How can I downgrade from iOS 26 to iOS 18.5?

Koithahn01 wrote:

no computer to downgrade is there another way to do the change on the iPhone 16 Pro Max to Change to iOS 18.5 without having to have a computer. All I have is my iPhone.

No. You really should have paid attention to the information that was provided to you when you enrolled in the developers beta.

Koithahn01 wrote:

I want to downgrade from the iOS 26 down to the 18.5

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.

Lolaa88 wrote:

i did this recently and had to go to the Apple Store and have my device restored that’s pretty much the only way or you can wait for the next update 18.6.2 and it’ll be gone and also make sure you turn off the beta updates

Hello and welcome to the thread!

You are replying to a posting from June.

This particular beta thread has fourteen pages of the same question and a few variations getting repeated, too.

Atifkhn80 wrote:

How to downgrade ios26 to 18.5

You don't. This post was made when users had a beta version, when you had the option to remove the beta and return to the latest shipping release, which was 18.5 at that time.

Now that iOS 26 is the latest shipping release, it is not possible to remove it.

Dessalh wrote:

• 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.

That's actually not true with Beta software. You CAN revert back to the current public release of iOS. BUT, if a user did not created an Archive Backup on their computer before they installed the Beta Software on their phone, they can go back, but they will lose their data doing so, with the exception of items which are synced to iCloud.

Mafizulhaq wrote:

I need iOS 18.5

If you’re looking to revert from iOS 26 to iOS 18 (currently iOS 18.6.2), there are numerous replies about this here in the many pages of this thread.

But 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?

Kindly post the article that you're referring to. <3

Without a computer and a backup made prior to the beta install, a user cannot go back to a non-beta iOS. This is why it’s imperative that when we use the beta, we read everything carefully so we understand what we're doing and that we cannot go back to the original iOS unless there was an iTunes backup first. <3

lacreshia25 wrote:

How to go back to iOS 18 5

At this point you are better off waiting for the release version, although you can certainly read the information that has been provided here many times. I am sure you could not have missed it, but if you tried you can follow up what did not work for you.

There is no way to go back to iOS 18.5, the latest version that can be restored to is iOS 18.6.2.

i did this recently and had to go to the Apple Store and have my device restored that’s pretty much the only way or you can wait for the next update 18.6.2 and it’ll be gone and also make sure you turn off the beta updates

braim96 wrote:

nothing but not working high ios26 on my iphone 11

Report issues found to Apple or to third-party app developers.

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; Tuesday.

hikmat32 wrote:

Change your iOS 26 iOS.18.6

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 on the 15th, as that probably avoids data loss.

Joshjschillin wrote:

I want to go back to ios18.5

There is no downgrade.

This is an older thread that started during the beta, when iOS 18 was the current shipping version.

It was possible to revert to the shipping iOS version then.

iOS 26 is the current iOS version now, and Apple does not support iOS downgrades.

ujandja wrote:

Delete ios 26.0

You can't. The same answer has been posted many times here, so it is essential to read before posting, where you could have already found your answer. Posting the same question again does not change the answer.

leshetzjacob wrote:

It’s the iOS 26

You just added to a 22 page thread where it has been said perhaps a hundred times that you cannot downgrade from iOS 26. Thus, it would pay to read at least a few posts in a thread before asking the same question that has been asked dozens of times. Asking again isn’t going to change the answer.

Obviously you did not read any part of this thread or you would have found that you can’t go back.