Apple faces CCPA probe over iPhone problems linked to iOS 18 as user complaints persist

Apple is facing a detailed investigation by India’s Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) over technical problems reported by iPhone users following the rollout of iOS 18, with complaints continuing nearly a year after the regulator first sought an explanation from the technology giant. The probe has brought renewed attention to complaints from users who claimed that the software update caused problems with their devices and, in some instances, left them facing expensive repairs.

The CCPA had issued a notice to Apple last year seeking information about the technical problems, including when the company first became aware of them and what steps it had taken to resolve the complaints. With grievances continuing despite the earlier intervention, the consumer watchdog has now escalated the matter into a detailed investigation.

Complaints under scrutiny

The regulator’s action centres on complaints linked to iPhones following the iOS 18 update. Consumer grievances over software-related problems have raised a broader question about the responsibility of manufacturers when an operating-system update affects the functioning of hardware that was otherwise being used normally.

The investigation could consequently examine not only the technical problems themselves but also how affected customers were treated after approaching Apple for assistance. The issue becomes particularly significant where consumers claim that a problem emerging after a software update resulted in substantial repair expenses.

Survey flags increase

The development comes after a survey by community platform LocalCircles indicated that complaints from iPhone users had increased compared with findings from an earlier study conducted in January 2025. LocalCircles said it planned to submit its latest findings to the CCPA as an input for the ongoing investigation and share the information with other relevant authorities.

The organisation has also renewed its call for class-action proceedings against Apple, arguing that affected customers have not received an adequate resolution. It welcomed the CCPA’s decision to intensify scrutiny and highlighted the importance of examining Apple’s software warranty terms as part of the process.

Consumer rights questioned

The dispute has implications beyond the specific iOS 18 complaints because smartphones increasingly depend on software updates throughout their usable lives. Such updates are intended to provide security patches, new features and performance improvements, but consumers have limited control when an officially supplied update causes unexpected problems.

The investigation could therefore test how existing consumer protections apply when alleged hardware problems are linked to manufacturer-provided software. Questions surrounding warranty coverage and responsibility for repair costs become especially important when customers contend that they did not physically damage their devices.

Apple faces closer scrutiny

The CCPA’s move does not itself establish wrongdoing by Apple, and the outcome will depend on the regulator’s investigation and the evidence placed before it. The escalation nevertheless increases regulatory pressure on the company to explain the complaints and demonstrate how it responded to affected customers.

For iPhone owners, the investigation could ultimately clarify an increasingly important aspect of digital consumer protection: who should bear the cost when a manufacturer-controlled software update is alleged to impair an expensive device. As smartphones become more dependent on years of operating-system support, the answer could have consequences well beyond iOS 18.