Accidental update to 26. Can I go back to 18?

[ghanwani]

This evening, I got a prompt on my SE 2022 asking me if I wanted to update to 18.7.8. I clicked "Install Now". Next thing I know I'm on iOS 26. I hate it.

I think the mistake I made was clicking "Update Now". Apple being Apple there is probably a bug that went in and just updated to the latest iOS. I am so upset and feel like I got played. I should have said "Remind Me Later" (or whatever that prompt is) and then gone into settings and performed a manual update like I usually do.

Anyway, is there any way for me to go back to iOS 18?

If not, is there any site that details how to make iOS 26 look/behave like iOS 18 as much as possible?

 

[serra]

I had the same issue. I agreed to update to iOS 18, but I got iOS 26 instead, which I had avoided on purpose until now. Unlike you, I don't think this is a bug but something done on purpose.
And I find this unacceptable behavior from Apple. Really, it is my phone, and I do what I want with it. If I don't want iOS26, I'm free to stay with iOS18. Now I have a brick that lags and looks horrible.

And no, you can't go back, I'm afraid.

 

[Mike Boreham]

No longer possible as Apple has stopped signing iOS18.

iOS 27 is only a month away and people who hated iOS26 are generally liking iOS27 betas.

OTOH I get the impression you aren’t having any particular problem with iOS26, other than it looks different from iOS18, so you will find iOS27 is different as well.

Personally I always keep my phones right up to date to benefit from all security updates and adapt to the user interface changes.

If you google “How to make iOS26 as much like iOS18 as possible” you will get a lot of hits.

 

[ghanwani]

If you google “How to make iOS26 as much like iOS18 as possible” you will get a lot of hits.

That's the problem. I was hoping to find a "good" one by asking here instead of having to wade through a bunch of sites/videos.

 

[msuper69]

What’s so bad about iOS 26? I’ve updated my iPhone to it and haven’t had a single problem.

 

[UliBaer]

That's a complete new "quality" in forcing iOS 26 down the throat of the unwilling users... 😱


...but probably the shareholders will rejoice about that! 😡

 

[iStorm]

That is unfortunate. You didn't do anything wrong. It seems to be a glitch, but whether it's an intentional glitch is a different topic.

This thread seems to be related: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/am-i-being-tricked-into-installing-ios-26.2486454/

Notice how one screen said they were already running 18.7.8. Another clue that something is off is the description shown for the 18.7.8 update; that text is actually for the 18.4 update.

 

[RichP74]

I don't think that's true Apple isn't signing iOS 18, as they just put out a security update for 18.. there are websites out there that have the full IPSW, if you do a DFU restore (assuming you have access to a Mac) you should be able to get 18 back?

 

[chrfr]

I don't think that's true Apple isn't signing iOS 18, as they just put out a security update for 18.. there are websites out there that have the full IPSW, if you do a DFU restore (assuming you have access to a Mac) you should be able to get 18 back?

For phones that can run iOS 26, the latest iOS 18 IPSW that Apple released was 18.6.2, which is not signed. You can't do a full restore to any iOS 18 version.

 

[capamac]

Yeah I'm super cafeful with macOS updates on my Mac. I double check what I'm updating, make sure that macOS 26.x isn't somehow selected.

My retired iPhone 7 can't run ios 26 so no worries in that area XD

 

[I7guy]

Yeah I'm super cafeful with macOS updates on my Mac. I double check what I'm updating, make sure that macOS 26.x isn't somehow selected.

My retired iPhone 7 can't run ios 26 so no worries in that area XD

iOS 26.6.1 is great in my Neo. YMMV.