iPhone 11 Panic Log Analysis: The "Mic2" Restart Loop

If your iPhone 11 shuts down and restarts exactly every 180 seconds (3 minutes), you are not dealing with a bad battery or a software bug. You are experiencing a specific hardware sensor failure known as the "Mic2 Watchdog Timeout."

Many repair shops incorrectly diagnose this as a motherboard failure, but for 95% of users, it is simply a damaged Power Button Flex Cable.

Does Your Log Look Like This?

Look closely at your log files (Settings > Privacy > Analytics > Analytics Data). Search for entries containing "panic" in the filename.

{
  "bug_type": "210",
  "timestamp": "2023-10-27 09:03:00.00 +0000",
  "os_version": "iPhone OS 17.0 (21A329)",
  "panicString": "panic(cpu 1 caller 0xfffffff023): \"userspace watchdog timeout: no successful checkins from thermalmon in 180 seconds\" ... \"Missing sensor(s): mic2\" ... 0x80000"
}

Key Signature to Look For

The critical identifier is Missing sensor(s): mic2.

"Mic2" is the rear microphone located on the Power Button & Flashlight Flex Cable. When this sensor fails or gets disconnected, the phone's thermal monitor cannot read data, causing the system to force a restart for safety.

Confirm Your Symptoms

Check if the following symptoms match your device:

✅ The phone restarts approximately every 3 minutes of use
✅ The Flashlight icon in the Control Center is greyed out or does not turn on
✅ The power button or volume buttons feel "mushy" or do not click crisply
✅ You may see "Thermalmon" or "WatchdogTimeout" errors in the analytics logs

If you checked 2 or more of these boxes, the Power Button Flex Cable is almost certainly your issue.

Repair Specifications

Feature	Specification
Faulty Component	Power Button & Flashlight Flex Cable
Difficulty	Intermediate (No soldering, but many screws)
Time to Fix	45-60 Minutes
Face ID Impact	None (Safe to replace)

The Fix

Stop the 3-minute restart loop today. The MeeFix repair kit includes:

✅ OEM-grade Power Button & Flashlight Flex Cable
✅ Pre-cut waterproof adhesive seal
✅ All precision screwdrivers included (Pentalobe, Tri-point, Phillips)
✅ Step-by-step video repair guide

No microsoldering required - this is a plug-and-play replacement.

→ Get the iPhone 11 Power Button Fix Kit

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Why does a broken microphone cause my phone to restart?

Apple devices use a "Watchdog" system to monitor thermal sensors. "Mic2" is part of this thermal sensor array. If the system cannot get a reading from Mic2 for 180 seconds, it assumes the device might be overheating and forces a reboot to protect the hardware.

Q2: Is this a logic board / motherboard issue?

Rarely. While a logic board short can cause this, 95% of the time it is just the flex cable itself that has torn or corroded. Replacing the cable usually resolves it immediately.

Q3: Can I just replace the battery to fix this?

No. A degraded battery causes random shutdowns at different percentages (e.g., 20% or 40%), but it does not cause the precise "3-minute loop" associated with the Mic2 error. The symptom pattern is completely different.

Q4: Will replacing this cable delete my Face ID?

No. The Power Button Flex Cable is completely separate from the Face ID system. Your Face ID and True Tone will continue to work perfectly after this repair.

Q5: Do I need soldering tools?

No. The MeeFix kit includes a complete assembly. You just need to unscrew the old one and plug in the new one. No microsoldering is required.

Related Resources

Last updated: December 2024 | Article by MeeFix Technical Team

iPhone 11 Restarting Every 3 Minutes? The "Mic2" Panic Fix | MeeFix