Apple Quietly Blocks Old iOS Update, Forces Millions Toward iOS 26

The latest software push from Apple has quietly changed the updating process for millions of iPhone users and it has created some uncertainty among users who prefer stable systems instead of major changes.

At the beginning of this month, Apple simultaneously launched two updates – iOS 26.2 and iOS 18.7.3. However, shortly after the rollout on December 12, users began to see a significant difference. Devices that are able to run iOS 26 will no longer receive iOS 18.7.3, although it has been Apple’s custom to let users stay on the previous version while still getting security fixes.

As per a Forbes report, iPhones from the iPhone 11 series to the latest iPhone 16 series now only show one update which is iOS 26.2 when the Settings option is checked. Skipping the new OS due to changes in the interface or bugs at the initial stages has meant that the users are not given any choice.

For a while, some users were able to go to iOS 18.7.3 by enabling public beta or developer beta updates. But that route has also been closed. The update is no longer listed which indicates that the change is not a temporary issue but rather a wider transition in Apple’s software release strategy.

Still, older devices are in the picture

The limitation is not universally applied. “Only three models — the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR — will still have iOS 18.7.3 available,” says the report. These phones cannot be updated to iOS 26 versions thus Apple has to keep providing security updates for them.

All other devices that can run iOS 26 are now, if they choose to be, locked into the latest Apple software platform with its associated security updates.

Apple has consistently provided support for the preceding iOS version for a few months after the launch of a new one. This accommodated the users who were hesitant to upgrade immediately but still wanted to be protected from vulnerabilities. However, this year, the overlap period seems to have come to an end suddenly.

Those who follow the updates very closely say that the dropping of iOS 18.7.3 from phones eligible for the update indicates a conscious decision rather than a mistake. Jason Snell from Six Colors characterized it as a move that “forces users onto iOS 26 if they want security updates,” which mostly impacts those who are not happy with iOS 26’s Liquid Glass design or its early performance problems.

A number of questions remain

Apple has not stated publicly the reason for the discontinuation of iOS 18.7.3 access to newer devices or whether the option would come back. The company’s silence has led the users to speculate whether the company is gaining more control over the paths of updates or just speeding up the adoption of its latest software.

At present, the message in iPhone settings is very clear. Users with the latest devices have to make a straightforward decision: either go to iOS 26.2 or stop receiving updates completely.