Level 1

27 points

Screen line/artifact appears after iOS 26.0.1 upgrade on iPhone 15 Pro Max

Immediately after upgrading to iOS 26.0.1 on my iPhone 15 Pro Max, I now see a persistent translucent but lightly shaded band (roughly 3 millimeters tall) horizontally across the screen.

It changes with changes to brightness, color filters, etc — but it is now constantly there (just a lighter shade than the rest of the screen).

Because it occurred immediately after I upgraded to the new iOS version and because (despite just being a few shades lighter than the rest of the screen) everything within the band displays correctly, it does not feel like a hardware issue.

Any suggestions welcome (I’ve already tried closing all apps and restarting several times).

iPhone 15 Pro Max

Posted on Oct 3, 2025 2:15 PM

Top-ranking reply

Jeff Donald

Level 8

44,586 points

Posted on Oct 8, 2025 8:36 AM

If it looks and behaves like the original poster’s description and screenshots, you’re likely facing a hardware repair.

You need to have Apple perform diagnostics on your iPhone. It can be done in person at an Apple Retail Store or at an Apple Authorized Service Provider. You can also contact Apple Support and request remote diagnostics.

If you’re in the US please call 1-800-MY-APPLE or outside the US, consult the support articles below. In Canada call 1-800-263-3394

Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support

Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

Explore Service Locations

Official Apple Support

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34 replies

LD150

Level 10

99,541 points

Oct 20, 2025 2:40 AM in response to SalCinquemani

Odd green or other color lines on an iphone screen mean a hardware failure on the screen or its connectors. Period.

FelipeV

Level 6

12,041 points

Oct 20, 2025 2:49 AM in response to fabriciofrompretoria

You have a hardware problem. Period.

FelipeV

Level 6

12,041 points

Oct 20, 2025 2:50 AM in response to SalCinquemani

No. There was a hardware problem before. The update probably brought it to the fore, not the other way around.

Oct 16, 2025 2:33 AM in response to fabriciofrompretoria

Oh, I forgot to mention, yesterday my phone restarted by itself, and tried to do some sort of recovery.... But then it said no issues were found, and everything was fine afterwards, until this morning...

woeisme5768 Author

Level 1

27 points

Oct 16, 2025 8:51 PM in response to Ingo2711

FWIW my phone did not have iOS beta installed. Just went from latest standard release to standard iOS 26.0 when it became available and then to standard iOS 26.0.1 when it became available and the screen issue occurred when the phone restarted after install.

Oct 19, 2025 5:05 PM in response to woeisme5768

Encountered the exact same issue where my iPhone 15 Pro Max that recently updated to iOS 26.0.1 rebooted into Recovery Mode, then a horizontal bright line appeared across my screen the next day. It's unacceptable that a hardware issue brought on by something in the latest update software update means the customer is responsible for paying for a total screen replacement.

[Edited by Moderator]

Nov 26, 2025 9:19 AM in response to woeisme5768

My phone is 14 pro max. I also have the same green line issue just after updating to ios 26.0.1 update. First I got only 1 green line issue. Then day by day it the green line count increses. I have 5 green lines and 1 purple line now. And a blurred patch near 'a' letter when the keyboard appears

Jeff Donald

Level 8

44,586 points

Oct 3, 2025 2:23 PM in response to woeisme5768

Can you please post a screenshot of the anomaly you’re describing?

Oct 5, 2025 1:22 PM in response to woeisme5768

I've had the same problem since this update. Very annoying. Lots of people are describing the same problem in various forums. Hopefully a solution will be found.