Don't Want to Upgrade to iOS 26? Here's How to Stay on iOS 18 [Update: Now Unavailable]

[DCIFRTHS]

I referred to that but comments on all I described run through this whole thread.

You did refer to what I posted, and that’s what I responded too. I wasn’t addressing bugs - I expect them, and I expect they will be addressed.

I’m not trying to be sarcastic to you. I just wanted to stay focused on the feedback I have received from people. Their feelings echo the way I feel about the new OS, and I really love upgrading. I like to tinker

 

[kkng]

I have a spare iPhone 11 running iOS 26 to look at new versions of this monstrosity, but ugliness aside, it works surprisingly well. This is probably largely due to the lower resolution than in the 12 or 13. I have no complaints about the system itself; it's fast and fluid. Besides, iOS 26 is the best of the worst monsters.

Thank you for sharing your experience! You don't experience any delays or crashes during everyday use either? Because the iPad Air 2019 is a total catastrophy on iPadOS 26 (don't know how the development team approved it). But that could be due to the larger screen, not sure.

 

[Imperial926]

You did refer to what I posted, and that’s what I responded too. I wasn’t addressing bugs - I expect them, and I expect they will be addressed.

I’m not trying to be sarcastic to you. I just wanted to stay focused on the feedback I have received from people. Their feelings echo the way I feel about the new OS, and I really love upgrading. I like to tinker

Apologies!
I should have made it a separate post.

 

[Supermacguy]

It's almost criminal that Apple locks us into only going forward with OS updates, and you can't de-install a newer OS, or you could selectively upgrade to a specific OS release, IE go from iOS 17 on a very old phone to 18, but not be forced to 26.x.

 

[Macalicious2011]

Irrespective of an overall grand strategy (or not) the really key mistake was pushing it to macOS like this.

I always test new OS on my least risky device and that's the iPAd. I was able to rollback from the beta. However I wasn't courageous enough to test it on MacOS. Is liquid glass really that bad on macOS 26 Tahoe?

The fact that Apple has updated OS26 with settings for either toning down liquid glass or togglign between it and tinted, shows that Apple are not 110% confident in their decision.

 

[DCIFRTHS]

Apologies!
I should have made it a separate post.

No worries! Thanks for the response

 

[I7guy]

Thank you for sharing your experience! You don't experience any delays or crashes during everyday use either? Because the iPad Air 2019 is a total catastrophy on iPadOS 26 (don't know how the development team approved it). But that could be due to the larger screen, not sure.

My iPad 7th gen runs iOS 26 as good as it did iOS 18. Other than the fact the iPad was starting to show its age, iOS 26 is as good in my iPad as iOS 18 was.

 

[I7guy]

Right now we’re at the dawn of corporate vibecoding, so you have your pick between vulnerabilities and bugs. Many of the vulnerabilities are only possible in theory while the bugs are very real.

Correct many of the bugs don’t effect us but the vulnerabilities are 100% real and being exploited.

I have a spare iPhone 11 running iOS 26 to look at new versions of this monstrosity, but ugliness aside, it works surprisingly well. This is probably largely due to the lower resolution than in the 12 or 13. I have no complaints about the system itself; it's fast and fluid. Besides, iOS 26 is the best of the worst monsters.

In my anecdotal circle I have not heard many complaints about iOS 26.

 

[kkng]

My iPad 7th gen runs iOS 26 as good as it did iOS 18. Other than the fact the iPad was starting to show its age, iOS 16 is as good in my iPad as iOS 18 was.

Interesting to hear! Makes me wonder why my iPad Air 2019 became e-waste after the update.

 

[Wolf1701]

I managed to have a discussion by phone and then needed to complete a very comprehensive statement so they could precisely remedy the issue. If I had merely bleated on about Bugs - Bugs - Bugs on some forum!!!! my precise concern would never have been resolved. As things were, the problems were looked into and resolved within a month.

For a variety of reasons, forums are full of bug reports made using what should be the appropriate tool: feedback... I suppose, given this testimony, it is not the correct system for sending data, screenshots, descriptions of the problem, and how to reproduce it (only to be ignored, in fact... the luckiest ones get, after months, a status change with ‘there are multiple similar feedbacks’... but without tangible results).

