Auto updates have stopped happening

Question

Auto updates have stopped happening

Both my iPad Pro and iPhone16 Pro Max are set up to automatically download and install software updates, which they’ve been doing cheerfully all year. Until around September, when after installing 18.6.2 they both just stopped doing that. If I check software updates I can see updates are available- latest being both 18.7.2 and 26.1 - but neither device seems to be bothering to automatically update to either. They’ve both just ignored several previous versions over the last eight weeks. I know I could manually update them, but if I resort to that then what’s the point of automatic updates? I like updates to just happen without me having to think about them, frankly. I’m leaving on power overnight, have fast WiFi and plenty of space on both, so no reason why the updates shouldn’t just happen that I can see.

Any ideas how to fix? Is it a bug in 18.6.2?

iPhone 16 Pro Max, iOS 18

Posted on Nov 10, 2025 3:14 PM

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Answer 1

sberman

Level 10

272,220 points

Nov 10, 2025 3:51 PM in response to annethedosser

iOS 18.7 (the next update to iOS 18.6.2) was released on the same day as iOS 26. The jump to iOS 26 is not automatic, but it is one you should have taken.

It’s time to move to the currently released iOS 26 version. Then retry automatic updates.

Update your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

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Answer 2

Nov 10, 2025 5:20 PM in response to annethedosser

If iOS 18.7 or higher is installed on your phone and you want iOS 26, you will have to manually install iOS 26. There was no automatic update to iOS 26 as long as you still had iOS 18 on your phone.

Once iOS 26 is installed, Automatic Updates will resume if you have enabled them.

At least, that is what a "Genius" advised 4-5 weeks ago and so far it is working nicely.

You might want to give it a try.

I can also explain why if you had iOS 18.7 installed on your phone, that automatic updates to newer iOS 18 versions stopped. But, if you are updating to iOS 26, you probably don't really care to hear more boring info about this whole updating thing.

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Answer 3

Dec 3, 2025 7:28 AM in response to Bob Timmons

Bob,

If you would, can you explain why iOS 18 no longer updates while iOS 26 is pending? I am not an early adopter. I don't plan to upgrade to iOS 26 until there are at least two patches, i.e., 26.2, but it is very disturbing that while I wait iOS 18 no longer updates. iOS 18.7.2 released a month ago and I only found out today.

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Answer 4

Dec 4, 2025 2:32 AM in response to Bob Timmons

Thanks Bob.

I’d have thought the phone should just automatically pick the latest best version and install it, so not clear why I have to manually install to move to iOS26. I hate manual installs as there’s never a good time and they take ages. Or at the least, the phone should have auto installed 18.7 and now be on 18.7.2, not still on 18.6.2.

If I install 26.1, can it safely jump to that from 18.6.2 without risking bricking the phone? Last time I tried updating when it had skipped some versions I ended up having to buy a new phone, as it just kept restarting itself over and over for days, until I gave up and let the battery go flat.

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