iPhone 12 Pro / Apple logo "flashes" at start-up....is this normal?

Update for fix

Bro it is not iPhone issue. It appears the issues I faced is quite similar to the one reported here. I set up the phone as new and there was no data transfer done for the apps. I was using the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max and replaced it multiple times. Both models were having issues.

Later I identified issue was due to a banking app which you least expect. You wont expect this to happen on a banking app. Once I uninstalled the App everything perfect. So in your case it might be one rogue app that is causing issues in the entire ecosystem

This is what I faced when the issue surfaces

1. Cannot download Apps from App Stores

2. Cannot send/receive new emails in the default IOS Mail App

3. Photos/videos cannot upload to iCloud but no issues with OneDrive

4. Settings get time to load occasionally

5. Navigate to Settings and choose any installed apps to view my specific app settings, the screen just freezes

6. While doing call with Apple Support at the time of issue, they won't be able to do a screen mirroring even though I allowed it when the option pops up in my phone

7. Based on my experiences it would start with any one App and affect some other apps. It could start with any random app either an inhouse IOS App or third party banking or social apps. Usually, it affects almost all the default IOS Apps and I won't be able to even connect to Software update Server for checks. The latest issue started when I made an attempt to download an App from App Store as mentioned in the point 1.The download failed from App store and after that issue started spreading to multiple apps. For example if I Went to the Gmail App and tried to Add another mail account. It hangs and don't allow me to add new email account. While facing this issue when I try to launch some Apps for example Facebook Citibank etc. (it could be any random app) it just freezes, and all the issues reported from point 1-6 starts popping up. At the same time some Apps work perfectly fine. I can watch videos in YouTube and all.

8. Once I reboot the phones all these issues get resolved and it would work fine for some days before the same happens again. This routine cycle has been going ever since I upgraded to the new series of iPhones. I don’t think it is Apple Hardware issue as I have replaced the phones thrice and all have similar issues.

Hi Becca! 

At present I am in the process of working with senior engineers about this issue on my own phone. The last that I heard from them is that they are continuing to investigate.

As for whether it is merely cosmetic or not, some have said it doesn’t affect their phone’s functioning at all and some, like myself, have experienced other issues that may possibly be tied to it. Everyone has their own opinion as to whether the other issues that are being experienced at the same time are related or not. I am waiting to hear back from the engineers on that front as any opinion here is one provided by a customer and not by Apple techs or engineers themselves.

Three other people in my family alone have 12 pro series phones (2 max and one just pro) and none of them have the flash issue which has caused me to wonder if the issue is truly only software related then why don’t all 12’s display the behavior? 

Should you return the phone? Only you can make that choice. I have returned 3 and all the ones I’ve gotten still have the issue because it seems that it happens with all 12 pros manufactured after mid December 2020 and those are all that seem to be available currently— at least in my area. I opted to work with the engineers rather than trading again in the hope that it would help them to find the exact cause. Good luck whatever you decide to do!

Hi, I would say let's wait for the next IOS 14.5 as many have already confirmed in this thread that it resolved the issue. I have the same issue but I am not restarting the phone often and also it didn't impact any of the general phone's functionality.

It’s a cosmetic bug that will most likely be fixed with the next update.

There's quite a few threads discussing this very issue now. One person contacted an Apple Senior Engineer, who says it might be a hardware issue. The current concern is that some people eventually experience other issues with the new phones, i.e. trouble booting it up.

We're still awaiting for some kind of official response from Apple.

Same problem. 3 new phones all with the same problem. I expect to hear back from them on Monday, The information has been sent to a senior engineer. Was on the phone with them today for an hour and a half. They did analytics and remote work. Had spoken to someone last nite for an hour and a week ago also for an hour. Originally they wanted to bring phone into the store, but I said I want to see if they get a fix out for it now that they are aware of it. Will keep u informed.

Just got off the phone with Apple and the case and diagnostic logs have been received by the senior engineers. I made them aware that this is a worldwide issue and have given them the links to the assorted threads regarding this issue here on Apple communities as well as on Mac Rumors. I have a callback from them scheduled for Friday. They need a few days to research the issues myself and others have noted here. I will report back with an update once I speak to them on Friday and see what they have come up with to that point. Once an issue goes from senior support up to the senior engineers it can take awhile as they do dig deeply, often requiring different logs than what were initially sent so now it’s just a wait and see situation. Have a great day y’all!

RodneySharon wrote:

I just bought the iPhone 12 Pro Max and have this issue. It makes me nervous because it happens on a regular shutdown and the hard shutdown and the phone struggles to come back on. I called the store where I purchased my phone only a week ago and asked if anyone else has been letting them know of the same issue. I was told that my call was the first time they have heard of it (hard for me to believe) I have iOS 14.4. I was also told I could not exchange the phone since it eventually comes back on and then runs as normal and that I should not be doing a 'hard shutdown' anyway. I told them that it happens if it is a normal shutdown or hard shutdown and that I wonder if it will eventually not turn on at all since it takes so long. Thank you for posting this information, and I did tell the store clerk that they should take a moment and read this thread so they understand it has been happening to many people.

I experienced exactly the same, it struggles to turn back on after the flashing logo and that's what concerns me. Also, today I had to do a hard reset due to my microphone not working properly (my recorded audio suddenly sounded tinny and bad quality) - after the hard reset it worked fine again, but the hard reset took ages and the logo flashed again.

If it freezes up that it completely independent of the minor cosmetic glitch when starting the phone. Freezing up has not been associated with the Apple logo appearing twice during startup, as per the other posts in this thread.

Hi Curveball99...

I have also experienced the same issue with the text scrambling sometimes. When we are on a WhatsApp call and we minimize it then the notification of that call is also scrambled sometimes.

Apart from this sometimes my phone goes into a vibration loop. And yes the apple logo flashing at startup problem is also present.

When I went to the apple store here in Norway they don't seem to answer by queries properly instead they were saying that if this is a major issue apple will release a official statement on this.

We would definitely like to see a official statement from Apple soon!!!

My iPhone 12 Pro Max that I just got Thursday last week does the same EXCEPT it will NOT boot up normally unless I go through the process a couple of times. If I hold the power button for the first time it will do the bright flash of the logo and disappear and it will not load the OS no matter how long you hold the button down without letting go. I have to usually do it 2 - 3 times then it will finally load and go. Mines an AT&T phone/128GB. I am going to return today and when I fire up for the first time new I am NOT going to load the update if available and see if it still does it. I want to keep on iOS 13 if possible and see if does the same. Of course that will be based on what software the phone shipped with but will update after I get the phone.

I’ve tried everything the  support guy said and even bring it to a local store, which I found a tons other people who had just recently bought iPhone 12&12 Pro and 12 max also encountering the same problem. For a phone with over 1000$ price tag and in another country, this amount of investment in a phone but just to have it fail is extremely infuriating. I hope Apple take responsibility for this severe software problem.

ankakashipham wrote:

I took it to an apple warranty center and indeed, it is NOT a software. Instead it is a hardware problem which I have no idea what went wrong because water was no where near, or anything at all. I’m going to have it examined after my business trip. This is really concerning for other business people who are using iPhone 12 Pro or ProMax to do their job but frozen while on a business trip like me.

Nonsense. It is a very, very minor cosmetic bug in the startup process. It does not affect operation of the phone at all. The correct startup procedure: Hold the SIDE button until an Apple logo appears, then release it and wait. The phone will start normally once iOS finishes loading. That may take 15-30 seconds.