How to Downgrade iPhone from iOS 26 to iOS 18 Without Losing Data

Apple recently unveiled iOS 26, which comes with major UI changes. Since the developer beta of iOS 26 is now available, you may have already installed it. However, if you regret your decision or simply want to downgrade for any reason, all you need is this guide. Here, you will learn how to go back to iOS 18 from iOS 26 beta while keeping your data.

iOS 26 comes with a visual overhaul, which is something that comes only after a few years. This time, Apple didn’t get things right. Most users are not happy with the new Liquid Glass design on iOS for several reasons. While it looks good in dark mode and on some pages, it looks really bad in light mode.

It’s not just the UI that’s the biggest complaint, but it’s also the most buggy developer beta in years. The biggest concern for most users is readability. Reading notifications and checking the control panel is challenging. While I like some changes, such as new Settings, Photos, and a few more, many things need refinement, which is always the case with such beta builds. It should improve with further releases. Downgrading to the stable iOS 18 is currently the best option.

Requirements

If you’re on the same path as me, let’s dive into the steps to go back to iOS 18 from iOS 26 beta. Don’t worry, the process is straightforward, but you’ll need a computer – it can be a Mac or even Windows. Without a computer, you can not downgrade your iPhone.

I assume you’ve already taken a backup before upgrading your iPhone to iOS 26 Beta. This is the key step in downgrading from iOS 26 to iOS 18 without losing data. It doesn’t matter whether you have a backup on your Mac or on iCloud. If you don’t have any backup, you’ll lose your data.

Download the iOS 18 IPSW

1. On your PC, go to the IPSW.me website, which serves as a big library of Apple OS firmware.
2. On the website, navigate to your device, and download the latest firmware with green text (signed IPSW). It will be a big file. Don’t download firmware with red text.

Turn off Find My on your iPhone

This is an important step before attempting to downgrade your iPhone. Here are the steps you need to follow.

1. Open Settings and navigate to Face ID & Passcode.
   
2. Scroll down and open Stolen Device Protection. If it’s enabled, turn it off. You may have to wait for an hour to turn it off.
   
3. Once turned off, go to Settings > Your Profile > Find My.
   
4. Turn off the toggle for Find My iPhone.

Downgrade your iPhone

1. Before moving further, make sure to charge your iPhone to at least 50%.
2. Connect your iPhone to your Computer using a cable. If you’re connecting it for the first time, you may receive a pop-up; where you need to select the Trust button. If you encounter a pop-up for an update, simply click Not Now.
   
3. Open Finder on your Mac or iTunes on your Windows PC.
4. Click on your iPhone, which you should find in the left pane of Finder, and likely on the same side in iTunes. When you select your iPhone, it will open its details, including its version number and various options.
5. On your Mac, press the Option key and click on the Restore iPhone button while pressing the key. On Windows, use the Shift key in place of the Option key.
   
6. Now choose the IPSW you downloaded earlier and select Restore.
7. This will reset your iPhone back to the latest iOS 18 build. The process will take time, so wait for it to complete. Do not disconnect your iPhone.
8. Once your iPhone reboots to the system, go through the setup, and when you reach the ‘Make This Your New iPhone’ screen, tap on Customize.
9. This will open the ‘Transfer Your Apps & Data’ page, where you can restore your data with the backup you created before upgrading to iOS 26 Beta.
10. You can restore a backup from iCloud or a Mac/Windows PC.

Once you restore the backup, you’ll have all the data as well as the public build of the latest iOS 18 version.

You know the importance of backup, so it is recommended to always take a backup before upgrading to a newer build, especially a beta build.

Also Check:

• iOS 26 Release Date, Supported Devices, Features, and More!
• Download iOS 26 Wallpapers [4K Resolution]
• macOS Tahoe 26 Release Date, Supported Devices, Features, and More!
• How to Customize Dynamic Island on iPhone
• How to remove sound from iPhone video [Guide]

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