How do you downgrade iOS and macOS 26, and are there any possible risks?

teo1160 wrote:

I am not a developer. I was just curios and saw that I could download it as a beta on my phone an computer

If you are not a developer there is no legitimate way to get iOS 26, so you have installed a bootleg version, which might not even be iOS 26, or if it is, it could be a hacked version. BTW, I have approved access to it, and I’m not going to upgrade until it has had several updates to get the major bugs out.

The top-ranking reply in this thread has links to instructions for downgrading to iOS 18.5.

As you are a developer and the OS is installed on a secondary device, there are no issues.

How to uninstall iOS or iPadOS beta software - Apple Support

for your Mac, unenrolled the device, Apple Beta — Unenroll Your Devices

Then reset the mac (wipe it) and restore using your backup, Erase and reinstall macOS - Apple Support

teo1160 wrote:

I was not aware that there were any. Is there something specific I should check?

It's beta software. By definition, beta software is incomplete and buggy. "Beta testing" which is what you're doing, by the way, is a way to find the bugs and the glitches and the device-bricking issues that didn't show up in alpha testing.

As I remarked in another thread, I've had iPhones for years and like to think I know what I'm doing. I have never used a beta version of iOS. Here's why. This is my only phone. I have no landline. I also need the phone to work in order to log into a number of government websites I use as part of my job as well as my actual work account. If it stopped working for even a day, I would have a very difficulty time working. It's not worth it to get the shiny new thing that doesn't actually work right yet.

This version of macOS and iOS has only been released to “  Developers “   and has not been released to “ Beta Tester “ 

Are you indicating to use you are in fact a Developer ?

Then, you should already know the answers to your questions

As has been mentioned elsewhere and on this topic

" I suspect it's not bugs in the OS, but rather too many many people who are not enrolled developers having access to betas "

Thank you @ Allan Jones 👍

teo1160 wrote:

What is the recommended way to downgrade from iOS/macOS version 26, and what risks should I be aware of before doing so?

The question you should have asked is "What risks should I be aware of before updating to iOS/macOS 26?"

IdrisSeabright wrote:

teo1160 wrote:

What is the recommended way to downgrade from iOS/macOS version 26, and what risks should I be aware of before doing so?

The question you should have asked is "What risks should I be aware of before updating to iOS/macOS 26?"

The other question which I do not have the answer for

How a Non Registered Develops can get their hands on Developer version of iOS and macOS 26 ?

You took that risk, when you decided to test 26 on your devices.

The only way back now, is to follow support articles that muguy has provided.

teo1160 wrote:

I was not aware that there were any. Is there something specific I should check?

Any beta release can have multiple issues.

That’s strange. you can try logging in to developer.apple.com.