Just a day after its release, iPadOS 18 has caused major headaches for owners of the newest generation iPad Pro. Multiple users on Reddit and the Apple Discussions forum have reported their devices becoming unresponsive after installing the update, effectively bricking them. This issue seems to exclusively affect the iPad Pro models powered by Apple’s M4 silicon, which were released earlier this year. Both the 11-inch and 13-inch variants appear to be impacted.
It’s unclear whether the bricking issue only affects users installing the stable update or also those downgrading from the beta channel. Recovery mode hasn’t yielded any solutions, leaving users in a difficult situation. One user commented, “Nothing works, including trying to recover from Mac OS laptop. The device is fully bricked. This is terrible Quality Testing from Apple. Booked an appointment at the nearest Apple center to take my iPad tomorrow. Will keep the thread updated on progress.”
Adding to the frustration, several iPad Pro M4 owners claim their devices were not experiencing low battery levels or powering off during the update process. Some were even plugged in for charging. While some users have received commitments for replacement devices from Apple Support, others have been told their devices are beyond repair via software fixes and are still awaiting confirmation of replacements.
This incident is particularly concerning given that similar issues plagued M1 and M2 powered iPad Pros earlier this year during beta testing phases. While major software updates can sometimes come with unexpected bugs, bricking a brand-new device is a serious issue and raises concerns about Apple’s quality control and software testing procedures.
If you own an M4 iPad Pro, it’s recommended to hold off on installing iPadOS 18 for the time being. Apple has confirmed they have stopped the update rollout and are investigating the issue. If your iPad Pro has been bricked, avoid attempting to fix it yourself and contact Apple Support immediately to prevent potential warranty issues.
