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2mo ago

Apple Stops Signing iOS 18.6.2, Ending Downgrades From iOS 26

The move follows Apple's routine practice of closing older builds to drive adoption of security fixes.

Your iPhone is now stuck on iOS 26.
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Overview

  • Apple disabled server-side signing for iOS 18.6.2 on September 22, one week after releasing iOS 26 on September 15.
  • With iOS 18.6.2 unsigned, iPhones updated to iOS 26 can no longer be restored to iOS 18 through official methods.
  • Apple applied the same change to iPadOS 18.6.2 and tvOS 18.6, removing the downgrade option for iPads and Apple TV as well.
  • Signing is Apple's verification check that allows installs and restores only to approved firmware, so unsigning blocks those versions from loading.
  • Users who stayed on iOS 18 can remain there, and signing-status trackers like IPSW.dev or IPSW.me can confirm which builds are currently allowed per device.