Don't Want to Upgrade to iOS 26? Here's How to Stay on iOS 18 [Update: Now Unavailable] - MacRumors

Don't Want to Upgrade to iOS 26? Here's What Changed—and Why Staying on iOS 18 Just Got Harder [Update]

Apple is now nudging iPhone users off iOS 18 and onto iOS 26 by withholding new iOS 18 updates on any device that can run iOS 26. If you have an iPhone 11 or later, you won’t see new iOS 18 releases—even security patches—unless you upgrade to iOS 26.2.

What’s happening now

• With the release of iOS 26.2, Apple stopped surfacing new iOS 18 updates (including the iOS 18.7.3 security update) on devices capable of running iOS 26.
• Practically, that means iOS 18 users must move to iOS 26.2 to stay fully secure.
• Both iOS 26.2 and iOS 18.7.3 addressed an actively exploited WebKit vulnerability, so there’s no technical requirement to upgrade for that specific fix—this is Apple policy.

Was there a workaround?

• Previously: Turning on iOS 18 public beta updates forced new iOS 18 builds (like 18.7.3) to appear.
• Update: Apple has closed this loophole. Opting into the iOS 18 beta no longer triggers iOS 18.7.3.

Why Apple does this every year

• In 2021, Apple introduced a “choice” to remain on iOS 14 with security updates for a period after iOS 15 launched.
• The grace period ended once iOS 15 matured; Apple made iOS 15 updates more prominent and stopped issuing iOS 14 security updates on devices that could run iOS 15 (notably around iOS 15.2).
• The same pattern repeated for iOS 16 → 17, iOS 17 → 18, and now iOS 18 → 26.
• Apple’s own support documentation clarifies that staying on an older major version is only supported “for a period of time.”

Why it feels different this year

• iOS 26 introduces Liquid Glass, a high‑profile UI overhaul that’s polarizing. That visibility makes the transition feel more forceful as some users hesitate to adopt the new design.
• Some observers speculated this might be a bug, but Apple’s behavior aligns with its established annual update policy.

Bottom line

• If your iPhone can run iOS 26, Apple is no longer offering new iOS 18 updates. For current security protections, you’ll need to update to iOS 26.2.
• The brief public beta workaround to remain on iOS 18 with security updates has been disabled.

Source: https://www.macrumors.com/2025/12/19/ios-18-forced-ios-26-upgrade/