We were all excited to try out the new iOS 26 beta and jumped into Apple’s Developer or Public Beta Program. But iPhones are acting weird, apps are crashing, battery’s draining faster than ever, and overall iOS 26 beta is not ideal for daily use. If that sounds like you, don’t worry. Here’s a simple guide to help you downgrade from iOS 26 beta to the official iOS 18.5 version.
We already covered how to enroll and download iOS 26 Developer/Public Beta. Now let’s dive into the downgrading process:
Before You Begin
- You’ll need a Mac or Windows PC with Finder or iTunes.
- This process erases your device, so make sure you have a backup of your iPhone or iPad from iOS 18.5 in iCloud or locally (before you installed the beta).
- Backups made on iOS 26 beta won’t work on iOS 18.5.
- If your Apple Watch is on watchOS 26, it won’t sync with your downgraded iPhone. Apple doesn’t let you downgrade watchOS yourself. You’ll need to contact Apple Support for help.
Also Read:
- 7 New iOS 26 Features Revealed at WWDC 2025
- iOS 26 Gets Adaptive Power Mode Feature – What Is It?
- macOS 26 Tahoe: 5 Features You Need To Know About
Step-by-Step Guide to Downgrade to iOS 18.5
There were already reports that the beta builds are unstable, and now that more users are facing issues, it’s clear this isn’t meant for everyday usage. Here’s how you can revert:
1. Connect Your iPhone or iPad to a Computer
Use a Lightning or USB-C cable to connect your device to your Mac (open Finder) or Windows PC (open iTunes).
2. Enter Recovery Mode
You must enter the recovery mode to roll back to the iOS 18.5 stable version.
For iPhone Xs and newer iPhones:
- Press and quickly release the Volume Up button.
- Then press and quickly release the Volume Down button.
- Press and hold the Side button until you see the recovery mode screen.
For iPads with Face ID:
- Quickly press and release Volume Up, then Volume Down.
- Hold the Top button until your iPad restarts and shows the recovery screen.
3. Restore
Once your device is in recovery mode, your computer will prompt you to Restore or Update. Click Restore. This will erase the iOS 26 beta and install the latest stable version of iOS 18.5.
Note: If the download takes longer than 15 minutes and your device exits recovery mode, you’ll need to repeat the recovery mode steps.
Once the restore process completes, you’ll have the option to set up your device as new or restore from an archived iOS 18.5 backup.
That’s it, folks! This is how you can downgrade from iOS 26 beta to iOS 18.5 stable in simple steps. Once you’re back on iOS 18.5, your device will feel more stable. And remember to keep a backup ready next time if you’re planning to try future betas.