Perhaps a few years ago Apple was still trying to 'think different'... But I would avoid portraying those who write here as capricious children capable only of exclaiming ‘bug!’.

 

[canadianreader]

It's almost criminal that Apple locks us into only going forward with OS updates, and you can't de-install a newer OS, or you could selectively upgrade to a specific OS release, IE go from iOS 17 on a very old phone to 18, but not be forced to 26.x.

By removing the beta and restricting 18.7.3 they’re undermining iPhone security just to artificially inflate iOS26 adoption. That’s how desperate they are.

 

[I7guy]

Interesting to hear! Makes me wonder why my iPad Air 2019 became e-waste after the update.

Makes no sense. The iPad 7th gen has the same chip as the iohone 7 while the iPad Air 2019 has the same chip as the XS.

It could be the feature set of iOS 26 that is active. I don’t know but performance on my iPad with iOS 26 is on par with iOS 18.

 

[kkng]

Makes no sense. The iPad 7th gen has the same chip as the iohone 7 while the iPad Air 2019 has the same chip as the XS.

It could be the feature set of iOS 26 that is active. I don’t know but performance on my iPad with iOS 26 is on par with iOS 18.

Well, unfortunately it's real; at least on my device. I already tried deactivating all the extra visual effects, animations etc. It made it *slightly* better, but really only minimally. It's still a pain to use, or rather try to use the device. Maybe I could try completely resetting it, but I'll see. Wish there was an officially supported way to downgrade to previous iOS/iPadOS versions via iTunes/Apple Devices App. Will never understand why Apple refuses to offer official support.

Btw, the iPhone XS doesn't support iOS 26. Maybe the iPad Air 2019 shouldn't have been on the list either.

 

[Janichsan]

I'm not willing to cripple my iPhone as much as I crippled my iPad by updating to iOS 26.x.

 

[Imperial926]

For a variety of reasons, forums are full of bug reports made using what should be the appropriate tool: feedback... I suppose, given this testimony, it is not the correct system for sending data, screenshots, descriptions of the problem, and how to reproduce it (only to be ignored, in fact... the luckiest ones get, after months, a status change with ‘there are multiple similar feedbacks’... but without tangible results).

Perhaps a few years ago Apple was still trying to 'think different'... But I would avoid portraying those who write here as capricious children capable only of exclaiming ‘bug!’.

I think it's just human nature to want to express frustration at a perceived issue. I don't know why people must read something derogatory into an observation that just seeks to clarify.
My experience with Apple is that if you know what you're talking about and are willing to politely persist they will deal with issues that affect both individuals and concerns that may be affecting a large cohort.

 

[I7guy]

This is common after any change. iOS26 was a more significant deviation and so more people may notice and want to go back. What Apple and other companies know is that users adapt and then, one day, someone will complain and say they want to go back to iOS26. There will be the usual comments about how iOS26 was the last good version and that now their battery life is rubbish. I know this because it happens every single time!
Many observations in this thread and others here are either about visual or operational differences. These are the opinions that can change with familiarity.
It would be helpful if those reporting serious bugs could provide evidence that a significant number of users have that same, reproducible issue. Anything else could purely be down to a unique set of circumstances on their device.
Taking an example: - Some years ago I contacted Apple about inaccurate or missing labels for classical albums within iTunes. A large number of other listeners had already registered precisely the same problem on Apple Communities. I managed to have a discussion by phone and then needed to complete a very comprehensive statement so they could precisely remedy the issue. If I had merely bleated on about Bugs - Bugs - Bugs on some forum!!!! my precise concern would never have been resolved. As things were, the problems were looked into and resolved within a month.

To me a bug stops a task from getting done. A UI glitch is not a bug to me. I’ve have not been stopped by a bug in iOS 26 although I’ve seen claims to that affect.

Posters also say the design of iOS 26 is bad. I disagree and I’ve taken as many UI/UX courses as the next fellow.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

I think you just nailed why it's been received so badly with you summary and might just be the root of the problem.

It's sounds and look like a UI designed by essentially committee - unless there was one visionary leading it (Dye or someone else?) because either there was a singular UI/UX architect with a driving vision, or if it was designed by committee as you have outlined, and if it is the later, then there is the answer, and that the buck really does stop with Cook except he's already essentially gone, so it will be the next CEO problem down the line.

