Apple Explains why iOS 18.7.3 is only available to some users still on iOS 18

So the next question that a user might ask would be what iPhones will iOS 18.7.3 support?

That would be iPhones that do support iOS 18, but do not support iOS 26.

It's a limited list.......the iPhone Xs, iPhone Xs Max and iPhone Xr.

Very sad decision by Apple to hold iOS 18.7 users hostage to try to force adoption of the problematic iOS 26, watchOS 26, etc. If the security issues are acute as they say, iOS 18.7.3 should be available to all iOS 18.7.x users. I’ll take my chances and continue to avoid iOS 26.

Did you read the referenced article above? Obviously the Apple tech support person did not. It states for all iOS 18.7.3 security updates they are...

Available for: iPhone XS and later

That doesn't imply that this update won't be available for newer iPhones; in fact, just the opposite.

Rob RS125R wrote:

Did you read the referenced article above? Obviously the Apple tech support person did not. It states for all iOS 18.7.3 security updates they are...

What "article referenced above?" I don't see any links in this thread. Or are you referring to the unverifiable screenshot?

Note, I'm not implying that the original poster is lying, merely that I wouldn't use a screenshot of a chat as a definitive statement from Apple.

Many users are not getting the update on their iPhones, including me for my 16e. You see this question/complaint at Reddit and many Mac/Apple news sites. That’s why the original poster queried Apple support — the update simply is not being presented to many iOS 18.7 users.

Interestingly, a few people have reported you can force the update to appear by enabling 18.7 bata program on your phone. I have not tried that yet.

Rob RS125R wrote:

Read the Apple Support article referenced above. About the security content of iOS 18.7.3 and iPadOS 18.7.3

About the security content of iOS 18.7.3 and iPadOS 18.7.3 - Apple Support

I appreciate the link. I would point out that it was not "referenced above." This is the first time this link has appeared in this thread.

IdrisSeabright wrote:

Rob RS125R wrote:

Read the Apple Support article referenced above. About the security content of iOS 18.7.3 and iPadOS 18.7.3

About the security content of iOS 18.7.3 and iPadOS 18.7.3 - Apple Support

I appreciate the link. I would point out that it was not "referenced above." This is the first time this link has appeared in this thread.

“Above” has no meaning in a world where anyone can chose to view a thread several different ways: by Oldest, Newest, Rank or Upvotes. So what is “above” to one user can be “below” to other users.

Lawrence Finch wrote:

“Above” has no meaning in a world where anyone can chose to view a thread several different ways: by Oldest, Newest, Rank or Upvotes. So what is “above” to one user can be “below” to other users.

That is certainly true. I try to avoid that locution. However, at the time I made my first post, three previous posts and zero links in the thread. Regardless of how the thread was sorted, a link would have been visible. I suspect the poster was thinking they were in a different thread where the link had been posted. That has happened to me.

That's indeed THE question...and I don't have an answer. I assume Apple had intended to make it available to all iOS 18-compatible iPhones then changed its mind for some reason. The fact that it was offered to Developers and Public beta testers on 12/13/14/15/16-series iPhones, means it was developed for those phones. The release version shown in the Developer beta (22H217) is the same as the public version released for the listed iPhone X-series devices.

Apple release notes still state iOS 18.7.3 is for all iPhones from the XS and later (the iPhone X is not listed, however).

If you have a Developer of Public beta tester account, you can download this version and it will install without issue. I've done this on the iPhone 13 and 16 Pro. You can also wait to see if Apple does release it for iPhones 12/13/14/15/16.

As others have stated in this forum, Apple will eventually suspend iOS 18 updates for iOS 26-compatible devices, as it has for other outgoing OS's over the past years. And this usually happens in December. I haven't seen this behavior before, but maybe others have and I missed it.

Hope this helps.

