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How to Downgrade From the iOS 26 Beta to iOS 18

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Apr 12, 2001
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If you installed iOS 26 Beta or iPadOS 26 Beta through Apple's Developer Program or Software Beta Program, you may decide you want to downgrade because of usability or stability issues. Keep reading to learn how it's done.

iOS-26-Feature.jpg

Apple's beta versions of its major software updates can be notoriously buggy, especially the early releases. You may find apps not working properly, poor battery life, device crashes, and features that don't do what they're supposed to. Fortunately, you can restore your iPhone or iPad to the previous version of iOS.

If you made an archived backup before you installed the iOS 26 beta, you can remove the ‌beta and restore the backup. If you didn't make a backup, you can still downgrade, but you won't be able to restore your device to its original state before you upgraded.

Also, bear in mind that if you've installed watchOS 26 on your Apple Watch, you won't be able to use it with your ‌iPhone‌ once you've gone back to iOS 18. And downgrading an Apple Watch to a previous version of watchOS can't be done manually either – if you want to remove ‌watchOS 26, you'll have to send your watch in to Apple.

How to Downgrade From iOS 26 Beta or iPadOS 26 Beta

  1. Launch Finder on your Mac (or iTunes on Windows PCs.)
  2. Connect your iPhone or iPad to your computer using a Lightning or USB-C cable.
  3. Put your device into recovery mode. The method of doing this depends on your device, so check the list below these steps to find your model. Apple also provides more information on Recovery mode in this support article.
    restore-ios-device.jpg

    A dialog will pop up asking if you want to restore your device. Click Restore to wipe your device and install the latest public release of iOS or iPadOS.
  4. Wait while the restore process completes.
How to Enter Recovery Mode on Your iOS Device

  • iPad models with Face ID: Press and quickly release the Volume Up button. Press and quickly release the Volume Down button. Press and hold the Top button until your device begins to restart. Continue holding the Top button until your device goes into recovery mode.
    iPhone XS or later: Press and quickly release the Volume Up button. Press and quickly release the Volume Down button. Then, press and hold the Side button until you see the recovery mode screen.
One you've followed the above steps, you can restore a backup of your device from iOS 18 or iPadOS 18 using your Mac or iCloud.

Article Link: How to Downgrade From the iOS 26 Beta to iOS 18
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/how-to/downgrade-ios-26-beta-to-ios-18/
gosh I really hope Apple doesn’t allow everyone to download beta iOS next year. the number of people on twitter who complained about “how could apple ship this” as if it’s a final product has been insufferable to watch. people are so impatient. they just want something new and wanna consume it in 5 minutes because they’re bored with their lives. I know Apple will fix the bugs and readability by September. ✌️
 
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ssshhhhh. dont tell them how to!

Maybe some 'developers' will learn a valuable lesson.

Developer Beta 1 - is meant for DEVELOPERS and more than that its a bug ridden BETA ONE. Not two, three, or four... but one.

Most people have no business whatsoever installing it.... not even YouTubers desperate for 'me first' content.

If they then whinge their devices are unstable then more fool them surely.
 
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We always wait to install public beta until August. Although each year they seem to be more and more stable sooner.

Have to say in years past, I installed mostly for big improvements like to iCloud Keychain or adding hide my email. Seems this year there isn’t much like that to move me.
 
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stocklen said:
ssshhhhh. dont tell them how to!

Maybe some 'developers' will learn a valuable lesson.

Developer Beta 1 - is meant for DEVELOPERS and more than that its a bug ridden BETA ONE. Not two, three, or four... but one.

Most people have no business whatsoever installing it.... not even YouTubers desperate for 'me first' content.

If they then whinge their devices are unstable then more fool them surely.
Click to expand...
Wow. That’s a misanthropic way to look at it.
 
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So far, I've put it on my iPad and Apple TV. Oh, and I put it on a 2015 MacBook Pro to see what would happen.

They're toys. I don't care about data on them. (I mean, ALL iPads are toys, so that one is obvious. The MBP is a spare and had just been wiped anyway.)

I'm not a developer, but I am IT. I need to know what I'm going to be dealing with before this mess smacks me in the face, and users are going to be installing the public beta soon.

FYI, keyboard and trackpad didn't work on the MBP, USB keyboard and mouse didn't work either. I'll be trying a 2014 mini next, probably over the weekend. But looks like the 2015 MBP is going to have to wait for a new OCLP release, wiped it again and put 15.5 back on it.
 
Quick question, as I'm foggy on how this worked in the past. If I upgrade to iOS 26 Dev Beta 1, is it mandatory to upgrade my Apple Watch Ultra 2 to watchOS 26, or can I leave it on the current public release?
 
I ended up doing this. The dev beta just wasn’t for me. No regrets. At least I got a feel for what is coming in the fall. I might consider a mid-summer public beta. I’m certainly not angry with Apple. I updated to iPad OS 26 fully aware that there would likely be glitches.
 
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stocklen said:
THIS


And no, why are non developers getting developer accounts to install a developer beta 1?

Any problems that causes are a lesson learned surely.

Why cant non developers wait a few weeks until the first public beta? Thats the question.
Click to expand...
Probably because Apple hosts and streams WWDC to everyone and not just developers. Everyone then gets excited about the new features and can't control themselves.
 
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jbmelby said:
I’ve installed it (I’m a developer). And at least for me, it’s working beautifully. As is macOS 26. YMMV, of course.
Click to expand...
Have you found any relevant issues that would make your iPhone less useful?
iPhone Model?
Carrier?

VisionOS 26 is working great. It has its glitches (as expected), but overall it works very well.
One relevant issue was Mac Virtual Display failing to connect. My workaround has been: disable Bluetooth on both devices, wait 10 seconds and enable again.
 
What kind of a crackerjack installs a developer beta, complaints about it, but isn’t a developer? I thought these fools were restricted to Reddit.
 
Good article. I am waiting at least till the public beta launches before deciding on whether to update or not.
 
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I have been one of those people who always downloads the latest release beta, and some years have been bad and others not. But even in the bad years there was enough improvements to make me stick with it. However this is the first time I have said no way. I am going to revert back, not just because of the bugs ... but because it's basically OS Vista .... someone said let's use this glass theme and apply it everything. It's garish and I struggle to grasp which designers would have thought this was good design language. Lets just hope apple don't discover some people like gold. Otherwise It could go from an accessory colour highlight to suddenly appearing on everything.
 
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