I need IOS 18, I don’t want IOS 26

Unfortunately, you are way too late. Apple stopped signing iOS 18 a few days after iOS 26 was introduced, so the window has closed on iOS 18.

If you don't want to update to iOS 26, your'll have to stay on 17.5.1 which unfortunately, is now about 18 months out of date as far as security updates.

Not sure why you passed when iOS 18 was introduced in September 2024.

Technically, iOS 18 is still available for those running some other lower version of iOS 18. iOS 18.7.3 was released along side iOS 26.2 and includes most security fixes from iOS 26.

However Apple only ever offers one major version update, and that is now iOS 26 only.

The question is, if you wanted iOS 18, why wait so long for it. You had an entire year to update to iOS 18, it's now past that time, and iOS 26 is the only option for supported models still running lower versions.

With that said, iOS 26 is maligned unjustly. It has worked for me so far fine, no issues. And most complaints stem from the Liquid Glass interface which is neither here nor there. At this point I would say iOS 26 is stable and functional on all supported iPhone models.

_di_000 wrote:

what should I do? I don't want to update to the latest version

What you should do is re-examine exactly why you would prefer not to update. There are many reasons you should want to update as soon as possible, not the least of which is security improvements.

Re: “iOS 18.7.3 was released along side iOS 26.2 and includes most security fixes from iOS 26.”

Unfortunately, it isn’t being offered to people with iPhones that are running iOS 18, and that are also capable of running iOS 26.

Unfortunately, it isn’t being offered to people with iPhones that are running iOS 18, and that are also capable of running iOS 26.

That really narrows things down to a just a few "qualifying" iPhones.....the Xs, Xs Plus and Xr.

Darn... had not noticed that. iOS 18.7.2 and iOs 18.7.1 was available even your device supported iOS 26. I have kept my iPhone 11 Pro on iOS 18 and it was offered 18.7.1 and 18.7.2, but yes, 18.7.3 is not being offered.

iOS 26 is currently the only option for devices that support it then.

Servant of Cats wrote:

Unfortunately, it isn’t being offered to people with iPhones that are running iOS 18, and that are also capable of running iOS 26.

I question the use of the word “Unfortunately”. Sure, there will be folks displeased with this, but …

You may want iOS 18, but you can’t have it. The window during which Apple offered a choice has expired. You now must stick with iOS 17 or update to iOS 26.