Apple Has Made It Impossible to Downgrade From iOS 26
IOS 26 has been one of the largest updates to the Apple operating system for years. The new “Liquid Glass” design, although controversial, has offered the first major revision of the user interface since iOS 7, while new features such as calls and maintenance can change the way your telephone calls and receive.
If you have an iPhone, you may be tempted to install the new update – and, because it has been released for a week and a half now, you may have already updated. If you have not yet installed iOS 26, however, think twice before you, because you are going to be stuck with: Apple has made it impossible to demotize and return to iOS 18.
You can’t go back on iOS 18
As reported by Macrumors, Apple arrested “sign” iOS 18.6.2 on Monday. When Apple signs special software, this means that you can download this software to your compatible device. Apple stops signing software shortly after its publication of a new version. It is a system intended to prevent users from installing old software versions on their Apple devices, intended to protect these users from insecurity in operating systems that have not been corrected.
As such, now that iOS 18.6.2 is no longer signed, there is no way to demote to this software version of iOS 26 if you change your mind. Although the process was tedious, before, you could demo 26 by putting your iPhone in recovery mode, in completely erasure and installing a new version of 18.6.2. Now that Apple has ceased to sign 18.6.2, however, there is no way to install it, so factory reset will leave you only one iPhone running iOS 26, and none of your data.
What do you think so far?
You may be wondering why you cannot demo to iOS 18.7, because it is a more recent version of iOS 18 than 18.6.2. As users of the MacRumors forum point out, you need an IPSW file in order to retrograde your iPhone, but Apple has not provided IPSW file with iOS 18.7, because this update is only available in air for uses already executed iOS 18.
If you have not yet updated your iPhone, you have two options. First, there is nothing forcing You to install iOS 26 on your device. You can continue to execute iOS 18.6.2 or iOS 18.7 as long as you wish, and take advantage of future safety updates that Apple provides to protect your iPhone. Alternatively, you can move forward and install iOS 26, thinking that you will not have the possibility of defeating it, although you can cancel many changes in user interface, at least. And if your main concern is the performance and lifespan of the battery, it could be intelligent to wait for iOS 26.1, which is currently in beta.
