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Don't Want to Upgrade to iOS 26? Here's How to Stay on iOS 18 [Update: Now Unavailable]
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This is a major deviation from previous policy, where Apple has released security updates for the previous iOS version for a year or so.
iOS 18 is robust, stable and sensible, particularly if you have a somewhat older iPhone.
It’s very worrying if Apple are denying important security updates to iOS 18 users.
It costs them money/man-hours to test and implement security patches on phones that support iOS 26, that’s why they stop releasing security updates for newer phones at a certain point, to put those resources towards other projects. If we want the bugs in iOS 26 fixed faster, they need to let as many of their engineers focus on that ASAP, rather than continuing work on 18
Hopefully they’ve gotten the hint about Liquid Glass and give us more options to disable some more of it’s changes
Such a dirty move by Apple. So because I don't want to "upgrade" to your sloppy iOS 26, I am now open to security vulnerabilities? Very low blow from Apple.
Apparently something they don’t grant users this time around.
iOS 26 is far worse right now than any early access iOS 15 beta ever was.
And everyone that says they see nothing wrong with iOS 26 just simply don’t pay attention.
It’s not worth much but I swear I can spot bugs on every phone running iOS 26.
The build number of the beta is reportedly the same as the official release that the iPhone XS and XR are getting (which aren’t upgradable to iOS 26).
Other than some very sluggish animations, ugly/blurry icons and a handful of UI hiccups, I haven't noticed huge problems on my recently upgraded iPhone 13 yet. I would still prefer keep my Mom's phone on iOS 18 a little longer. Some UI changes will undoubtedly trip her up and necessitate help from me or other relatives.
But I'm really reluctant to put an RC on her phone. I'm therefore hoping that Apple will release the bugfix for other phones too.
But I'm really reluctant to put an RC on her phone. I'm therefore hoping that Apple will release the bugfix for other phones too.
iOS 26 is a POS! Apple should let everyone downgrade to iOS 18 if they cared about user satisfaction.
iOS 26 has been great for me. I don't fault anyone who wants to stay on 18, but 26 has been solid and bug free for me.
Edit: it’s interesting that people will disagree with my experiences. Disagreeing doesn’t change what I’ve experienced. As an example. What I wrote is like me saying, “I flew American Airlines and had no delays on my flight.” Then someone comes along and clicks ‘disagree’. Why? They don’t like the airline so they disagree with my experience? It’s just an odd thing to do.
Edit: it’s interesting that people will disagree with my experiences. Disagreeing doesn’t change what I’ve experienced. As an example. What I wrote is like me saying, “I flew American Airlines and had no delays on my flight.” Then someone comes along and clicks ‘disagree’. Why? They don’t like the airline so they disagree with my experience? It’s just an odd thing to do.
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In the absence of a robust QC consider all official releases as beta.
They are still releasing security updates for the previous version, they just don’t let them be installed on devices that can upgrade to a newer major version, once it’s been out for three months or so. It has been that way for a number of years now (since iOS 15?). Previously they didn’t even provide those three months of overlap.
The thing is the QC on 26 was so bad it is down right criminal for a company the size of apple to even have released it. They need to go back to the drawing board on how they do software releases it seems with a mature and a feature release. Apple is no longer trusted enough to just have the 1 level release model as they have had in the past. They did this to them selves and sadly they can not see that it is time to do what other in tech have done and segment the releases.
Betas are usually full firmware install rather than patches hence the large size.
Omg the work around is working! Let’s go! Sorting out my iPad and iPhone
Understatement of 2025.
I despair at this company's current direction of travel. En********ation in full force!
I'm still using my 13 mini. Am I right to stick with 18?
its not like iOS 26 will be forced installed on users still on iOS 18 - so long as you've got automatic software updates turned off.
You don't need to do anything or set anything or install anything to avoid iOS 26 forever.
Just don't click the "Install iOS 26" button and it'll never get installed.
Then move the settings app to the 2nd Home Screen so you're not distracted by that tiny annoying red badge on it.
You don't need to do anything or set anything or install anything to avoid iOS 26 forever.
Just don't click the "Install iOS 26" button and it'll never get installed.
Then move the settings app to the 2nd Home Screen so you're not distracted by that tiny annoying red badge on it.
Wish i could downgrade back to iOS 18. The liquid glass look of iOS 26 is just trash.
The main difference I see is lower battery life with this upgrade
The main difference I see is lower battery life with this upgrade
At some point they will force update everyone on iOS 18.
I like Liquid Glass but it definitely remains a WIP, with janky UI performance issues even on my 16e.
For that reason I won’t be advising my mother to update her iPhone 13.
it’s more concerning that whilst Google puts out powerful software updates infused with Gemini AI across its software product line virtually each week, Apple is still resorting to flashy UX features to drive interest, as if genai had never happened.
And no, this is not Apple cleverly biding its time - this is Apple completely missing the boat.
For that reason I won’t be advising my mother to update her iPhone 13.
it’s more concerning that whilst Google puts out powerful software updates infused with Gemini AI across its software product line virtually each week, Apple is still resorting to flashy UX features to drive interest, as if genai had never happened.
And no, this is not Apple cleverly biding its time - this is Apple completely missing the boat.
Staying on iOS 17 (& macos 14 for that matter) till i get a new phone... not an Apple phone either!
i'm done with Apple; they are no longer a OS or hardware company! They are a media company and offer me nothing I will spend $$$ on. at this point i'm looking to seeing what Ive puts out.
after spending the last 30 year in infosec and counting on Apple for great hardware and OS; with great security built in and with a UI/UX that, both, just worked AND fed the soul, all i can say is shame on you Cook, shame on you Apple OS developers! you let us all down! You took what was "insanely great" and made it all just borderline of acceptable to only those that do not know what it was!!!
i'm done with Apple; they are no longer a OS or hardware company! They are a media company and offer me nothing I will spend $$$ on. at this point i'm looking to seeing what Ive puts out.
after spending the last 30 year in infosec and counting on Apple for great hardware and OS; with great security built in and with a UI/UX that, both, just worked AND fed the soul, all i can say is shame on you Cook, shame on you Apple OS developers! you let us all down! You took what was "insanely great" and made it all just borderline of acceptable to only those that do not know what it was!!!