Is it impossible to downgrade to ipadOS18 from 26?

Apple has never supported downgrading iOS or iPadOS.

As far as I know, the only exception is that if you have enrolled in a beta test program, and installed a beta, you can get rid of the beta. But you cannot downgrade from a production version of iOS or iPadOS to a previous one.

You may want to see if performance improves after a few days. My understanding is that right after a major update, iOS and iPadOS may do housekeeping tasks that put more load on the system than usual.

Rolling-back to an earlier version of iOS/iPadOS is not possible. All System Updates are digitally signed by Apple - and can only be installed whilst the digital signatures remain valid. After release of a new iOS/iPadOS version, the immediately preceding version continues to be digitally signed by Apple - however, usually within a few days, Apple will revoke the digital certificate with which the earlier version is signed.

Perhaps consider that iOS/iPadOS updates include both functional and essential security updates. Restoring an earlier version of the OS would expose your device, privacy and data to emerging and known security threats and vulnerabilities.

hespra wrote:

my 2 cents: i don’t like #26 either. wish developers would mellow out and leave well-enough alone.

It's easy to deal with that. Just never upgrade your devices. We decided we didn't see anything in 26 that attracted us so we just left our devices with their current iOS versions. Of course at some stage in the future we will have to update but for the moment we're content.

How to know if you don't want a new version? Easy. When a new version appears simply read all the posts about it, including Apple's announcements extolling it. Even if we do eventually update, I always wait at least a week or two.

In the meantime, remember that this this Community forum is offered by Apple as an end-user to end-user technical issue support service (i.e., users like you helping other users). We are not Apple and Apple only participates here as moderators. Feedback for Apple will likely get more attention if you send it using: Product Feedback - Apple

Apple may not respond but your comment will be read.

Perhaps consider that iOS/iPadOS updates include both functional and essential security updates. Restoring an earlier version of the OS would expose your device, privacy and data to emerging and known security threats and vulnerabilities.

But Apple will sometimes release an update for an older iOS that addresses just the security issues.

my 2 cents: i don’t like #26 either. wish developers would mellow out and leave well-enough alone.

This upgrade has rendered my ipad just about useless. Its been more than a few days!