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

[turbineseaplane]

I found a new way to stay on iPadOS 18 this morning.

I have an extra iPad 9 that I use basically as a browsing terminal only and I hadn't yet done anything to keep it from getting forced onto iPadOS 26 ...

Turns out it doesn't have enough storage space free to do the swap to 26.
Problem solved!

😂 🤣

 

[bogdanw]

https://www.tiktok.com/video/7584633014941125919

 

[I7guy]

You join a forum for a website that encourages users to look ahead to the next big thing. Next big thing arrives and the forum contributors squeal with displeasure.

There always is a contingent of Apple users who do not like change. iOS 7 and its design was met with a lot of criticism. It was around for 10 years. That’s the trajectory for liquid glass.

I can’t wait for the next thing. To me the next thing is always good.

 

[turbineseaplane]

There always is a contingent of Apple users who do not like change. iOS 7 and its design was met with a lot of criticism. It was around for 10 years. That’s the trajectory for liquid glass.

I can’t wait for the next thing. To me the next thing is always good.

iOS 7 was absolutely awful.

I truly don't know anyone who liked how far they went with things like the fonts.
It got better, as I'm sure iOS 26 will (hopefully sooner rather than later), but it was really bad out of the gate.

 

[Mr_Ed]

I found a new way to stay on iPadOS 18 this morning.

I have an extra iPad 9 that I use basically as a browsing terminal only and I hadn't yet done anything to keep it from getting forced onto iPadOS 26 ...

Turns out it doesn't have enough storage space free to do the swap to 26.
Problem solved!

😂 🤣

Not worried about my “daily driver” iPad. It’s a Pro 10.5 (first gen, I believe) so it’s not even showing an update beyond its current 17.7.10.

I was toying with the idea of getting a new one but I know adding a new “26” device to the 17-18 device mix will Just muck things up. No sale at this point.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Not worried about my “daily driver” iPad. It’s a Pro 10.5 (first gen, I believe) so it’s not even showing an update beyond its current 17.7.10.

I was toying with the idea of getting a new one but I know adding a new “26” device to the 17-18 device mix will Just muck things up. No sale at this point.

I'm in the same boat overall.
I'm very content with all of my devices on the versions they are on for now.

I'll consider the 26 OSes when I finally start to see some trusted sources say things like "Apple finally did XYZ and this is way better, etc".

I'm particularly sensitive to this on the Mac. I can let a lot slide on the iPhone, as I don't use it a ton (time wise), but I don't want my macOS getting screwed up with change for the sake of change.

 

[I7guy]

Not worried about my “daily driver” iPad. It’s a Pro 10.5 (first gen, I believe) so it’s not even showing an update beyond its current 17.7.10.

I was toying with the idea of getting a new one but I know adding a new “26” device to the 17-18 device mix will Just muck things up. No sale at this point.

I just bought an iPad Air m3 to replace my iPad 7th gen. Wanted a new iPad that could run Liquid Glass and Apple Intelligence. Couldn’t see spending another few hundred on the iPad Pro. I’m not a pro iPad user. More of a consumption device for me.

 

[Mr_Ed]

Yeah, what I was considering was a new Air instead of Pro. I like to draw/sketch on occasion, so the Pencil Pro support was a consideration. That aside, it’s primarily a consumption device for me as well. For that purpose, my current one still works fine.

 

[nt5672]

You join a forum for a website that encourages users to look ahead to the next big thing. Next big thing arrives and the forum contributors squeal with displeasure.

Yep, because we expect the next big thing to actually be something we want, need, or is new.

These days Apple fails in all three categories because the next big thing is always directed at increasing Apple services from their locked in users.

Instead of providing better, they are providing worse and more lock in. For those old enough to remember Microsoft tried to do this decades ago and was slapped around pretty good for it. Now it is Apple's turn to learn the hard way, which is already starting overseas.

 

[I7guy]

Yep, because we expect the next big thing to actually be something we want, need, or is new.

I don’t understand. I did not want or need iOS 6 or iOS 7 or ios26. Yet I look forward to updates in operating systems.

These days Apple fails in all three categories

They actually don’t.

because the next big thing is always directed at increasing Apple services from their locked in users.

Nobody is locked in. People who use Apple products choose to use Apple products.

Instead of providing better, they are providing worse and more lock in.

They aren’t.

For those old enough to remember Microsoft tried to do this decades ago and was slapped around pretty good for it. Now it is Apple's turn to learn the hard way, which is already starting overseas.

Nothing about what is happening overseas makes it easier or more difficult to switch phones which is what lock in is and what you are claiming.

 

[Wolf1701]

There always is a contingent of Apple users who do not like change. iOS 7 and its design was met with a lot of criticism. It was around for 10 years. That’s the trajectory for liquid glass.

I can’t wait for the next thing. To me the next thing is always good.

Perhaps what you're missing is that many of us have been Apple users for many years—hell, we're on a forum where we talk about that, which means a lot in 2025. That's precisely why we should celebrate when Apple makes our lives better, but we also have a duty to point out when something, as paying users, doesn't suit us. Honest feedback will hopefully make “the next big thing” great. Being fundamentalists makes us AND them worse.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I never understand why folks are chastised for complaining about things they don't like.

