Apple Pulls iOS 18.4 Beta 1 After Boot Loop Disaster
Apple recently rolled out several beta updates, including iOS 18.4 beta 1, which introduced new Apple Intelligence features like the “Sketch” drawing style in the Image Playground. However, excitement around the update quickly turned into frustration as reports emerged of serious issues affecting certain iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch models.
Boot Looping Issue on iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watch
Shortly after its release, Apple had to pull iOS 18.4 beta 1 and iPadOS 18.4 beta 1 for select devices due to a boot looping issue. This frustrating problem prevents a device from fully booting up, causing it to restart repeatedly.
It’s not the first time Apple users have encountered this—last year, a similar issue affected iOS 17.3 beta 2 on iPhone 12, 13, 14, and 15 models.
The following iPhone and iPad models have the boot loop problem:
- iPhone 12 Pro
- iPhone 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 12 mini
- iPad 8 (Cellular)
- iPad Air 4 (Wi-Fi)
- iPad Air 4 (Cellular)
- iPad Air 11-inch (M2) (Cellular)
- iPad Air 13-inch (M2) (Cellular)
For affected users, this means their iPhones and iPads are currently unusable until Apple re-releases a patched version of the update. As of now, Apple has not provided a timeline for when a fixed version will be available.
The problem wasn’t limited to iPhones and iPads. Some Apple Watch users on Reddit reported that installing watchOS 11.4 beta 1 bricked their devices. One confirmed case involved an Apple Watch Series 6, while another user didn’t specify their model. Due to these reports, Apple also pulled watchOS 11.4 beta 1 for Apple Watch Series 6 models.
Adding to the frustration, at least one unlucky Apple user experienced failures on both their iPhone and Apple Watch simultaneously. Their iPhone got stuck on the “Installing” screen, while their Apple Watch Series 6 entered a boot loop, alternating between a black screen and the Apple logo.
Why Beta Software Isn’t for Everyone?
This situation serves as a reminder of why many users avoid installing beta software. While Apple aims to make beta versions available to a broad range of devices, older models often struggle with early releases. Factors like outdated processors, lower RAM, and battery degradation can increase the risk of bugs and instability.
If your device is more than three years old, it’s usually wise to wait a few days after a beta release to see if early adopters report any major issues. In this case, those who hesitated before installing iOS 18.4 beta 1 may have saved themselves from a major headache.
For now, Apple is expected to re-release these updates after addressing the boot looping problem, but users will have to wait for an official fix.