iPhone updated to 26 without my consent

You did not have Automatic Update turned off. What might have happened is you had it off prior to iOS 18 and after a point update, there was a screen that said in the future, updates will happen automatically by default and if you do not want that to happen, then you need to go into Settings and turn it back off. Most users just clicked Continue without reading and did not realize the Automatic Updates was turned on. When that screen appeared, you had 3 options:

• Tap Continue. That will do exactly like the message says and turn on Automatic Updates.
• Tap Download Only. That will only download the update and you would have to give it permission to install.
• Follow the directions from the message and go into Settings and turn Automatic Updates back off.

For reference, this was the screen that appeared in one of the iOS 18 updates that changed the default setting of Automatic Updates for that version.

Allan Jones wrote:

I have noticed in going from 17 to 18, and 18 to 26, on both our iPhones that the process automatically resets automatic updates to "on" in Settings > General > About > Software Update. If you do not want auto updates, go to that setting immediately after updating turn off Automatic Updates.

Same here. The other day, I updated my iPhone from the latest version of iOS 17 to the latest version of iOS 18. That message (or one like it) popped up, so I immediately went into Settings to shut automatic updates OFF.

Servant of Cats wrote:

Allan Jones wrote:

I have noticed in going from 17 to 18, and 18 to 26, on both our iPhones that the process automatically resets automatic updates to "on" in Settings > General > About > Software Update. If you do not want auto updates, go to that setting immediately after updating turn off Automatic Updates.

Same here. The other day, I updated my iPhone from the latest version of iOS 17 to the latest version of iOS 18. That message (or one like it) popped up, so I immediately went into Settings to shut automatic updates OFF.

And that is exactly what is supposed to happen. If you update your phone, you'll see a notification that Automatic Updates will be turned on and it's up to the user to read the notification and go back into settings if they don't want updates to be downloaded automatically again. This happens after every update, unless Automatic Updates are already turned on.

People are unfortunately mistaken in believing that once Automatic Updates are turned off, they remain off forever.

I have noticed in going from 17 to 18, and 18 to 26, on both our iPhones that the process automatically resets automatic updates to "on" in Settings > General > About > Software Update. If you do not want auto updates, go to that setting immediately after updating turn off Automatic Updates.

Apple does not participate here. If you do not like this and do not want to deal with ti manulla=y for every update, tell Apple here:

Feedback - iPhone - Apple

LD150 wrote:

surely any auto install would be 18.7 anyway? You have to try hard to install 26 at the moment.

If Automatic Updates were left on long enough on a phone that was compatible with iOS 26, I presume that the phone would eventually install iOS 26 – even if (for sake of argument), it updated to iOS 18 one night, and then updated to iOS 26 on the next.

Major updates such as iOS 18 to iOS 26 updates NEVER happen automatically, because they require you to enter your iPhone’s passcode before it will update, so you must have misremembered. “point” updates will happen automatically (such as 18.6 to 18.7) if there are important security feature updates.

It appears we are missing some important information. What made you check last night that your auto updates were off? Seems to be too much of a coincidence that you just happened to check last night and found it installing this morning.

A manually installed update will turn on Automatic Updates if it is turned off and that is made clear on the provided screenshot that requires user interaction to continue. Without installing an update to change that setting or intentionally resetting all device settings at Settings > General > Reset, the setting is not magically being turned on by Apple.

Hello~ The only way this could happen is if someone went into your iPhone and manually turned on Automatic Updates or you updated to iOS 18.7. Pure and simple. Can you imagine the uproar in these forums if iOS 26 installed itself randomly on millions of iPhones?

~Katana-San~

Servant of Cats wrote:

LD150 wrote:

surely any auto install would be 18.7 anyway? You have to try hard to install 26 at the moment.

If Automatic Updates were left on long enough on a phone that was compatible with iOS 26, I presume that the phone would eventually install iOS 26 – even if (for sake of argument), it updated to iOS 18 one night, and then updated to iOS 26 on the next.

Yes, eventually the choice goes.

@LmcC22 My family have all decided to not update beyond 18.7.1 while they can (they don't like the glassy) There has been no opportunity for their phones to bypass their non auto settings.

surely any auto install would be 18.7 anyway? You have to try hard to install 26 at the moment.

Wrong! Last night i made sure that my auto updates were off and that offload apps was disabled to protect against it, and this morning they were reenabled and 26 was trying to install, glad i stopped it. pure and simple…

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I am also irate. Mid-evening, my phone decided to forcibly update to IOS 26. I have never allowed automatic updates and I was never prompted to accept this new IOS update. It was forced on me.

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