Want to Downgrade iOS 26 Without iTunes? The Best Method Here!

"I accidently updated my iPhone to the iOS 26 beta without back up, and now I want to go back to iOS 18. How can I do?" --From Apple Community

Apple tends to release the latest versions of the iPhone to make the user experience better, and the iOS 26 beta update is one of the latest versions that Apple has released. Surprisingly, the iOS 26 beta version had seen an unbelievable hype even before it got released. iPhone users were asked massively about the quality of this update, and the users thought it would make their experience top-notch.

Unfortunately, iOS 26 has fallen short of users' expectations, despite offering a few impressive new features. Many people have encountered issues and have reached out to ask how they can revert to iOS 18. In this article, we'll discuss the reasons why users opt to downgrade from iOS 26 and provide instructions on how to safely downgrade iOS 26 to iOS 18 with or without iTunes.

Part 1. Read This First: Your Guide to a Safe iOS Downgrade

Before downgrading iOS, you should take a few important steps to protect your data and avoid problems. Here's a clear checklist you can follow

1. Back Up Your Data

Downgrading will erase everything on your iPhone.

• Use iCloud Backup (Settings > [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup > Back Up Now).
• Or back up to a computer via Finder (Mac) or iTunes (Windows).

⚠️ Note: You can't restore a backup made on iOS 26 to a device running iOS 18. So your backup is mainly for preserving photos, contacts, and files you can re-sync later.

2. Check if Apple is Still Signing the iOS Version You Want

• Apple stops "signing" old versions after some time.
• If iOS 18 is no longer signed, you can't install it.
• You can check signing status at sites like ipsw.me.

3. Download the Correct IPSW File

• The IPSW file is the installer package for iOS.
• Make sure you get it from a reliable source.

4. Update iTunes / Finder

• If you're restoring via computer, make sure you're on the latest version of iTunes (Windows) or Finder (macOS).

5. Charge Your iPhone

• Make sure your battery is at least 50% or plugged into power.

6. Turn Off Find My iPhone

• Go to Settings > [your name] > Find My > Find My iPhone, then turn it off.

Part 2. Why Do People Wonder How to Downgrade from iOS 26?

After installing iOS 26 Beta, many iPhone users opt to downgrade to previous versions. Many people assume the different reasons behind this move. Following are some of the main reasons iPhone users opt to downgrade from iOS 26.

1. System Instability and Performance Glitches

Early beta software is inherently unstable. Users of an iOS 26 beta would likely experience a variety of performance-related flaws.

2. Frequent Crashes

Apps, including Apple's own like Mail and Messages, may quit unexpectedly. The entire system could freeze, forcing a manual restart.

3. Sluggish UI

The device would likely feel slower than it did on the stable version of iOS. Common complaints include a lagging keyboard, choppy animations when swiping between apps, and delays in opening applications.

4. Widespread App Incompatibility

Many third-party applications will not have been updated to support the new OS yet. This is a major source of frustration for beta testers. An essential banking app might fail to launch, a social media app might be unable to access the camera, or a work-critical application could become completely unusable. While some popular apps are updated quickly, many others will remain broken until closer to the public fall release.

Apart from issues we've discussed earlier, there are many more things that force you to downgrade iOS 26 beta updates. For instance, it can cause your mobile application to crash whenever the iPhone gets heated up. Moreover, iPhone tends to heat more than usual when you install iOS 26 beta updates.

Part 3. Downgrade iOS 26 without iTunes - TunesKit iOS System Recovery

If you want to downgrade your iOS 26 beta version due to the reasons mentioned above, you can hire the prestigious services of TunesKit iOS System Recovery. It is a prestigious iOS system recovery program with a 100% success rate. Using this fantastic third-party tool, you can easily downgrade your iOS to the earlier version within the Apple signing period. Moreover, the user interface TunesKit iOS System Recovery comes up with its truly remarkable and doesn't ask you to gather prior knowledge of this program to put things in order.

Here's the guide that will show you how to downgrade iOS 26 to iOS 18.5 with ease.

Step 1: First of all, you'll need to download and install TunesKit iOS System Recovery,and launch it. Connect your iPhone to your PC using a USB cable, then select Upgrade/Downgrade iOS feature on the main screen. Then click the iOS Downgrade to continue.

Step 2: Back up your device's data first, TunesKit will automatically identify your device's information, then choose the appropriate firmware package from the drop-down menu, and click the Download button once confirmed.

Step 3: Once the firmware has been downloaded successfully, you can click the Start Downgrade button to initiate the downgrade process. Keep your iPhone connected and do not unplug it. Wait patiently. Your iPhone will restart automatically once the downgrade is done. After rebooting, it should be running iOS 18.

Part 4: How to Downgrade iOS 26 Without iTunes or a Computer?

If you don't have access to a computer or iTunes, you can still stop receiving beta updates and switch back to official iOS releases directly from your iPhone's Settings. However, note that this method does not immediately revert your device to an earlier iOS version—it only unsubscribes your device from beta updates so you can install the next available official release when it becomes available.

Below are the steps depending on your iOS version:

For iPhone models running iOS 16.3.1 or earlier:

Step 1: Go to Settings > General > VPN & Device Management.
Step 2: Locate and remove the beta iOS Profile.
Step 3: Wait for the next official iOS version to appear in Settings > General > Software Update, then download and install it.

For iPhone models running iOS 16.4 or later:

Step 1: Open Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates.
Step 2: Tap Beta Updates and choose Off.
Step 3: This will stop your iPhone from receiving any future beta updates.

Important Note: Turning off beta updates or removing the beta profile does not instantly downgrade your iPhone to an earlier iOS version. Instead:

• Your iPhone will remain on the currently installed beta until a newer official release becomes available.
• Once Apple publishes the next public iOS update, you can install it to move off the beta build.

For example, if you're using an iOS 26 beta and disable beta updates, your device will stay on that version until the next official iOS version is released, at which point you can update to the stable build.

Part 5: How to Use iTunes to Downgrade iOS 26 to iOS 18?

If you're going to the iOS downgrade, using iTunes won't be a bad idea, as iTunes allows you to get your job done with minimal effort. However, the disadvantage you carry by restoring your device via iTunes is that you'll lose all your important data. That's why you need to back up your data before restoring your device via iTunes. After backing up your data, you can follow the guide below to put the thing in order.

Step 1: First of all, you'll need the Download the IPSW file after visiting the ipsw.me. Later, you'll need to navigate to your Apple Account within the Settings app, select the Find My option. Next, you'll need to turn off Find My iPhone.

Step 2: Navigate to the Device icon after connecting your iPhone device to Mac or PC using a reliable USB cable.

Step 3: Later, you'll need to hit the Restore iPhone button to restore your device.

Step 4: In the file browser window that appears, navigate to and select the IPSW file you downloaded. Your computer will verify the file with Apple's servers and, if it is still signed, will proceed to erase your iPhone and install the older iOS version. Do not disconnect your iPhone during this process.

Step 5: Once complete, your iPhone will restart to the factory setup screen for the iOS version you installed. You can then set it up as a new device or restore it from an older, compatible backup if you have one.

Part 6. Conclusion

In today's guide, we discussed why iOS 26 updates didn't turn out to be where they should have been. Moreover, you'll learn about the issues people face with iOS 26 Beta version. Luckily, we've also been exploring the way to downgrade via iTunes. However, if you what to downgrade without iTunes, you can take the mind-blowing services of TunesKit iOS System Recovery. It comes with a flawless interface and the ability to downgrade your iPhone faster than you expect.