How can I downgrade from iOS 26 to iOS 18.5?

Antwontyrell wrote:

How can i i downgrade from ios26 to ios 18.5

This has been repeatedly answered, by multiple contributors, throughout this thread...

If you are currently enrolled in a beta programme and wish to return to using the current production version, this support page provides the necessary information to remove the beta from your iPhone:

How to uninstall iOS beta software - Apple Support

Be aware that restoring an earlier version of iOS will completely reset and erase your iPhone. Assuming that you have a pre-existing iCloud or iTunes backup of your iPhone that has not been updated since installing the iOS 26 beta, your locally stored data and files can be restored after returning your iPhone to iOS 18.5; if you don't have a pre-existing backup, all locally stored data will be irretrievably lost:

Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch from a backup - Apple Support

An iCloud or iTunes backup can only be restored to a device running the same or later version of iOS than created (or last updated) the backup. As such a backup created or updated by iOS 26 cannot be restored to a device running iOS 18.5.

cee262 wrote:

I can’t find my iOS 18.5 but I ** in iOS 26.0 how do I go back to iOS 18.5

This has been repeatedly answered, by multiple contributors, throughout the six pages of this discussion thread...

If you are currently enrolled in a beta programme and wish to return to using the current production version, this support page provides the necessary information to remove the beta from your iPhone:

How to uninstall iOS beta software - Apple Support

Be aware that restoring an earlier version of iOS will completely reset and erase your iPhone. Assuming that you have a pre-existing iCloud or iTunes backup of your iPhone that has not been updated since installing the iOS 26 beta, your locally stored data and files can be restored after returning your iPhone to iOS 18.5; if you don't have a pre-existing backup, all locally stored data will be irretrievably lost:

Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch from a backup - Apple Support

An iCloud or iTunes backup can only be restored to a device running the same or later version of iOS than created (or last updated) the backup. As such a backup created or updated by iOS 26 cannot be restored to a device running iOS 18.5.

Ahmedbaqinwan wrote:

18.5 version download

This has been repeatedly answered, by multiple contributors, throughout the seven pages of this discussion thread...

If you are currently enrolled in a beta programme and wish to return to using the current production version, this support page provides the necessary information to remove the beta from your iPhone:

How to uninstall iOS beta software - Apple Support

Be aware that restoring an earlier version of iOS will completely reset and erase your iPhone. Assuming that you have a pre-existing iCloud or iTunes backup of your iPhone that has not been updated since installing the iOS 26 beta, your locally stored data and files can be restored after returning your iPhone to iOS 18.5 (or iOS 18.6 - now current); if you don't have a pre-existing backup, all locally stored data will be irretrievably lost:

Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch from a backup - Apple Support

An iCloud or iTunes backup can only be restored to a device running the same or later version of iOS than created (or last updated) the backup. As such a backup created or updated by iOS 26 cannot be restored to a device running iOS 18.x.

Follow the Support Article below. Hopefully you had a backup done on the stable commercial release of iOS 18 which you will need to restore, otherwise you may not be able to restore or even lose some data.

How to uninstall iOS or iPadOS beta software - Apple Support

indrakamal80 wrote:

18 iOS update tetanus back

Tetanus? If English is not your preferred language, please re-post your question in a language you are more comfortable using.

Here is a how to reset and revert:

• How to uninstall iOS or iPadOS beta software - Apple Support
• Apple Beta — Unenroll Your Devices

There is no downgrade. Reset to iOS 18.5, and then restore a backup created prior to the beta if one is available.

porwal wrote:

How downgrade iOS beta 26 to 18.5

This has been repeatedly answered, by multiple contributors, throughout the seven pages of this discussion thread...

If you are currently enrolled in a beta programme and wish to return to using the current production version, this support page provides the necessary information to remove the beta from your iPhone:

How to uninstall iOS beta software - Apple Support

Be aware that restoring an earlier version of iOS will completely reset and erase your iPhone. Assuming that you have a pre-existing iCloud or iTunes backup of your iPhone that has not been updated since installing the iOS 26 beta, your locally stored data and files can be restored after returning your iPhone to iOS 18.5; if you don't have a pre-existing backup, all locally stored data will be irretrievably lost:

Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch from a backup - Apple Support

An iCloud or iTunes backup can only be restored to a device running the same or later version of iOS than created (or last updated) the backup. As such a backup created or updated by iOS 26 cannot be restored to a device running iOS 18.5.

Hi Pavle216

Unfortunately, no, you cannot revert to an earlier version of iOS if you don’t have a backup on a computer that was made before the beta install.

You can, however, stop beta updates by going to settings > general > software update > beta updates > OFF

If you're running 16.3 or earlier you can also use your phone to remove your device from the beta program.

