Now, if you wish to go back to the OS before iOS 26, you can no longer do that because Apple has stopped signing iOS 18.6.2.
Of course, Apple is not forcing you to upgrade to iOS 26. There's still an option to continue using iOS 18. However, if you've upgraded to iOS 26, you can no longer go back.
Apple has also stopped signing iPadOS 18.6.2 as well as tvOS 18.6, so you can no longer downgrade your iPad or Apple TV device either.
iOS 26. | Image Credit - Apple
Apple protects users from installing outdated software
Basically, when software is "signed", it means that it has passed a server-side verification check that Apple does every time a new version of iOS is downloaded on an iPhone. In other words, an update can't be installed unless it passes said verification check.
Have you upgraded to iOS 26 yet?
Yes, and I’m happy with it
30%
Yes, but I regret it
20%
Not yet, waiting to see how it goes
30%
No, I’ll stick with my current iOS
20%
Apple stops signing software to protect Apple device owners from installing outdated and less secure versions of its operating systems. Therefore, it's done for protection purposes.
iOS 26 has minor bugs that should be addressed in a future fix
iOS 26 is a pretty big upgrade, and I've been loving it so far. There are plenty of exciting changes, and I overall like the new design of the OS. However, I've experienced a couple of minor bugs here and there, nothing fatal or experience-disrupting, and usually those get ironed out soon after with a following software update.
After all, I wasn't even thinking of downgrading back to iOS 18. Hopefully, users who wished to do so have already done it, so now the rest of the people who are on iOS 26 are hopefully happy with it.
"Iconic Phones" is coming this Fall!
Rediscover some of the most unique and memorable phones of the last two decades! "Iconic Phones" is a beautifully illustrated book that we've been working on for over a year - and it's coming out in just a couple short month!
"Iconic Phones: Revolution at Your Fingertips" is a must-have coffee table book for every phone lover out there. Covering the stories of more than 20 fan-favorite phones, it takes you on a memorable journey through the technological revolution that shaped our lives. Sign up now to secure an early discount price!
Izzy, a tech enthusiast and a key part of the PhoneArena team, specializes in delivering the latest mobile tech news and finding the best tech deals. Her interests extend to cybersecurity, phone design innovations, and camera capabilities. Outside her professional life, Izzy, a literature master's degree holder, enjoys reading, painting, and learning languages. She's also a personal growth advocate, believing in the power of experience and gratitude. Whether it's walking her Chihuahua or singing her heart out, Izzy embraces life with passion and curiosity.
A discussion is a place, where people can voice their opinion, no matter if it
is positive, neutral or negative. However, when posting, one must stay true to the topic, and not just share some
random thoughts, which are not directly related to the matter.
Things that are NOT allowed:
Off-topic talk - you must stick to the subject of discussion
Offensive, hate speech - if you want to say something, say it politely
Spam/Advertisements - these posts are deleted
Multiple accounts - one person can have only one account
Impersonations and offensive nicknames - these accounts get banned
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts:
New accounts created within the last 24 hours may experience restrictions on how frequently they can
post or comment.
These limits are in place as a precaution and will automatically lift.
Moderation is done by humans. We try to be as objective as possible and moderate with zero bias. If you think a
post should be moderated - please, report it.
Have a question about the rules or why you have been moderated/limited/banned? Please,
contact us.
FCC OKs Cingular\'s purchase of AT&T Wireless
Things that are NOT allowed:
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts: