Apple Pulls Latest Beta Software for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch Amid Glitch Chaos

Apple has stopped its latest beta software updates—iOS 18.4 beta 1, iPadOS 18.4 beta 1, and watchOS 11.4 beta 1—for some iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch models as of February 23, 2025. They made this quick decision after many users reported serious bugs, like devices getting stuck in endless restart loops, making them useless.

What Went Wrong?

The problems started right after Apple released these beta versions to public testers. Users reported that their devices—especially iPhone 12 series phones, some 2020 iPads, and Apple Watch Series 6 models—kept restarting over and over. The Apple logo would appear, then a black screen, and it would keep repeating. One Reddit user said, “Updated my Series 6 last night, now it’s a brick.” Another post on X complained about an iPhone getting stuck during an update with a confusing “Installing” message, making it unusable.

Apple’s response was decisive. Within hours, the company unsigned the updates, halting downloads and preventing more devices from falling into the glitch trap. Affected users, however, are stuck waiting for a fix, often needing to restore their devices via a computer—a tedious process that wipes out unsaved data.

Which Devices Took the Hit?

The rollout problem affected many devices. For iOS 18.4 beta 1, the iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, and 12 Pro Max, along with some 2020 iPad models and the latest cellular iPad Air units, were affected. For watchOS 11.4 beta 1, all Apple Watch Series 6 models, both cellular and Wi-Fi, were impacted. Older and newer models seem to be unaffected, but Apple hasn't provided a complete list, leaving some testers worried.

This isn't new for Cupertino. Last year, iOS 17.3 beta 2 caused similar boot-loop issues on many iPhones, leading to a fast rollback. At that time, Apple blamed a software problem related to back-end authentication. This time, the cause is still unknown, but the problems look very similar.

What’s Next?

Apple hasn't said much yet and hasn't given a timeline for the new betas. Usually, fixes come out in a few days to weeks—like when iOS 17.3 beta 2 was fixed in just five days. Until then, users with issues have a hard decision: restore their devices using iTunes or Finder, which means losing recent data, or wait for an update. An Apple support rep reportedly told a caller, "We're working on it," but there's no official announcement yet.

For beta testers, it’s a stark reminder: cutting-edge comes with a catch. And for the rest of us? A polished iOS 18.4 might be worth the wait. Keep an eye out—Apple’s next move could land any moment.