So, you went and put in the iOS 26 developer beta in your iPhone. I get it: There are a number of cool options and adjustments this yr, from the brand new “Liquid Glass” design overhaul, to new name screening instruments which might be suspiciously just like those on Android.
However as nice as new options are, they do not make up for bugs and instability. In case you’re discovering the iOS 26 beta too temperamental to deal with proper now, you can downgrade again to iOS 18—however the course of may not be painless.
Why you should not set up betas
On the threat of lecturing, I need to take a second to speak about why I do not suppose most of us must be working betas on our iPhones—particularly this newest beta. The purpose of a beta is to check a bit of software program earlier than it launches to most of the people. Testers be aware the bugs and glitches they run into, and software program builders repair these issues. As soon as the builders suppose they’ve run by sufficient testing, then they launch the software program to the general public.
Meaning with every replace, the beta will get increasingly steady. There aren’t any ensures in terms of betas, but when you are going to soar on one, I like to recommend becoming a member of as late as potential to bypass the worst of the bugs. (Apple plans a public beta launch for July.) As of this writing, iOS 26 is on it is first beta, and a developer beta, no much less. It is a model Apple releases for software program builders to check their apps with, and never the final pool of customers who’re inquisitive about attempting options out early. iOS 26 will possible by no means be this buggy and unstable once more, and whereas anybody with the know-how can get their appropriate iPhone working the beta, it is dangerous.
(Apple used to require customers to have a paid developer account to entry the developer beta, which reduce down on the variety of common customers accessing them. However in recent times, it has been potential to signal into Apple Developer together with your Apple Account to achieve free to entry developer betas. I do not suppose that is an ideal thought, however seeing as folks used to obtain IPSW information from shady websites to entry developer betas early, Apple most likely decided within the identify of safety—if decided customers are going to do it anyway, would possibly as effectively permit them to formally obtain the dev beta.)
The place the true hassle begins is whenever you determine you need to uninstall the beta out of your iPhone. It is potential, however it’s a ache: The one method to uninstall the iOS 26 beta and downgrade to iOS 18 is to revive your iPhone to manufacturing unit settings. A easy reset will not do: You’ll want to carry out a full restore to wipe every thing out of your machine, then reinstall the newest model of iOS 18. There is no assure it will work, both, as you would run into any variety of errors—although Apple has steps on what to do do you have to encounter them.
Do not uninstall the beta if you do not have a correct backup
When you’ve got a correct backup, you can retrieve your information. The key phrase right here is “correct.” Your backup can’t be from a more recent model of iOS than your iPhone is working, which suggests you’ll be able to’t downgrade to iOS 18 when you solely have backups made on iOS 26. In case you depend on iCloud for backups, this will get tough: The service backs up your iPhone mechanically, and overwrites the earlier backup every time. In case your iPhone made an iCloud backup whereas working the iOS 26 beta, you now not have an iCloud backup from iOS 18, and thus can’t restore from iCloud when you uninstall the beta.
That is why Apple recommends you again up your iPhone to a pc earlier than putting in a beta: These backups are made manually, and usually are not overwritten by future backups. As such, it is the a lot safer choice for restoring when downgrading.
My recommendation? Verify in case your iPhone made an iCloud backup because you put in the beta from Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup. If the final backup was made previous to the set up, disable iCloud backups to make sure no backup is made whereas working iOS 26. If it did backup since working iOS 26, and you do not have one other backup choice, don’t proceed except you are okay with shedding the entire native information not tied to your Apple Account or different accounts you will have logged into your iPhone. (It is actually not value putting in betas, you guys.) Except your iPhone can’t perform on iOS 26, you are higher off dwelling with the beta till issues get extra steady, quite than threat shedding information to return to iOS 18.
Downgrading your iPhone from iOS 26 to iOS 18
To begin, you will want a Mac working the newest launched model of macOS (not macOS Tahoe, thoughts you), or a Home windows PC working the newest model of Apple Units. You can’t uninstall iOS 26 with out a pc. In case you wipe your iPhone from the on-device Settings app, your iPhone will boot into iOS 26 with all of its information erased.
What do you suppose thus far?
Subsequent, plug your iPhone into your laptop, then put it into restoration mode. You are able to do so with the next steps:
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Press and launch the quantity up button.
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Press and launch the quantity down button.
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Press and maintain the facet button, and solely let go when you see the restoration mode display (your display will go darkish and you may see the Apple brand first—maintain holding it).
Look forward to the Restore choice to seem in your laptop, then click on it. Your laptop will then erase your iPhone, and mechanically set up the newest non-beta model of iOS. (Presently, that may be iOS 18.5.) Apple warns that this course of can fail, through which case your machine will exit restoration mode. If that’s the case, let the obtain end, then put your iPhone again into restoration mode and take a look at once more. In case you run into a particular error code when making an attempt to revive, find it on Apple’s assist web page and attempt to troubleshoot the problem.
If the restore completes as anticipated, you would possibly must signal into your Apple Account. This disables Activation Lock, which can allow you to proceed.
Restoring your iPhone’s information after uninstalling iOS 26
At this level, assuming every thing went based on plan, you will have a clean iPhone working the newest model of iOS 18. When you’ve got that correct backup described above, you’ll be able to restore it in the course of the setup course of.
To take action, undergo the setup steps till you attain the “Switch Your Apps & Information” web page. Right here, you’ll be able to restore your iPhone from an iCloud backup, or a backup out of your Mac or PC. Once more, this backup must be appropriate with the newest model of iOS 18 you are working. Whether it is, Apple will stroll you thru the steps to revive it. (Simply be sure when you select to revive from a Mac or PC that you just join your iPhone to the pc that accommodates your backup earlier than continuing.)
