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Forbes reporting Apple potentially forcing people to upgrade to iOS 26.2
- Thread starter simers
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I don't know if this is considered FORCED but dang Apple shot me a notification in the middle of the night, it probably included a Go-Ahead? it never used to do that before I had my system setup to NOT AUTO UPDATE, made me hit the button just to make the annoyance go away, like Amazon asking you a million times, Wanna Join? GGGGRRrrrrr.
Apple is using Dark Patterns with their updates page. They released 18.7.3 but when you go to update Apple page it takes you to the 26 update and you need to unintuitively click the back button to get the 18.7.3 update.
Tried this on my iPhone13mini…no 18.7.3 shown. Back button or not, I only see 26.2.
Bizarrely you get to choose on iPads, but on iPhones if it can run iOS26.2 that's all you are offered. The only option is to activate public beta on beta.apple.com and then it will let you install 18.7.3. Even better it stops nagging you about iOS26 if you leave yourself subscribed to the iOS 18 beta channel
Join the 18 beta channel and 18.7.3 will appear. It is the same as the release build. I think this is an unwanted loophole, so be fast, if you want it!
See also here:
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You could be right. It's weird, though, that it feels like we're fighting Apple over this. I mean, fight Facebook or Twitter or whatever, but those are free services who really don't give a **** about their users. But we're Apple's customers, and that's a different context. So Apple pushing the current "SV Way" feels somewhat shabby and underhand.
Definitely a first strike against Apple for me. Withholding security updates in an effort to boost an uptake metric is kind of hostile behaviour – or a dick-move, as the kids would say.
What the heck has happened at Apple anyway? Why did they feel to redesign the entire look of the system, pissing people off and causing folks to not want to upgrade?
It used to be a OS upgrade was a minor thing; you'd do the update and a few things were different but it was mostly familiar. This time around they redesigned everything, it just doesn't look good and now that people want to stay on 18 rather than admit that maybe they should revert some changes they're forcing people to upgrade?
Can they not read the room? Just let us stay on 18 and fix your crap, Apple.
It used to be a OS upgrade was a minor thing; you'd do the update and a few things were different but it was mostly familiar. This time around they redesigned everything, it just doesn't look good and now that people want to stay on 18 rather than admit that maybe they should revert some changes they're forcing people to upgrade?
Can they not read the room? Just let us stay on 18 and fix your crap, Apple.
As much as I disagree and as pissed as I am with Apple for preventing downgrades, I am grateful that they at least allow me to stay behind. The second they force updates on every device I have I’m switching to Android immediately.
On that note… as others have said, my 11th-gen iPad (on iPadOS 18.3) offers iPadOS 18.7.3. My 16 Plus (on iOS 18.3.1) only offers iOS 26.2. Why? I have no idea.
On that note… as others have said, my 11th-gen iPad (on iPadOS 18.3) offers iPadOS 18.7.3. My 16 Plus (on iOS 18.3.1) only offers iOS 26.2. Why? I have no idea.
Forbes Dec 17, 2025: "Apple Confirms iPhone Decision—You Must Upgrade iOS 18 To iOS 26.2 Now"
https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdof...one-users-must-upgrade-ios-18-to-ios-262-now/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdof...one-users-must-upgrade-ios-18-to-ios-262-now/
Again with Zak and his crappy Forbes headlines? The article says Apple has now confirmed that 18.7.3 is only for devices that can't run iOS 26, but it does that by citing a security release page and not quoting any representative with the company speaking on the record. That also doesn't mean that no further patches are coming or that 18.7.3 won't come to more devices later. He cites a release date and description for a patch and that is his only source of info. Apple hasn't "confirmed" jack to Zak.
Granted, you probably should update if you are worried about the exploits. That doesn't mean you "Must Upgrade." It means you have an unpatched security vulnerability and need to know the risk.
Both the unpatched exploits are for WebKit: a browser may process maliciously crafted web content that 1) may lead to arbitrary code execution or 2) may lead to memory corruption.
So don't go to sites you don't trust, which is good advice for any OS regardless of patch status. Note that most every app on iOS uses WebKit in some way, so it is a serious vulnerability. I'm not trying to downplay that. I'm just shaming Zak Doffman as a wannabe reporter.
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That's a weird, and pretty terrible article but it does not say anywhere that Apple are "potentially forcing" people to update the app. That's all on the OP's own brand of clickbait and terrible reporting.
The updated release notes are the only confirmation Apple will provide.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/end-of-the-line-for-ios-18-updates.2473964/post-34344485
The idiots that manage iOS security updates have not provided any confirmation of ending support in the previous years.
iOS 15 https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/is-ios-15-no-longer-supported-on-iphone-se-2.2370718/
iOS 16 https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/is-ios-16-still-supported.2412501/
iOS 17 https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/ios-17-is-no-longer-supported.2443490/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/end-of-the-line-for-ios-18-updates.2473964/post-34344485
The idiots that manage iOS security updates have not provided any confirmation of ending support in the previous years.
iOS 15 https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/is-ios-15-no-longer-supported-on-iphone-se-2.2370718/
iOS 16 https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/is-ios-16-still-supported.2412501/
iOS 17 https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/ios-17-is-no-longer-supported.2443490/
I want to be protected from exploits, and I'm glad Apple do that work conscientiously. I really am. There is an update to iOS that Apple has available; an update that I could install to protect myself, but they won't release it to *me*, though they are releasing it to others.
In effect – and I don't mean this hyperbolically – Apple are holding us to ransom. They are saying: "We can absolutely protect you, but to do so you must do it on our terms, not yours. To be protected, you must install an unwanted change to iOS, with graphics that you abhor. If you wish to retain the interface you prefer, we are prepared for you to be exposed to known risks. We could do something about this – it's trivial – but we choose not to. We are knowingly putting you at risk, but we don't care."