Don’t be alarmed if your brand-new iPhone 16 prompts you to update to iOS 18 even though your phone is already running iOS 18. And also don’t freak out when you see a fear-inducing “Welcome to iPhone” screen after you update to iOS 18.0 build 22A3354, even though it looks suspiciously like you will need to go through the tedious iPhone setup process again.
Apple is currently distributing an unexpected iOS 18 update to brand-new iPhones that are already running iOS 18. It looks like Apple installed an earlier version of iOS on phones in the factory. Now it is updating them to the latest version.
As Apple says, the update to iOS 18.0 build 22A3354 currently rolling out brings “important bug fixes and security updates” to all models in the iPhone 16 lineup. With any luck, it will fix the touchscreen problems reported by some iPhone 16 Pro owners, but that might just be wishful thinking. (Cult of Mac asked Apple if the update addresses the touchscreen problem. We’ll update this post when/if we receive info on the update.)
iOS 18.0 (22A3354) brings unexpected update to iPhone 16 lineup
Apple released the iPhone 16 lineup last Friday. While the new devices all run iOS 18, they don’t all run the same version of iOS 18, likely due to the logistical nightmare of shipping millions of phones around the world.
Sometimes, a post-release update fixes minor problems. That seems to be the case with the unexpected iOS 18 update some iPhone users received this week. The update to iOS 18.0 (22A3354) brings “important bug fixes and security updates” to all models in the iPhone 16 lineup, according to the release notes.
That’s standard Apple boilerplate for minor but important changes. Still, receiving a notice to upgrade a new phone to the operating system it’s already running can be confusing.
“So, who else recently got offered an iOS 18 update on their iPhone that was already running iOS 18?” wrote Accidental Tech Podcast host John Siracusa on Mastodon on Monday. “I did, and I installed the update, after which I saw the ‘Hello’ welcome screen again and then got prompted to enable Stolen Device Protection. Weird.”
Siracusa noted he never ran any of the iOS 18 betas.
Don’t worry (and turn on Stolen Device Protection)
Apple appears to be rolling out the update in a staggered fashion. I got the update notice Wednesday morning, just three days after completing the setup process for my new iPhone 16 Pro. Then, I dutifully updated from iOS 18.0 (22A3351), which came installed on my device. I hoped it would fix the intermittent touchscreen problem that can cause taps and swipes to go unnoticed.
The twist came after I updated. I also saw the “hello” animation that plays when you first turn on a new iPhone. Then I saw a disturbing “Welcome to iPhone” screen that made me think I would soon plunge into the whole iPhone setup rigmarole for the second time in a week.
The good news? After a screen advising me to turn on the Stolen Device Protection feature (which I did), everything looked normal. (I’m fairly certain I had this turned on on my iPhone 15 Pro but whatever. Maybe the setting failed to transfer.)
By the way, you should turn on Stolen Device Protection, too. As we wrote in our how-to on Stolen Device Protection, the feature “offers increased safety for your accounts and financial information if someone steals your handset and its passcode.
iOS 18.0 build 22A3354 is the release candidate
Screenshot: Cult of Mac
After a little digging, Cult of Mac found that iOS 18.0 (22A3354) — the version pushed in this week’s mysterious iPhone update — is the exact same build number as iOS 18 RC. (The “RC” stands for “release candidate,” the final version before an Apple operating system moves out of beta.) Apple released iOS 18.0 (22A3354) on September 9.
In general, it’s been a strange year for Apple betas, thanks in large part to Apple Intelligence. Since the upcoming suite of AI-powered services only works on iPhone 15 Pro and newer, Apple had two beta tracks going at the same time. One stayed on iOS 18, presumably for older devices, while the iOS 18.1 beta gave testers an early taste of Apple Intelligence.
Apparently, not all iPhone 16 models shipped with the older version of iOS 18. (You can check your version by going to Settings > General > About > iOS Version. Then tap on iOS 18.0 to see the actual build.) Which seems kind of surprising, considering the company reportedly uses a new system called Presto to update iPhone operating systems in the box at Apple Stores.
Long story short, go ahead and upgrade your iPhone 16 to iOS 18.0 build 22A3354 when Apple prompts you to do so. With any luck, it will fix the touchscreen problem (as well as ensuring maximum security for your iPhone).
