Remove iPadOS 26.2 update and stop upgrade prompts

Before I decided to "turn off" Automatic updates on my iPad, I received a message that iPadOS 26.2 had been downloaded onto my iPad and I am given the option to "Install Now" or Install Tonight. I have decided after doing some reading, that I don't want to update, that I am happy with iOS iOS 18.7.3. How do I remove the Downloaded update completely. Every time I turn on my iPad, the screen keeps blinking that I should upgrade to 26.2. Can't I keep working with the current operating system I have?

iPad, iPadOS 18

Posted on Jan 15, 2026 12:31 PM

Top-ranking reply

SergZak

Level 6

11,356 points

Posted on Jan 15, 2026 3:09 PM

If the update has indeed been downloaded to your device, it will be under:

Settings>General>iPad Storage.

You may need to scroll through the list (possibly having to tap the "Show All" button) to find the downloaded update which will be named something like "iPadOS 26 update" or similar. To delete it (if it's there), tap on it, then tap on "Delete App" and confirm the deletion.

If it is not in the list, it has not yet been downloaded to your device so there will be nothing to delete.

Note that you can not stop the update notification messages prompting/nagging you to update, nor the red notification badge on the Settings app icon. The only way to get rid of the update notification messages/red notification badge is to update iPadOS.

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Remove iPadOS 26.2 update and stop upgrade prompts

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