Oh dear. It's much worse than I thought.

Almost every modern Apple product was designed by committee, that’s kind of what happens when you become the most valuable company in the world.
Even under Steve Jobs, Aqua was a companywide branding initiative, from their operating systems, to their commercials, to their retail promos, everything.
Again, Apple is not a company just ran by six people who do everything and make every single decision, they have hundreds and thousands of employees across hundreds of different teams. They are not a start-up, this is not two 20 something’s in a garage. That was 50 years ago.

 

[I7guy]

Well, unfortunately it's real; at least on my device. I already tried deactivating all the extra visual effects, animations etc. It made it *slightly* better, but really only minimally. It's still a pain to use, or rather try to use the device. Maybe I could try completely resetting it, but I'll see. Wish there was an officially supported way to downgrade to previous iOS/iPadOS versions via iTunes/Apple Devices App. Will never understand why Apple refuses to offer official support.

Btw, the iPhone XS doesn't support iOS 26. Maybe the iPad Air 2019 shouldn't have been on the list either.

The iPhone 7 obviously doesn’t support iOS 26 either. But Apple beefed up the internals somehow.

 

[Wieslawo]

Thank you for sharing your experience! You don't experience any delays or crashes during everyday use either? Because the iPad Air 2019 is a total catastrophy on iPadOS 26 (don't know how the development team approved it). But that could be due to the larger screen, not sure.

Not, but like I said it is my spare phone, only use to web & music. But nothing bad happens. I had iPadOS beta on A14 iPad Air and it was a disaster.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

iOS 26 is nowhere near the same as Vista was, and not the resource hog you claim it to be. Running like a champ on my iPhone 13 Pro.

The morphing UI makes for a very elegant and productive experience.

Setting Liquid Glass aside, what are 3 things that you wish iOS 26 offered?

Er, actually they turn off some of the eye candy on the older phones so that it will run better (just like MS did for Vista). I know for certain that the iPhone 13 mini is effected. Maybe you don't see issues because Apple turned down some of the pizazz on your 13 Pro, so it still feels fast?

 

[capamac]

Almost every modern Apple product was designed by committee,

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

Especially because this „new interface“ barely has changed anything from the former one. Some elements are now placed on the bottom of the phone, that’s all. The way you navigate on the UI is the same as before.

That’s exactly what I am saying
Yes, a lot of elements in the operating system has changed, but the way you use it hasn’t.
if someone truly fell asleep, knowing how to use their phone 100% reliably on iOS 18, and then woke up and it was on 26 and they had no idea what they were doing, that sounds like they never knew how to use the phone to begin with.
What is a lot more likely is they turned on their phone, noticed the small changes, overreacted (as most users who despise change no matter how small do) before realizing that actually using the phone is almost identical.
I don’t blame them, I can be the same way. Even the transition from AirPods Pro second generation to third generation took me hours to get used to because it was quite different. But eventually, once it becomes the new normal, no one will really have much to say anymore.
And this is why Apple only refreshes the user interface once every 12 years or so now.

 

[It’s always something]

My iPad 7th gen runs iOS 26 as good as it did iOS 18.

The 7th generation iPad doesn’t support iPadOS 26.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

The fact that Apple has updated OS26 with settings for either toning down liquid glass or togglign between it and tinted, shows that Apple are not 110% confident in their decision.

There is no such thing as 110% confident in a decision, especially regarding user interface.
Even the launch of aqua came with a separate “graphite” theme for those who thought Aqua was just a bit much, and the last big redesign, iOS 7, gained both “reduced Transparency” and “Button Shapes” in 7.1, again for those who thought the original iOS 7 was just a bit too much.
Them adding an extra option in 26.1 literally matches the last two big redesigns they’ve done, it’s the least unique thing about it.
And it’s not really an indicator of anything.

 

[super chimp]

I left it too late to update my 12 Pro! I’m on 17.1.1. Not sure the phone could handle iOS 26 without breaking it!

A friend has a 12 Pro and when I asked him about iOS 26 he didn’t seem to find anything wrong with it on his phone.

Yet one of my cousins said it destroyed the battery on her 14 Pro, and now she has a 17 Pro,