How do I downgrade from iOS 26?

Follow the Support Article below. Hopefully you have a backup done beforehand on iOS 18 otherwise you may not be able to restore or face data loss.

How to uninstall iOS or iPadOS beta software - Apple Support

You cannot accidentally update your device to iOS 26. iOS 26 has not been released to the public, and it is in beta format. Only registered developers have access to it. You cannot discuss beta software on a public forum. You would also have received information on removing it if you are a developer.

To remove the iOS beta, follow the steps below:

1. Connect your iPhone to a computer and open iTunes (or Finder on Mac).
2. Put the device into recovery mode (Volume Up → Volume Down → hold Side button)
3. Then choose Restore when prompted. This will erase the beta and install the latest official iOS version.
4. After setup, go to Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates and turn it off to avoid reinstalling the beta.

This method only works for downgrading from a beta version, not for downgrading between two official versions.

That’s because beta profiles can be removed and Apple still signs the latest public iOS, allowing you to restore to it.

Reference:

How to uninstall iOS or iPadOS beta software - Apple Support

[Edited by Moderator]

inne113 wrote:

I tried to downgrade But my iMac is too old.. is there any other way to downgrade??

[Edited by Moderator]

Borrow a friends computer OR visit your closest Apple Store Genius Bar. Be advised that if you didn't make an Archive Backup on your computer before you chose to download beta software, which is intended for developers only at this time that when you restore your phone, you are going to lose ALL the data on your phone.

I think you will learn a valuable and painful lesson here......

I accidentally updated my iPhone 16 pro max to iOS 26

You would have "accidentally" gone through numerous steps to do this.

Hopefully, you did make an "Archive" backup on a Mac or PC......before you accidentally updated your iPhone, so you can use that backup to restore when you revert to iOS 18.

ayari145 wrote:

I want downgrade iOS 26 to 18

Well you came to the right place, so all you need to do now is read the information that has been provided here. Hopefully you created a backup with iOS 18.5 because your phone will need to be wiped and that is the only backup you could use to restore your data.

So actually, this is completely untrue as I’m a registered developer(free to do and for everyone), and I have not received any information on how to downgrade. Also, it’s very much possible to accidentally download the update as he/she could’ve had automatic updates on and most likely is a developer if they have access to the beta, which means they have used beta before, meaning beta updates are on. He/she could’ve not wanted iOS 26 because of all the bugs there are right now and probably wanted to wait till a later time where it isn’t as buggy to download it. So please refrain from making false statements as it confuses the people who need help.

coltonArnett wrote:

So actually, this is completely untrue as I’m a registered developer(free to do and for everyone), and I have not received any information on how to downgrade. Also, it’s very much possible to accidentally download the update as he/she could’ve had automatic updates on and most likely is a developer if they have access to the beta, which means they have used beta before, meaning beta updates are on. He/she could’ve not wanted iOS 26 because of all the bugs there are right now and probably wanted to wait till a later time where it isn’t as buggy to download it. So please refrain from making false statements as it confuses the people who need help.

Let's be real here. Developers are given the first chance to test the new release, because they ARE ACTUALLY DEVELOPERS who develop apps for iPhone. They know how this works. They've been through this over many generations. But a regular user who registers as a developer to be first in line are foolish to do so. They're NOT really developers who develop anything for iPhone. And they are provided directions when they join as a developer. If they didn't keep that for the next year, that's on them, not Apple.

violetfromsouthbridge wrote:

How can I download iOS 26 on my iPhone 16 plus

Please read the FAQ's about the beta that has already been posted for any details. You will find that it should NEVER be installed on a primary device needed for daily activities and should expect many things to not work correctly. Also if you do not follow the information provided precisely, you may find you are stuck with the beta until the final version is released, unless you are comfortable with complete data loss on your device. A computer archived backup would be essential.

violetfromsouthbridge wrote:

How can I download iOS 26 on my iPhone 16 plus

You’ll want an iPhone you don’t need to work reliably, with third-party apps such as banking and games that you don’t need to work, and with iCloud data you don’t need available and consistent.

If you have that and a spare Apple Account, you can enroll in the beta.

Apple Beta

Have a backup before loading the beta, as that’s the only way to revert to iOS 18 with only partial data loss.

Otherwise, you’re either losing all of your data when you want or need to revert, or are going to be staying with the beta until its release later this year, with your testing successfully or with issues or corruptions or otherwise.

temprance17 wrote:

I'm done with iOS 26 for now

The three usual choices are to reset and restore your backup from iOS 18 (some data loss), or reset and revert to iOS 18 without a backup (more data loss), or continue with the iOS 28 beta until release.

How to uninstall iOS or iPadOS beta software - Apple Support

ziyotov_ruslan wrote:

iOS 26 deletes iOS 18.6 download

The three usual choices for reverting from iOS 26 to iOS 18 are to reset and restore your backup from iOS 18 (some data loss), or reset and revert to iOS 18 without a backup (more data loss), or continue with the iOS 28 beta until release.

How to uninstall iOS or iPadOS beta software - Apple Support

ManishKaushal wrote:

I need ios 18

If you have an iPhone XR, iPhone XS, or iPhone SE 2nd or newer, what have you tried, and what happened?

If you have an iPhone X or older, there is no support for those models with iOS 18. If you have one of these older models, you’ll want to acquire an iPhone 11 or newer, or iPhone SE 2nd gen, or newer, as these iPhone models are supported with iOS 18, and are also the oldest supported iPhone models for the next upcoming iOS 26 version.

kahlil295 wrote:

I don’t went ios26 I was trying to do 18 so help me out

Given the timing, staying on the iOS 26 beta is going to be less work, and less likely to lose local data.

Reverting will lose local data, and the longer the beta has been in use, the larger the local data loss.

Apple has an “awe dropping” event on September 9th.

after it did an automatic update

Rubbish, your phone did not "automatically update" to iOS 26.