Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
I did a fresh install of 26.1 last week on 17 Pro and today when I updated to 26.2 OTA it was 10.4GB. I’m going to do another factory reset today just clear out any 26.1 gremlins and start with a clean slate for 26.2 and see how things go.
 
I have been trying to update my iphone 16P and ipad mini7 through my MAC connecting it with usb cable in Finder (not over the air I dont want that). Mac keeps saying that 18.7.2 is the most current iphone and iPad version, that my software is up to date. We know that’s not true. So I haven’t been able to update these 2 devices ever since 18.7.2 came out. I escalated to apple 3 weeks ago and they have no clue. Still pending engineer investigation. Am I the only experiencing this? Any ideas or solutions ?
I'm pretty sure Apple needs to release signed IPSW files in order for the Mac Finder iOS/iPadOS update process to work. This type of update process does not patch like OTA (so the download files are much bigger), and as B0bby questioned above, the iOS 26.2 IPSW files are not posted yet by Apple. Keep visiting IPSW.me website to monitor when they post. Both my iPhone and iPad models are not yet posted either.
 
Interesting as I have had the opposite problem. My Mac only offered iOS 26 when all I wanted to install was 18.7 (on an iPhone 13 Mini running 18.6.2).
Apple never posted any iOS 18 IPSW files past iOS 18.6.2, so you would not have been able to update your phone through Mac Finder to iOS 18.7+, but you should still be able to update your phone to the latest iOS 18 through OTA. Yes?
 
  • Like
Reactions: 973137243
Same here on 14PM. Came from 26.1
It all normal they say, you got the increment bit not the full install. It’s okay.


Here is why that happens:


1. The Incremental Update (Delta Update)


• The Principle: Instead of downloading the entire operating system, Apple's system (based on the iOS version currently installed on your device) determines only the files that have been modified between 26.1 and 26.2.


• The Advantage: The download file is much smaller, as it only contains the "differences" (the delta) and the patches. This allows for a faster download and saves cellular data or Wi-Fi bandwidth.


2. The Full Package


• The Principle: This is the complete version of OS 26.2, replacing the majority of existing files.


• When is it downloaded? It is generally offered to users who:


• Skip several versions (for example, from 25.x to 26.2).


• Have issues with their current installation, and the device or Apple's server chooses to force a "full package" to ensure stability.


• Update via a computer (Finder on Mac or iTunes on Windows) — this method almost always downloads the full package.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Genelec8341
Hmm.. OTA only? I'm still on 18.6.2 for my 15 Pro Max, and am waiting for iOS 26 to stabilize before going anywhere near that, but if I jump to it, I want to control the install, not have everything done OTA. Any word on if IPSWs will be available?

BL.
 
Hmm.. Any word on if IPSWs will be available?

BL.
I don't see any iOS 26.2 signed IPSWs yet. But there is still a signed one for iOS 26.1. You should be able to Finder update your phone to 26.1, then OTA to .2. Apple used to provide IPSWs simultaneously with OTAs, so your guess is as good as mine.
 
Ugh they’ve gone back to smaller thumbnail views in photos when you click a screenshot. You now have to tap it twice for full screen mode.

Assume the reason for this is because the liquid glass design didn’t work overlayed and now to solve this disastrous design they’ve made a change which is even more annoying to eliminate it.

Apple please stop making things that worked before worse.
 
Signed IPSW iOS 26.2 and IPSW iPadOS 26.2 just showed up on IPSW.me website for my hardware models, so I'm guessing updating through Mac Finder will work now? Please let us know if it does. Thx

EDIT:
Updated iPhone and iPad to iOS/iPadOS 26.2 (from 26.1) through Mac Finder (macOS 15.7.2) with no problems
 
Last edited:
I’m probably in the minority here but I hate that Apple stops signing updates tho I understand why and even when I developed for android once they started locking bootloaders, it was difficult and nearly impossible to downgrade major large scale updates but it would really be a major thumbs up to users if they allowed 2 major firmwares to be used such as ios18 and ios26 both being signed to all devices even if based off of looks alone similar to how people prefer windows 10 over 11.

Forcing “new features” on people who don’t gain anything from them leaves us open to only the bugs that come with updates. We basically are actively installing bugs. Even if we refuse the update we are pressured by security vulnerabilities to update to firmware that we have to deal with for months before a truly stable build is out. This kind of decision making shows that Apple is more concerned with meeting deadlines on “promised” innovation and fixing bugs as a second priority simply because they know users have to use their phone AND because Apple has already received their money off of sales.

This has not been a fun ride at all with iOS 26. Apple has lost some steam. They need to stop releasing hardware every year and focus solely on software that is actually tasteful. They are actively removing features from the iPhone to force users to buy secondary Apple hardware. Everyone doesn’t want a watch and air pods and chargers that make their phones unnecessarily hot and unused features that drain battery by simply existing. All of this leads to planned obsolescence to force people to buy the newest device. Essentially you spend another $1000+ in a year or 2 to obtain a slightly better camera, a processor that rarely gets used to its max and a brand new battery and any hardware that is getting maxed is draining the battery anyway. Most of us aren’t asking for useless new features. We are asking for the existing ones to be fine tuned and work as intended.

Apple is relying on their fanbase to continually glaze them. Apple isn’t as far ahead of android as they once were and I’m struggling to find why I should continue to use Apple as my main device.
 
I did a fresh install of 26.1 last week on 17 Pro and today when I updated to 26.2 OTA it was 10.4GB. I’m going to do another factory reset today just clear out any 26.1 gremlins and start with a clean slate for 26.2 and see how things go.
I think those times are over. Installing 26.2 from 26.1 is the same as a fresh 26.2 install.
 
I’m probably in the minority here but I hate that Apple stops signing updates tho I understand why and even when I developed for android once they started locking bootloaders, it was difficult and nearly impossible to downgrade major large scale updates but it would really be a major thumbs up to users if they allowed 2 major firmwares to be used such as ios18 and ios26 both being signed to all devices even if based off of looks alone similar to how people prefer windows 10 over 11.

Forcing “new features” on people who don’t gain anything from them leaves us open to only the bugs that come with updates. We basically are actively installing bugs. Even if we refuse the update we are pressured by security vulnerabilities to update to firmware that we have to deal with for months before a truly stable build is out. This kind of decision making shows that Apple is more concerned with meeting deadlines on “promised” innovation and fixing bugs as a second priority simply because they know users have to use their phone AND because Apple has already received their money off of sales.

This has not been a fun ride at all with iOS 26. Apple has lost some steam. They need to stop releasing hardware every year and focus solely on software that is actually tasteful. They are actively removing features from the iPhone to force users to buy secondary Apple hardware. Everyone doesn’t want a watch and air pods and chargers that make their phones unnecessarily hot and unused features that drain battery by simply existing. All of this leads to planned obsolescence to force people to buy the newest device. Essentially you spend another $1000+ in a year or 2 to obtain a slightly better camera, a processor that rarely gets used to its max and a brand new battery and any hardware that is getting maxed is draining the battery anyway. Most of us aren’t asking for useless new features. We are asking for the existing ones to be fine tuned and work as intended.

Apple is relying on their fanbase to continually glaze them. Apple isn’t as far ahead of android as they once were and I’m struggling to find why I should continue to use Apple as my main device.
Ok man. Just update it won’t bite
 
  • Haha
Reactions: N0ughtsAndCr0sses
12.71 GB file size. 16 pro max

Abt forty minutes from Settings app search for update to reboot log in screen. Still no offline Apple Music lyrics yet, ah well

I did a fresh install of 26.1 last week on 17 Pro and today when I updated to 26.2 OTA it was 10.4GB. I’m going to do another factory reset today just clear out any 26.1 gremlins and start with a clean slate for 26.2 and see how things go.

“Gremlins”. Muerto 💀
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.