However, 16.4 and above it is not available.

• Settings > General > VPN & Device Management > iOS & iPadOS Beta Software Profile > Remove Profile.

Please make sure that while you use a beta iOS, you submit any feedback to Apple if you’re experiencing issues. This is what the beta is all about, so we can test future iOS and provide feedback regarding any problems, ensuring bugs have been fixed before the iOS is finally released.

Saba-won wrote:

Unfortunately, Apple doesn’t allow downgrading to older iOS versions once they’ve stopped signing them. That means you can’t directly downgrade from iOS 26 to iOS 18.5 unless Apple is still signing iOS 18.5 (which is highly unlikely).

There is no downgrade in general, independent of which iOS versions are getting signed.

Reverting from the iOS 26 beta to (currently) iOS 18.6.2 is an option and is available, and a backup created prior to installing the beta can then be restored.

Resetting to get to iOS 18.6.2 means no local data is preserved.

Resetting and restoring means some local data — that which has changed since the beta was installed — is lost.

iCloud data is probably still available, independent of the reset.

Here is: How to uninstall iOS or iPadOS beta software - Apple Support

Brooklynnhill wrote:

I need to get iOS 18 back from iOS 26 without using a computer

NOPE. Not Possible. And if you didn't make an archive backup of your iPhone on a computer before you installed iOS 26 Beta, you're going to lose the data on your phone. At this point, the official release of iOS 26 is coming soon. You should just stick it out at this time.

mouereen wrote:

how to downgrade ios 26 to ios 18

There is no downgrade.

Resetting to revert to iOS 18.6.2 means no local data is preserved.

Resetting and restoring means some local data — that which has changed since the beta was installed — is lost.

If there are no backups created immediately prior to the installation of the beta, all local data is lost.

iCloud data is probably still available, and apps can be re-downloaded, independent of the reset.

Here is: How to uninstall iOS or iPadOS beta software - Apple Support

But I’d likely stay with the iOS 26 beta through its upcoming release today, as that probably avoids data loss.

dasia132 wrote:

Because they keep on messing up my phone so I want the iOS 18

Not possible and there never has been a supported method to downgrade any iOS version. Ironically when iOS 18 came out, some users did not like that either, but now that is the version you want to go back to. As with any change, you will get used to it and when the next one comes out, this is the one you are going to want. In the future you can prevent update if you wish. It has already been installed on millions of devices and most have embraced the new features, including call screening that requires unknown callers to state the purpose of the call before it even rings on your phone.

Please read the responses in this thread: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/256078060?answerId=261429626022&sortBy=oldest_first#261429626022

hazwan129 wrote:

How can l downgrade from iOS 26 To iOS 18.5

There is no downgrade. If you’re looking to revert from iOS 26 to iOS 18, there are numerous replies about this here in the many pages of this thread.

In summary, here is: How to uninstall iOS or iPadOS beta software - Apple Support

You will lose some data by performing a reset and restoring a backup made on iOS 18 prior to loading the iOS 26 beta.

You will lose somewhat more data with a reset, if there was no backup created on iOS 18.

If you can’t lose any data, maybe continue with the iOS 26 beta?

lacreshia25 wrote:

How to go back to iOS 18 5

There is no downgrade.

Resetting to revert to iOS 18.6.2 means no local data is preserved.

Resetting and restoring means some local data — that which has changed since the beta was installed — is lost.

If there are no backups created immediately prior to the installation of the beta, all local data is lost.

iCloud data is probably still available, and apps can be re-downloaded, independent of the reset.

Here is: How to uninstall iOS or iPadOS beta software - Apple Support

But I’d likely stay with the iOS 26 beta through its upcoming release, as that probably avoids data loss.

Apple is having an announcement on September 9th.

khethokuhle128 wrote:

I didn’t want to set this ios 26

That’s not a question.

If you installed the beta, you can reset and revert, or can continue until iOS 26 is released.

Continuing is the only way to avoid local data loss.

Reset and revert is described repeatedly in this thread, and here again are the details:

There is no downgrade to iOS 18.6.2.

Resetting to revert to iOS 18.6.2 means no local data is preserved.

Resetting and restoring means some local data — that which has changed since the beta was installed — is lost.

If there are no backups created immediately prior to the installation of the beta, all local data is lost.

iCloud data is probably still available, and apps can be re-downloaded, independent of the reset.

Here is: How to uninstall iOS or iPadOS beta software - Apple Support

Or you can stay with the iOS 26 beta through its upcoming iOS 26 release, as that probably avoids data loss.

Apple is having an announcement on September 9th.