I just checked the Apple Support page for security releases

Apple security releases - Apple Support

and the link I included in my last post

About the security content of iOS 18.7.3 and iPadOS 18.7.3 - Apple Support

and the language for the iOS 18.7.3 update has been changed in both to:

"Available for: iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, iPad Pro 13-inch, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 7th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later"

Compare this with the language for the iOS 18.7.2 update on the Apple security releases - Apple Support page:

"iPhone XS and later, iPad Pro 13-inch, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 7th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later"

I can only conclude that Apple has decided NOT to release iOS 18.7.3 for iOS 26-compatible iPhones...even though it was developed for these later iPhones and you can still install it using a Developer or Public beta account. I don't recall seeing this last-minute change before, but there you have it.

Rob RS125R wrote:

I just checked the Apple Support page for security releases

Apple security releases - Apple Support

and the link I included in my last post

About the security content of iOS 18.7.3 and iPadOS 18.7.3 - Apple Support

and the language for the iOS 18.7.3 update has been changed in both to:

"Available for: iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, iPad Pro 13-inch, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 7th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later"

Compare this with the language for the iOS 18.7.2 update on the Apple security releases - Apple Support page:

"iPhone XS and later, iPad Pro 13-inch, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 7th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later"

I can only conclude that Apple has decided NOT to release iOS 18.7.3 for iOS 26-compatible iPhones...even though it was developed for these later iPhones and you can still install it using a Developer or Public beta account. I don't recall seeing this last-minute change before, but there you have it.

It's not really a matter of they "decided not to," it's a matter that the release notes site wasn't updated immediately after iOS 26.2 was released. The updates to the notes are often a few days behind. And just like last year, the same thing happened in the December time frame. The reality as we've been saying, iOS 18.7.3 will NOT be an option for iPhones which are capable of running iOS 26.2.

I have an iPad 7th gen running 18.7.2, it claims it wants to update to 18.7.3 but as

usual lack of space (it's only 32G) prevents that.

Oh how I wish I could unload all photos for the upgrade & clear the mail cache!

The usual solution is to connect it to my Mac-mini (macOS 26.2) & it will update,

now (for the last few days) it (the Mac-mini) says the iPad is up to date at 18.7.2!

What is going on Apple???

That's not mentioned in the Apple support articles!

Perhaps we need the equivalent of a seniors card for apple users where Apple

understand the problems of OLD people! Especially those who are finding the

cost of their new stuff untennable.

grumpyoldman2 wrote:

I have an iPad 7th gen running 18.7.2, it claims it wants to update to 18.7.3 but as

usual lack of space (it's only 32G) prevents that.

Oh how I wish I could unload all photos for the upgrade & clear the mail cache!

The usual solution is to connect it to my Mac-mini (macOS 26.2) & it will update,

now (for the last few days) it (the Mac-mini) says the iPad is up to date at 18.7.2!

What is going on Apple???

That's not mentioned in the Apple support articles!

Perhaps we need the equivalent of a seniors card for apple users where Apple

understand the problems of OLD people! Especially those who are finding the

cost of their new stuff untennable.

Asking what's going Apple here won't be seen nor answered by anyone at Apple. This is strictly a user to user only forum, which Apple doesn't read, nor participate.

I can't answer why your Mac won't install or offer the update to 18.7.3 on your 7th Gen iPad. It is most definitely eligible. And yes, 32GB is woefully inadequate today. The lowest storage level Apple sells on a new iPad today is 128GB and honestly, I don't think that's enough with AI and the enhanced features of iOS 26.

Why don't you upload your photos off your iPad and keep them on your Mac, then do the update on the iPad. You can also offload apps you don't use or need for the update, then reinstall them after you update.

grumpyoldman2 wrote:

Perhaps we need the equivalent of a seniors card for apple users where Apple

understand the problems of OLD people! Especially those who are finding the

cost of their new stuff untennable.

Well, I understand the problems of old people. I’m one of several users here who are over 80.

However, the cost of Apple premium products reflects that. The most recent iPads start at $329.

Lawrence Finch wrote:

grumpyoldman2 wrote:

Perhaps we need the equivalent of a seniors card for apple users where Apple

understand the problems of OLD people! Especially those who are finding the

cost of their new stuff untennable.

Well, I understand the problems of old people. I’m one of several users here who are over 80.

However, the cost of Apple premium products reflects that. The most recent iPads start at $329.

Older here as well. $329 is actually pretty amazing for the newest iPad, which comes with 128GB to start.