Apple released iOS 26.2.1 on January 26 with the goal of fixing lingering bugs and adding official support for AirTag 2. However, shortly after installation, a number of users began reporting new issues affecting system stability and everyday performance.
According to reports shared on Reddit, Apple’s official forums, and by Mac Observer, some users are experiencing app crashes, interface freezing, system lag, and even intermittent connectivity problems following the update.
One of the most widely reported problems is severe battery drain. Users claim that battery consumption has increased significantly after installing iOS 26.2.1, including on newer devices such as the iPhone 17 Pro Max, raising concerns about background system processes and power optimization.
Face ID issues have also emerged as a major pain point. Reports indicate that Face ID has become slower, fails more frequently, or is automatically disabled inside certain third-party apps after the update.
Additional complaints include the unexpected loss of Safari tabs, disappearing saved locations and favorites in Apple Maps, and in at least one case, a storage-related bug that rendered an iPhone nearly unusable.
That said, the update is not universally problematic. Some users report smoother performance and improved stability, particularly on higher-end iPhone models. This suggests the bugs may be limited to specific device configurations or software states.
Compounding user frustration, Apple has stopped signing iOS 26.2, meaning affected users are unable to downgrade to the previous version. As a result, those encountering issues must wait for a future patch.
Overall, iOS 26 represents one of Apple’s most significant redesigns in recent years. However, the scope of these changes appears to have introduced a higher-than-usual number of stability issues, leading some users to reconsider installing updates immediately upon release.
