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Apple withdrew the first iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, and watchOS 11.4 betas on February 22, 2025, one day after release. The withdrawal affected all listed Apple Watch Series 6 configurations and selected iPhone and iPad models after users reported installation failures, boot loops, and unusable Apple Watches.
Apple did not publish a specific root-cause explanation or failure rate. The incident was temporary: iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4 arrived on March 31, 2025, followed by watchOS 11.4 on April 1, 2025.
What Apple actually pulled
Apple did not remotely uninstall the beta from affected devices. Reports indicated that Apple unsigned watchOS 11.4 beta 1 for the listed Apple Watch Series 6 models and withdrew iOS and iPadOS 18.4 beta 1 from selected devices.
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- Withdrawn from availability: the beta no longer appears as an installation option for affected models.
- Unsigned: Apple’s signing system no longer authorizes a new installation or restore to that build.
- Remotely removed: this did not happen. Apple did not remotely delete the operating system from devices that had already installed it.
Users already running the beta could remain on it, experience problems, or require recovery or service.
#1 Best Overall
![Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 46mm] Smartwatch with Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band - M/L. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/416RQ0rtsUL._SL160_.jpg)
- A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
- KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
- GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
- SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.
Affected Apple Watch models
The reported watchOS withdrawal covered all four Apple Watch Series 6 configurations:
| Model | Configuration |
|---|---|
| Apple Watch Series 6 | GPS, 40mm |
| Apple Watch Series 6 | GPS, 44mm |
| Apple Watch Series 6 | GPS + Cellular, 40mm |
| Apple Watch Series 6 | GPS + Cellular, 44mm |
The model list was reported by software-tracking account Aaron Perris and covered by 9to5Mac. Separate user reports described Apple Watches that became unusable, remained stuck restarting, or stayed on the Apple logo. At least one user identified the watch as a Series 6; another did not specify the model.
Accordingly, it is more accurate to say that some users reported bricked or unusable Apple Watch units, including at least one Series 6 than to claim every Series 6 failed.
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Affected iPhone and iPad models
The most specific reported list included:
| Category | Models |
|---|---|
| iPhone | iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max |
| iPad | iPad 8, cellular |
| iPad | iPad Air 4, Wi-Fi |
| iPad | iPad Air 4, cellular |
| iPad | iPad Air 11-inch, M2, cellular |
| iPad | iPad Air 13-inch, M2, cellular |
There is an important disagreement over the standard iPhone 12. The original detailed list omitted it, while some later coverage described the withdrawal as affecting the entire iPhone 12 family. The safest conclusion is that reports consistently identified the iPhone 12 mini, 12 Pro, and 12 Pro Max, while the standard iPhone 12’s status was less certain.
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![Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 42mm] Smartwatch with Rose Gold Aluminum Case with Light Blush Sport Band - S/M. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31caPPnRysL._SL160_.jpg)
- A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
- KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
- GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
- SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.
Sources documenting the differing descriptions include 9to5Mac, PhoneArena, and TechTwisted.
What went wrong?
On iPhone and iPad
Users reportedly encountered boot loops, failed installations, and devices that could not reach the normal Lock Screen or Home Screen. A boot loop describes repeated restarting; it is a symptom, not a confirmed diagnosis of the underlying software defect.
On Apple Watch
Reports described watches as “bricked,” stuck restarting, or frozen on the Apple logo. Some users said the watches required restoration or service. “Bricked” is an informal description, not proof of permanent hardware damage, and Apple did not publish a confirmed failure rate.
The available reporting does not establish whether the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch failures had one shared technical cause. Apple withdrew builds across the same beta cycle, but that alone does not prove that every platform was affected by the same bug.
Rank #3
![Apple Watch SE 3 [GPS 40mm] Smartwatch with Starlight Aluminum Case with Starlight Sport Band - S/M. Fitness and Sleep Trackers, Heart Rate Monitor, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31YiTby0pOL._SL160_.jpg)
- GET SMARTER HEALTH INSIGHTS—Apple Watch SE 3 is an advanced health tracker that helps you better understand your body. The smartwatch sends alerts for an irregular heart rhythm, or an unusually high or low heart rate.* You can view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app,* track your sleep score, and get sleep apnea notifications.*
- A GREAT FITNESS TRACKER—SE 3 can track your workouts in a healthy number of ways—from running and strength training to simply achieving your 10K steps a day. With real-time metrics and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone,* you’ll hit your goals like never before.
- KEEP HELP CLOSE AT HAND—SE 3 is a smartwatch that can detect a hard fall or severe car crash and automatically help connect you to emergency services and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- WOMEN’S HEALTH INSIGHTS—SE 3 has advanced sensors that track your wrist temperature while you sleep. With this smartwatch, you can log your periods and symptoms, get period predictions, and get notified of cycle deviations.*
- GREAT BATTERY LIFE AND FASTER CHARGING—Enjoy a smartwatch with all-day, 18-hour battery life* from sunup to sundown. Then charge up to twice as fast as SE 2* and get up to 8 hours of battery in just 15 minutes.*
Why only these devices?
