How to Downgrade iOS 26 to 18 Without Losing Any Data

Installed the iOS 26 developer beta out of curiosity but now frustrated with bugs and frequent app crashes? You’re not alone. Luckily, downgrading from the iOS 26 beta to the stable iOS 18 release is relatively straightforward—with a few important caveats.

This guide walks you through everything you need to know to downgrade from iOS 26 beta to iOS 18 and restore a stable experience on your iPhone.

Things to Know Before Downgrading iOS

Before you jump into the process, here are some essential things to consider:

• Back up your data: While iOS 26 backups can’t be restored on iOS 18, it’s still wise to create a backup just in case.
• Only signed iOS versions are supported: Apple stops signing older iOS versions shortly after new releases. Make sure iOS 18.5 is still being signed before you proceed.
• App compatibility: iOS 26-specific features and apps will not work after downgrading.
• Data loss warning: If you didn’t back up your iPhone before installing the iOS 26 beta, you will lose all locally stored data.

What You’ll Need

• A Mac with Finder or a Windows PC with the latest iTunes installed
• A USB-C or Lightning MFi-certified cable
• A signed iOS 18 IPSW file
• A backup made on iOS 18 (optional but useful for restoring data)

How to Downgrade from iOS 26 Beta to iOS 18

You have two main options: using an older backup via Finder or iTunes, or restoring via an IPSW file.

Option 1: Restore from Finder or iTunes Backup (No Data Loss)

This method only works if you made a backup of your iPhone when it was running on iOS 18 on your PC or Mac. When you restore the backup made on iOS 18, your iPhone will automatically downgrade to iOS 18. Here’s how you can:

1. Connect your iPhone to your Mac using a MFi-certified USB cable.
2. Put your iPhone in recovery mode.
3. As soon as your iPhone enters recovery mode, a Finder window will appear on your Mac with a pop-up stating, “There is a problem with the iPhone that requires it to be updated or restored.”
4. Click the Restore button on the pop-up window.
5. Click the Restore and Update button, then follow the on-screen instructions.
6. Once the process completes, your iPhone will restart with iOS 18 and your data restored.

Option 2: Use a Signed IPSW File (Will Erase Data)

If you didn’t take a backup before installing iOS 26 beta, you can manually downgrade to iOS 18 using the latest available signed IPSW file. However, be ready to lose all your important data.

1. Visit the IPSW.ME website, select iPhone and download the latest available signed iOS 18 IPSW file.
2. Put your iPhone in recovery mode and connect it to your Mac.
3. As soon as your iPhone enters recovery mode, a Finder window will appear on your Mac with a pop-up stating, “There is a problem with the iPhone that requires it to be updated or restored.”
4. Click the Restore button on the pop-up window.
5. Click the Cancel button.
6. Press and hold the Option key, and click the Restore button on the Finder window.
7. A file browser window will open. Locate and select the iOS 18 IPSW file you downloaded.
8. Finder will verify the file and prompt you to restore your iPhone.

Once it’s done, your device will restart and run iOS 18.

Downgrade from Stable iOS 26 to iOS 18

If you’re using a public release of iOS 26 and want to stop receiving updates:

1. Open Settings → General → Software Update.
2. Tap Beta Updates and select Off.
3. Return to the previous screen. Your device will no longer receive beta updates.
4. When iOS 18 receives a public release, your iPhone will be eligible to install it.

Back to Stability

While iOS 26 brings exciting features and a modern aesthetic, the beta version may not offer the stability you need for daily use. If you’re experiencing bugs, glitches, or app crashes, downgrading to iOS 18.5 is your best bet for a smoother experience.

Have questions or need help during the downgrade process? Drop a comment below and we’ll be happy to assist.