How do I downgrade my iPhone from iOS 26 to iOS 18.5?

eddikit wrote:

Hey lobsterghost1, I’m back to inform the masses that it was in fact apple inc. With the update of iOS 26 being released. The issue has resolved, I thank you deeply for “helping me” with my issue. I wish you nothing but the best in life and have a lovely 2026! 🥂

I'm very happy to see I was able to help you and wish the same for you in 2026 and beyond!

Apple supplied a patch for devices which cannot run iOS 26 to be able to continue using FaceTime and iMessage after next January. But devices which are capable of running iOS 26, if not updated to iOS 26, won't be able to use iMessage or FaceTime after January, 2027.

Re: “What were you saying about messages and facetime not working after next january?”

That’s when a security certificate needed for those features expires. Apple issued updates to fix this for the iPhone 5s, 6, 6 Plus, and later. But the only way to get the fix is to update your iPhone to the latest major version it supports (iOS 12, 15, 16, 18, or 26, as applicable). You can’t stay back on an older major version.

If you, say, hold an iPhone 14 back on iOS 18, and never update it to iOS 26 or later, those features will stop working after next January because the release of iOS 18 with the fix is not available to you. Your only choice if you want the features to keep working is to update to iOS 26 (or possibly, to IOS 27).

Hello. After updating my iPhone to iOS 26, the device has become practically unusable.

The battery life has been drastically reduced, the phone gets very hot, and overall performance is extremely sluggish.

Fortunately, I reacted quickly and disabled updates on my iPad and on my wife’s iPhone.

However, my iPhone 15 Pro Max is now affected.

Can I file a warranty claim or request support?

I would like Apple to remove this update so I can use my iPhone normally again.

At the moment, I had to take my old iPhone XS Max out of the drawer, and that’s the phone I’m using now.

I trusted Apple and valued the iPhone for its security. After updating to iOS 26, that changed. My phone stopped working properly, and Apple won’t repair it. So now I’m considering buying an older iPhone with iOS 18.

Re: “In that case, buying an iPhone 15 or iPhone 16 with iOS 18 makes no sense. I’ve lost trust in Apple. My next phone will be an Android.”

From what I’ve read in these forums, Android phones are getting a new UI similar to Liquid Glass. If you hope to avoid that type of look & feel, you might just be jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire.

Also, many Android phone vendors do not support as many major updates as Apple typically does. But if Android better meets your needs, feel free to switch. You should buy whatever device best meets your needs.

Apple damaged my phone with their update. The battery life has dropped significantly. The phone feels sluggish, and its responsiveness is severely reduced. What’s the point of security patches if the phone is now barely usable? On Android, I’ll have the freedom to choose which system version I want to use and how my home screen should look. Apple has decided that my journey with the iPhone, which began with the 4s, ends with the 15.

dariusz88 wrote:

Apple damaged my phone with their update. The battery life has dropped significantly. The phone feels sluggish, and its responsiveness is severely reduced. What’s the point of security patches if the phone is now barely usable? On Android, I’ll have the freedom to choose which system version I want to use and how my home screen should look. Apple has decided that my journey with the iPhone, which began with the 4s, ends with the 15.

Hello~ I suggest that you let Apple know your thoughts…

https://www.apple.com/feedback/

We are merely your fellow forum members.

~Katana-San~

dariusz88 wrote:

In that case, buying an iPhone 15 or iPhone 16 with iOS 18 makes no sense. I’ve lost trust in Apple. My next phone will be an Android.

Why do you think anyone in this user form cares what you do?

dariusz88 wrote:

I contacted Apple about this a month ago, but I have not received any reply. I request that my account be deleted, as I will no longer need it.

As you have been told, this is a user-to-user forum, and is not a way to contact Apple, so any request here is meaningless.

How to close your Apple Card account - Apple Support

Be sure to read the warning in it; if you delete the account before turning off Find My on the iPhone and any other Apple devices those devices will become bricks for all eternity due to Apple’s Activation Lock theft deterrent.

dariusz88 wrote:

I contacted Apple about this a month ago, but I have not received any reply. I request that my account be deleted, as I will no longer need it.

Hello once more~ Again…we are just your fellow forum members…we can’t delete anything for you. What account? Your account here? Your Apple account? If you mean your Apple account…I would be very careful about doing that…

How to delete your Apple Account - Apple Support

~Katana-San~

dariusz88 wrote:

My iPhone is basically a brick right now because of the failed iOS 26 update.

Well, you could try some basic troubleshooting, or contact Apple support.

By a “brick” do you mean it just sits there with a black screen and doesn’t do anything at all? Or was saying it was a brick just hyperbole?

I need the downgrade. My iphone 11 it's run in ios 26.06 . i phase the auto restart problem and very laggy I press side button but it's work few seconds after. I totally frustrated this ios update, plzz someone suggest me how to fix this major problems And i update my iphone before 2 days

This doesn’t work. Millions of people have reported that iOS 26 is bad, and yet Apple still didn’t allow users to go back to iOS 18. I personally had to sell my iPhone with iOS 26 and buy another one with iOS 18. I’ve lost trust in this company. My iPhone 15 is the last iPhone I’ll ever own.

dariusz88 wrote:

This doesn’t work. Millions of people have reported that iOS 26 is bad, and yet Apple still didn’t allow users to go back to iOS 18. I personally had to sell my iPhone with iOS 26 and buy another one with iOS 18. I’ve lost trust in this company. My iPhone 15 is the last iPhone I’ll ever own.

Absolutely, utterly, totally, WRONG. Millions upon millions upon millions are out there running iOS 26, with no issues whatsoever. Like me, on multiple devices.

No one here cares if you ever own an iPhone again. This is a user to user only forum, so your threat won't be read by Apple either.