iOS 18.4.1 Update Renders Some iPhones Unusable

Here's what you need to know about the iOS 18.4.1 update which, according to some reports, has rendered some iPhones unusable.

Issue Detected in Apple’s Latest Update

The recent release of the iPhone operating system, iOS 18.4.1, just over a week ago, is widely regarded as a crucial update. Yet, it might be wise for users to hold off on installing it.

iPhones “Bricked” After Update

Some iPhone owners report that the iOS 18.4.1 update has “bricked” their devices, meaning they can no longer power them on. In the r/iphone community on Reddit, multiple users claim their phones won’t turn on post-update. “The update has made my cellular service/hardware unusable on my iPhone 15 Pro. I can’t connect to cellular service. Diagnostics show a hardware issue,” one user stated.

Uncertain Cause of the Issue

The exact cause of these issues with iOS 18.4.1 remains unclear. Some claims suggest the update may cause iPhones to lose their IMEI—their identity number. Without this number, the iPhone fails to start as it cannot verify the device. Some users have reported that Apple service centers have been unable to restore their phones.

Apple has not officially acknowledged these reports of “bricked” phones or issues with iOS 18.4.1. However, based on online feedback, many iPhone owners are frustrated that the iOS 18 updates seem to be introducing bugs instead of fixing them.

Should You Update to iOS 18.4.1?

It’s challenging to gauge how widespread this issue is or how many people are dealing with defective iPhones. The dilemma remains whether to risk bricking one’s phone or unnecessarily endangering it due to security flaws identified in the previous version. For now, our advice is to “postpone the update until more is known about the issues caused by iOS 18.4.