I'm currently using an iPhone 13 Pro and I've found iOS 26 to be a bit less user-friendly for my taste compared to iOS 18.7. While I don't dislike the new update, I feel more comfortable with the earlier version. I've been told multiple times that it's impossible to downgrade back to 18.7, but I wanted to see if there might be any options for me. I backed up my phone to Windows through iTunes just last week. Some people have mentioned that I could reset my device and then restore from that backup, possibly reverting back to 18.7. However, I've also heard that once the latest version is installed, downgrading isn't an option at all. What can I do to switch back?
5 Answers
Honestly, if you've made a backup while on iOS 26, that's pretty much unusable for going back to iOS 18. You might have to accept the new update. It’s not drastically different—just a new look to get used to.
If you check, you'll find that iOS 18.6.2 is still being signed by Apple. You can perform a DFU (Device Firmware Update) restore using the iOS 18.6.2 IPSW file, and then do an OTA (Over The Air) update to 18.7 afterwards.
Unfortunately, if you didn’t back up your device before upgrading to iOS 26, you're in a tough spot. You'll have to set up your phone as new because newer backups aren't compatible with older software. It's a bummer, but that's how Apple has structured things.
Just a heads-up, you can't downgrade just by using a backup. You also need the correct OS file downloaded on your computer for this to work. Unfortunately, it looks like you've missed the window to downgrade, as Apple only allows it for a limited time. If you plan to downgrade in the future, make sure to act quickly!
You can actually restore your backup from iTunes, and it should revert your phone back to 18.7. Just make sure you don’t have any newer backups, as those would overwrite your older backup from when you were on 18.7. I’ve done this myself a couple of years ago. I wasn't happy with the new update I had in September, and going back to my last backup helped me until I felt ready to update again.
Just keep in mind that you'll also need to download the iOS 18 IPSW file first. The backup alone won't change the OS version. So make sure to have that ready.
I did manage to back up my phone when I was on 18.6.2 using iTunes, but Apple support insists I can't downgrade. They don’t recommend using third-party options either, which adds to my confusion.