The affected group was not simply every older Apple product. Several listed devices were released around 2020, but the list also included cellular M2 iPad Air models. That makes it unsafe to blame the incident solely on processor age, memory, battery condition, or general device wear.
The defensible conclusion is narrower: Apple encountered a model-specific or installation-path problem affecting selected devices. A hardware, cellular, firmware, or restore interaction is possible, but Apple did not confirm the mechanism.
The temporary withdrawal also did not mean those devices were permanently unsupported. Apple later listed iOS 18.4 for iPhone XS and later, and watchOS 11.4 for Apple Watch Series 6 and later. See Apple’s security release and compatibility information.
What affected testers should do
If the beta was not installed
- Do not try to force-install the withdrawn build using unofficial IPSW files or configuration profiles.
- Use the stable release or wait for a replacement beta or final release.
- Keep beta updates disabled on a device needed for work, travel, two-factor authentication, health tracking, or emergencies.
- Use Apple’s developer release notes and Software Update rather than third-party firmware-download sites.
Apple describes beta software as pre-release software and recommends reviewing release notes and making a backup before installation. Its guidance is available at Apple’s beta software support page.
Rank #4
![Apple Watch SE 3 [GPS 40mm] Smartwatch with Midnight Aluminum Case with Midnight Sport Band - S/M. Fitness and Sleep Trackers, Heart Rate Monitor, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31Gq8SToFJL._SL160_.jpg)
- GET SMARTER HEALTH INSIGHTS—Apple Watch SE 3 is an advanced health tracker that helps you better understand your body. The smartwatch sends alerts for an irregular heart rhythm, or an unusually high or low heart rate.* You can view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app,* track your sleep score, and get sleep apnea notifications.*
- A GREAT FITNESS TRACKER—SE 3 can track your workouts in a healthy number of ways—from running and strength training to simply achieving your 10K steps a day. With real-time metrics and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone,* you’ll hit your goals like never before.
- KEEP HELP CLOSE AT HAND—SE 3 is a smartwatch that can detect a hard fall or severe car crash and automatically help connect you to emergency services and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- WOMEN’S HEALTH INSIGHTS—SE 3 has advanced sensors that track your wrist temperature while you sleep. With this smartwatch, you can log your periods and symptoms, get period predictions, and get notified of cycle deviations.*
- GREAT BATTERY LIFE AND FASTER CHARGING—Enjoy a smartwatch with all-day, 18-hour battery life* from sunup to sundown. Then charge up to twice as fast as SE 2* and get up to 8 hours of battery in just 15 minutes.*
If an iPhone or iPad is stuck in a boot loop
- Try the force-restart procedure for the specific model.
- If the device remains unusable, connect it to a Mac or PC and use Finder, Apple Devices, or iTunes recovery tools.
- If recovery offers an update before an erase, try the update first.
- If erasing is required, restore only from a compatible backup.
- Contact Apple Support if the device cannot complete recovery.
The exact button sequence varies by iPhone and iPad model, so use Apple’s current recovery instructions rather than a generic sequence copied from an unofficial guide.
If an Apple Watch is stuck
Apple’s beta guidance says to hold the side button and Digital Crown together for at least 10 seconds, releasing when the Apple logo appears. If the watch still starts in recovery mode or requires restoration, Apple says it may need to be sent to Apple.
Apple specifically warns that Apple retail stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers generally cannot perform this watchOS beta restoration. Service availability, timing, and any charge depend on location, warranty, AppleCare coverage, and the device’s condition.
Do not repeatedly force-restart the watch, attempt an unsupported downgrade, or install an unsigned build.
Best Value
![Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 42mm] Smartwatch with Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band - S/M. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41s72HIk5TL._SL160_.jpg)
- A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
- KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
- GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
- SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.
Why backups mattered
Apple recommends backing up before installing beta software. Returning an iPhone or iPad to an earlier stable release generally requires restoring from a backup made before the beta was installed.
An iCloud backup created after installing a beta may not be usable with an earlier operating system. Apple Watch data is backed up through the paired iPhone, but a usable watch backup depends on the state of the paired phone and when the backup was made. If both devices are affected, recovery can become more complicated.
How the incident ended
Apple announced the first iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, and watchOS 11.4 developer betas on February 21, 2025, then withdrew access for selected models on February 22.
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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →The finished releases arrived later:
- iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4: March 31, 2025, build 22E240.
- watchOS 11.4: April 1, 2025, build 22T251.
The dates and build information are recorded in Apple’s developer release archive. The finished watchOS release supported Apple Watch Series 6 and later.
What remains unknown
Apple did not publish an incident-specific explanation identifying the root cause, confirming a common bug across platforms, or stating how many devices failed. The public evidence supports the withdrawal and the user-reported symptoms, but not claims that Apple permanently killed every affected watch, that all iPhone 12 models were definitely included, or that device age caused the problem.
For beta testers, the practical lesson is straightforward: a withdrawn build can stop new installations without fixing devices that already have it. A stable backup, a secondary test device, and a willingness to use Apple service are more important than any unofficial downgrade method.
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Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems
