No Going Back: Apple Disables iOS 26 Downgrades

Apple has rolled out a broad wave of automatic upgrades to iOS 26, and users who have already upgraded cannot undo the transition because Apple has disabled signature verification for iOS 18.6.2, meaning devices on iOS 26 can no longer roll back to 18.6.2. A newer build, iOS 18.7, was released after 18.6.2, but Apple has not yet provided IPSW firmware files to allow downgrades from 26 to that version.

It remains unclear why this downgrade path has not been offered, though there is a possibility Apple may release it later. For those who have not updated yet, it is still possible to pause automatic updates in Settings and wait for iOS 26 to become more stable or offer a better user experience before committing to the upgrade. The article notes that an increasing number of applications now require iOS 26 as a minimum, leaving users with little choice but to adopt the new system. Published 23 September 2025.