Apple Reveals How Many iPhones Were Running iOS 26 Before WWDC

[Soba]

These numbers aren’t an indication of user choice or opinions because Apple did everything they could to force users hands

Exactly. The upgrade messages were constant and bordered on oppressive for iOS 26. Even with auto-update and auto-download disabled, my phone nagged me daily on the lock screen to update from iOS 18. I'm surprised I didn't end up upgrading by accident with a clumsy screen tap, which is exactly what happened to my parents and a handful of friends; they didn't want to update, but did so accidentally. There is no way for an average user to disable these upgrade prompts.

Apple used to tout these adoption figures to demonstrate how much value there was in their new software. Now, all they're doing (apparently without realizing it) is publicizing how heavy handed they are.

If Apple really wants useful adoption statistics, they should scale back the nagging prompts and release security updates for two prior releases on all compatible models of iPhone, as they already do for macOS. In that case, the numbers might actually reflect user enthusiasm and satisfaction (like they used to).

 

[Earwolf]

Ok now reveal macos numbers

 

[B4U]

Exactly. The upgrade messages were constant and bordered on oppressive for iOS 26. Even with auto-update and auto-download disabled, my phone nagged me daily on the lock screen to update from iOS 18. I'm surprised I didn't end up upgrading by accident with a clumsy screen tap, which is exactly what happened to my parents and a handful of friends; they didn't want to update, but did so accidentally. There is no way for an average user to disable these upgrade prompts.

Apple used to tout these adoption figures to demonstrate how much value there was in their new software. Now, all they're doing (apparently without realizing it) is publicizing is how heavy handed they are.

If Apple really wants useful adoption statistics, they should scale back the nagging prompts and release security updates for two prior releases on all compatible models of iPhone, as they already do for macOS. In that case, the numbers might actually reflect user enthusiasm and satisfaction (like they used to).

The nagging has gotten to the point where I just said screw this and install the OTA blocker profile.
Daily nagging is excessive.

 

[Radeon85]

I love iOS 26, really like iOS 27 B1 so far as well.

 

[mjs916]

The statistic I want to see is how many actively used devices they are abandoning to 26 forever.

There are going to be a huge number of devices stuck on a terrible buggy release, with the newer and fixed version right there in front of them forever out of reach.

What do you mean “stuck”? Didn’t they announce that all iOS 26 devices can run iOS 27?

 

[platinumaqua]

how many Android devices are on the latest version? 😉

Nowadays I’m pretty fine with being stuck in an older version as long as I get security updates.

I’m tired of buggy, bloated, change for change’s sake releases that modern tech love to make.

 

[Fallforward]

These numbers aren’t an indication of user choice or opinions because Apple did everything they could to force users hands

How is this different from previous versions?

 

[Fallforward]

It's because they dropped support for 18.

When 18 came along, didn't they also drop support for 17, etc?

 

[maxoakland]

How is this different from previous versions?

When 18 came along, didn't they also drop support for 17, etc?

Who said this is different?

 

[CarAnalogy]

What do you mean “stuck”? Didn’t they announce that all iOS 26 devices can run iOS 27?

I have multiple active devices right now that won’t get it. iPhones did get a lot of support, but ipad pro, 2020 intel macbook air, watch se 2, likely homepod minis all won’t get it. And none of them needs AI but they definitely all need the bug fixes, especially to Liquid Glass.

 

[Timpetus]

I have multiple active devices right now that won’t get it. iPhones did get a lot of support, but ipad pro, 2020 intel macbook air, watch se 2, likely homepod minis all won’t get it. And none of them needs AI but they definitely all need the bug fixes, especially to Liquid Glass.

To be fair, I haven't seen much of Liquid Glass on my HomePod Minis at all!

 

[neuropsychguy]

Your math isn’t mathing. There could either be tons of old phones with nearly 79% adoption, or a smaller number with a much lower percentage than 79%.

Good catch! Thank you. I inverted a relationship and had the equation wrong. I've updated my comment with the correct math. The reality is that likely somewhere in the 80% range could be iPhones from within the past 4 years, but it's hard to tell from the provided stats alone. It could be as low as 55-60% are from the past 4 years.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I'm proud to be one of the ones still running iOS 18, and so far everything I've seen from the iOS 27 info, it looks like I'll still keep running it.

Yeah, I will not be moving my 13 mini up to 27 unless I see some reports that they considered that screen size with some of the implementation.

I’ve seen way too many reports of borked interface elements on 26 on the mini

 

[CarAnalogy]

To be fair, I haven't seen much of Liquid Glass on my HomePod Minis at all!

It’s true, the implementation of Liquid Glass on the HomePod Minis was flawless!

 

[Candlelight]

Still on 17.7.

 

[Yr Blues]

When 18 came along, didn't they also drop support for 17, etc?

That's how they promote their newest gadgets. Herd all the consumers into the next pen.

 

[actcyclist]

It seems to me it now takes 12 months for an iOS to be stable enough and by then Apple forces you to use a new iOS.

I’m on iOS 26 as I bought a new device during the year and it required it, but if I want to stay on iOS 26 I have to bat away reminders. It’s not great, either use our new, semi beta ios27 for a few months, or be nagged to death.

Any tips on dealing with the nags appreciated.

 

[Homme]

I came here to find a post from @FeliApple and to my surprise no post from him considering he would love a topic like this 😁

 

[platinumaqua]

Yeah, I will not be moving my 13 mini up to 27 unless I see some reports that they considered that screen size with some of the implementation.

I’ve seen way too many reports of borked interface elements on 26 on the mini

Based on the screenshots I've seen so far, they haven't really reduced the unnecessary padding added in iOS 26

 

[-BigMac-]

I’d still be on 18 if they allowed downgrades. 26 was garbage, unfortunately I tried it too late and couldn’t go back😓

 

[mjs916]

I have multiple active devices right now that won’t get it. iPhones did get a lot of support, but ipad pro, 2020 intel macbook air, watch se 2, likely homepod minis all won’t get it. And none of them needs AI but they definitely all need the bug fixes, especially to Liquid Glass.

Whoops! I conflated iOS support with the other OSes.

 

[Candlelight]

It seems to me it now takes 12 months for an iOS to be stable enough and by then Apple forces you to use a new iOS.

I’m on iOS 26 as I bought a new device during the year and it required it, but if I want to stay on iOS 26 I have to bat away reminders. It’s not great, either use our new, semi beta ios27 for a few months, or be nagged to death.

Any tips on dealing with the nags appreciated.

What reminders? I'm on 17 and I don't get asked to upgrade at all.

 

[CarAnalogy]

Whoops! I conflated iOS support with the other OSes.

To be fair, this article does specifically say iPhones, so it was really me doing the conflating first.

 

[WebHead]

So, how many?

Yes, a better headline would have been "what proportion"

 

[Neepman]

The worlds most pointless and meaningless Stat and metric.