Being public with feedback (good or bad) is an important mechanism in the whole process here.

Apple, while stubborn, does tend to see this stuff and internalize much of it even if it's on longer time scale than many of us would hope for.

 

[bigandtasty]

I’m legally blind without my glasses and have no issues with seeing the screen with Liquid Glass.

Could that be, because you are legally blind?

 

[I7guy]

Could that be, because you are legally blind?

There ya go. I suppose.

 

[Imperial926]

I never understand why folks are chastised for complaining about things they don't like.

Being public with feedback (good or bad) is an important mechanism in the whole process here.

Apple, while stubborn, does tend to see this stuff and internalize much of it even if it's on longer time scale than many of us would hope for.

I think it's because it forms the majority of comment on threads like this. I wouldn't go as far as chastised but, as a 70 year old, I've seen this so many times before with both Windows, iOS and MacOS/OSX. My hardest time with Apple was the first Mac we bought when you still had to launch half the programmes in Mac OS9 and the rest in OSX Cheetah. However, I quickly learnt that technology usually improves, even if there may be some temporary glitches. Right now there are many Windows users stubbornly refusing to go with Windows 11. The ones who've stuck to 10 will now find their computers unsupported whilst many of us felt 11 was an immediate improvement back in 2021 and never looked back.

 

[I7guy]

Perhaps what you're missing is that many of us have been Apple users for many years—hell, we're on a forum where we talk about that, which means a lot in 2025. That's precisely why we should celebrate when Apple makes our lives better, but we also have a duty to point out when something, as paying users, doesn't suit us. Honest feedback will hopefully make “the next big thing” great. Being fundamentalists makes us AND them worse.

Even if you’ve been with Apple for 10 minutes honest feedback also means that some of us think that Apple did a good job and some of us like the job that Apple did or the product that was released. And we have a duty to tell Apple that as well.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I think it's because it forms the majority of comment on threads like this. I wouldn't go as far as chastised but, as a 70 year old, I've seen this so many times before with both Windows, iOS and MacOS/OSX. My hardest time with Apple was the first Mac we bought when you still had to launch half the programmes in Mac OS9 and the rest in OSX Cheetah. However, I quickly learnt that technology usually improves, even if there may be some temporary glitches. Right now there are many Windows users stubbornly refusing to go with Windows 11. The ones who've stuck to 10 will now find their computers unsupported whilst many of us felt 11 was an immediate improvement back in 2021 and never looked back.

May I suggest not worrying about it?

What I don't understand is why anyone cares if folks are staying behind for a bit or sharing their frustrations.

Does any of that impact you?
(no)

If you use the latest OS all the time and love it and are happy, isn't that enough?
Or does everyone else also have to do what you're doing and feel exactly how you feel?

 

[Imperial926]

https://www.tiktok.com/video/7584633014941125919

If this were true the millions of iPhone 13 users out there would all be complaining and I would be one of them as it's what I own. My story would say that 26.2 has improved battery life over 18 and that all the core functions are working just the same as before. Of course that doesn't work so well as clickbait.

 

[Astuces iOS]

OH APPLE DO YOU THINK WE ARE DUMB ASS??? WE ARE NOT UPDATING TO IOS 26 !!!! REVOLUTION

 

[turbineseaplane]

Even if you’ve been with Apple for 10 minutes honest feedback also means that some of us think that Apple did a good job and some of us like the job that Apple did or the product that was released. And we have a duty to tell Apple that as well.

I totally agree!
All comments and viewpoints are welcome and should be shared.

Let's get it all out there, the good, the bad, the ugly.

 

[Imperial926]

May I suggest not worrying about it?

What I don't understand is why anyone cares if folks are staying behind for a bit or sharing their frustrations.

Does any of that impact you?
(no)

If you use the latest OS all the time and love it and are happy, isn't that enough?
Or does everyone else also have to do what you're doing and feel exactly how you feel?

You're probably correct but then I've just seen some reposting a ludicrous video here about total failure of their phone and it's hard to let that go unchallenged.

 

[turbineseaplane]

You're probably correct but then I've just seen some reposting a ludicrous video here about total failure of their phone and it's hard to let that go unchallenged.

This reminds me of this classic from xkcd

 

[ab2c4]

I bought a new phone in October so I had no choice with iOS 26. If I could do it over again I would have bought an android instead. I plan to go back to android with my next phone.

I don’t like iOS 26 at all.

 

[Imperial926]

This reminds me of this classic from xkcd

View attachment 2589598

Well, equally, why should the other view prevail? Should this just be a forum for people enjoying having their glass half empty?

 

[turbineseaplane]

Well, equally, why should the other view prevail? Should this just be a forum for people enjoying having their glass half empty?

No way!
I agree with @I7guy here 👇

Even if you’ve been with Apple for 10 minutes honest feedback also means that some of us think that Apple did a good job and some of us like the job that Apple did or the product that was released. And we have a duty to tell Apple that as well.