Here’s how to downgrade iOS 26 beta and iPadOS 26 beta to iOS 18.5 safely, step-by-step.

Downgrading from iOS 26 Beta 1 to iOS 18.5

If you’ve jumped into the iOS 26 developer beta and it’s proving too buggy for daily use, you’re not alone. While testing new features is exciting, early betas can come with issues like battery drain, app crashes, or performance lags. The good news is that you can downgrade from iOS 26 beta 1 back to iOS 18.5 with a few careful steps.

What You’ll Need:

  • A Mac or PC with the latest version of Finder (macOS Catalina or later) or iTunes (on Windows or macOS Mojave and earlier)
  • A Lightning cable if you’re using an iPhone 14 or below. USB-C cable if you’re using iPhone 15 or later.
  • A stable internet connection
  • The correct iOS 18.5 IPSW file for your iPhone model. You can download it from here.
  • A full backup (if you made one before installing the beta)

Step-by-Step Downgrade Instructions

1. Download the iOS 18.5 IPSW file.

2. Disable Find My

  • Head to Settings > Apple Account > Find My
  • Here you’ll see Find My iPhone or Find My iPad depending on which device you’re using. Tap on it.
  • Now simply turn the toggle to the off position. Provide the Apple ID and correct password to proceed.

2. Put your iPhone into Recovery Mode

  • For iPhones with Face ID: Press and quickly release Volume Up, then Volume Down, then press and hold the Side button until you see the recovery mode screen.
  • For iPhone SE (2nd/3rd gen): Same button sequence.

3. Connect your iPhone to your computer
Open Finder (Mac) or iTunes (PC), and you’ll see a prompt to restore or update your iPhone.

4. Choose ‘Restore’ while holding down Option (Mac) or Shift (Windows)
Select the iOS 18.5 IPSW file you downloaded earlier.

Once connected in Recovery mode, iPhone or iPad will prompt you with the Restore or Update option.

5. Let the downgrade process complete
Finder or iTunes will erase your iPhone, install iOS 18.5, and restart your device. This can take 10–15 minutes.

Important Notes

  • You can’t restore a backup made on iOS 26 to iOS 18.5, so you’ll need an older backup or start fresh.
  • Only signed firmware versions can be restored. Always check that iOS 18.5 is still being signed by Apple before downgrading.

Final Thoughts

Downgrading from iOS 26 beta to a stable iOS 18.5 build is the right move if you rely on your iPhone for everyday use. Until Apple polishes the beta in later builds, iOS 18.5 remains the more reliable choice.

For more guides on Apple software, iOS tips, and WWDC25 coverage, stay tuned.

Categorized in:

Apple, iPad, iPhone, Tips & Tricks,

Last Update: June 19, 2025

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