Apple rolled out iOS 18.4 for iPhones and iPadOS 18.4 for iPads on March 31, 2025. While the update brought new features and security patches, some users immediately reported issues with push notifications. Let’s break this down step by step.
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What Happened?
A user, an IT administrator, updated his iPhone Pro Max to iOS 18.4 and noticed that push notifications stopped working. Before the update, everything ran smoothly. Afterward, the issue persisted even after reconfiguring his email account and testing it on another device running the same update.
Here’s what we know about his setup:
- Device: iPhone Pro Max with iOS 18.4
- Email Server: Microsoft Exchange 2019 (on-premises)
- Security Setup: Sophos WAF (Web Application Firewall) for ActiveSync
Interestingly, devices still running iOS 18.3.x had no such issues.
User Feedback
The user expressed frustration, saying, “I thought Apple cared about software quality, but this feels like beta-level AI junk.” He wasn’t alone—other users also reported similar problems on social media and blogs.
Possible Workarounds
Some users shared temporary fixes that worked for them:
- Toggle Push Notifications: Turn push notifications off and back on again in settings.
- Restart the Device: A simple restart resolved the issue for some users.
- Monitor Updates: Apple may silently address these bugs in subsequent updates or patches.
One user noted that the functionality seemed to stabilize after trying these steps but described the situation as “dynamic,” meaning issues could reappear.
Key Takeaways
- The push notification issue appears tied to specific configurations like Exchange on-prem setups.
- Devices running older versions (iOS 18.3.x) remain unaffected.
- Apple has yet to officially acknowledge or provide a fix for this problem.
Advice for Users Facing This Issue
- Try toggling push notifications or restarting your device as a first step.
- If you rely heavily on push notifications for work, consider delaying the update on other devices until Apple provides a fix or further clarification.
- Keep an eye on Apple’s support pages or forums for updates from other users.
This situation highlights how even minor software updates can disrupt critical functions, especially in professional environments relying on specific configurations.