Apple will release a software fix for iPhones that stop working in cold weather (AAPL)

iPhone X

Some users are reporting issues with the iPhone X where its screen doesn't respond to touch in cold weather.
Apple said in a statement that the issue will be addressed in a future software update.

Apple said on Thursday that it's looking into reports that the new iPhone X doesn't work well in cold weather.

The issue first popped up on Reddit, where several commenters said they had encountered an issue that makes the iPhone's screen unresponsive.

"It literally takes 2 seconds from going inside to the cold outdoors and my screen stops being very responsive. I try swiping on websites and it doesn't register my finger," wrote the original poster.

In a statement sent to The Loop, an Apple representative said that not only is the company looking into the issue, it plans to release a software update to fix the cold-weather problem.

Here's Apple's statement:

“We are aware of instances where the iPhone X screen will become temporarily unresponsive to touch after a rapid change to a cold environment. After several seconds the screen will become fully responsive again. This will be addressed in an upcoming software update.”

This isn't the first time that there have been reports that iPhones — or other electronic gadgets — don't work well in cold weather. Apple's own website says that iOS devices work best in temperatures above freezing, and using them in cold weather can "temporarily shorten battery life" or cause the device to suddenly shut off.

A 2016 statement from Apple explains how the cold weather issue could actually be fixed in software, not hardware:

"We also want our customers to know that an iPhone is actually designed to shut down automatically under certain conditions, such as extremely cold temperature. To an iPhone user, some of those shutdowns might seem unexpected, but they are designed to protect the device’s electronics from low voltage."

The iPhone X went on sale earlier this month and it seems like a hit. Supply is backordered for weeks.

Apple's iPhones are used around the world, but they're primarily designed in sunny Cupertino, California, and testing is secretive before launch, so it's not surprising when unexpected issues in certain circumstances pop up shortly after launch.

When Apple fixes this issue, it may actually become the best iPhone for cold weather usage. It uses facial recognition to secure data on the phone, instead of a fingerprint sensor, so cold weather-users won't have to remove their gloves to unlock their phones.

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