Another significant setback involves the Face ID security system, which began to experience extreme slowness or complete failure in recognizing the user. The inability to unlock the device or authenticate payments quickly requires the constant typing of passwords, eliminating the convenience that is one of the pillars of the user experience on the platform. Diante of the severity and variety of the bugs, the main problems can be summarized in the following points:
- Excessive and unjustified battery consumption, especially in the iPhone 17 line.
- Critical failure in the Face ID, preventing biometric unlocking and validation of purchases.
- Erroneous request for 30 GB of free storage space, even after cleaning files.
- Persistent instability in internet connections and loss of browser sessions Safari.
The ghost storage bug and inability to downgrade
One particularly confusing error reported by the community involves internal storage management. Após the update, the system starts to require around 30 GB of additional free space in an inexplicable way. Mesmo when the user deletes heavy applications, photos and videos to free up memory, the alert persists and the system continues to inform that there is not enough space, creating a vicious cycle that prevents other features from working correctly and the installation of patches.
To make the situation worse, the development company has already stopped digitally signing the previous version of the system, iOS 26.2. Isso means that it is no longer possible to perform the “downgrade” procedure (revert to the old, stable version). Users who updated their devices now find themselves stuck on the faulty version, with no official escape route until a new emergency fix is made available by the company’s engineers.
The company’s official silence to date has generated anxiety among the consumer base, who use platforms such as Reddit and MacRumors to seek palliative solutions. The current recommendation from technology experts is that users who have not yet performed the update should avoid installing it and wait for an official statement or the release of a subsequent version that addresses this extensive list of operational flaws.