Revert Back to iOS 18 From iOS 26 Beta: The No-Stress, Step-by-Step Guide
The iOS 26 developer beta is now available, which is your first opportunity to try out new iPhone features such as the Liquid Glass interface, the redesigned Photos app, the AutoMix feature in the Music app and much more. If you have a free Apple Developer account, you can download the developer beta and get started right away. (The public beta is expected in July.)
But that access comes with a risk. Due to the nature of prerelease software, the iOS 26 beta includes bugs and performance snags that can disrupt your everyday use, which is why you shouldn't install it on your main iPhone.
As another example, if you also want to test the new WatchOS 26 beta, be warned that you will not be able to roll back to WatchOS 11, as my colleague Blake Stimac unexpectedly discovered last year, unless you don't mind parting with your Apple Watch while it goes back to Apple for repair.
If you find the current iOS 26 beta to be too brittle, you can roll back to iOS 18 by following these steps.
Read more: Everything coming to your iPhone in iOS 26.
Do you have the right kind of backup?
Reverting to the previous system version isn't a matter of replacing a few key files here and there -- you'll need to erase the phone and install the current release version. This is why it's important to back up your iPhone before installing the beta (or, honestly, updating any version of iOS).
The best approach is to create an archive on your computer that you can fall back to. Creating an iCloud backup (Settings > [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup) would seem to be the easiest option, but there's a catch: if the most recent iCloud backup is made under the iOS 26 beta, you can only restore the iPhone to iOS 26. That means when you restore the phone to iOS 18, you'll have to do it from an archive or set it up as a new phone. Data synced via iCloud will eventually arrive, but you will need to reinstall apps manually.
Instead, create a local backup: Connect the iPhone to your Mac, select it in a Finder window sidebar, and click the Back Up Now button. On Windows, open the Apple Devices app, select the iPhone there, and click Back Up Now.
What if you didn't make a backup before installing iOS 26 beta?
If your excitement got the best of you and you skipped making a backup, you should still attempt to sync your important data, such as contacts, photos and notes to iCloud. Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud.
Next, in the Saved to iCloud section, tap See All. Tap the categories for items saved to iCloud, such as iCloud Mail, iCloud Drive and Contacts, and make sure they're set to sync.
Make sure your important data is synced to iCloud before reverting to the previous version of iOS. (iOS 18 beta shown here, which is functionally the same in the iOS 26 beta.)
Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET
Make sure your MacOS or Windows software is up to date
First, if you're restoring from a Mac, make sure you're running the latest version of MacOS:
Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner, and choose System Settings .
in the top-left corner, and choose . Select General in the sidebar.
in the sidebar. Click Software Update.
If an update is listed -- and you have a current backup -- go ahead and install it.
Under Windows, open the Apple Devices app, which replaced iTunes as Apple's conduit for managing its devices.
Turn off Find My
If you've enabled Find My for that device, you'll want to turn it off before you revert back to iOS 18. Find My is key to the Activation Lock security feature that requires the Apple ID and password of the person who set up the phone. When you finish reinstalling iOS 18, you can turn it on again.
To turn off Find My, Go to Settings, tap your name and tap Find My. Then tap Find My iPhone and turn it off. (If the option is grayed out, you may need to disable Stolen Device Protection first.)
This screen indicates the iPhone is in recovery mode.
Apple
Put the iPhone into recovery mode
Next, plug your iPhone into your Mac and do the following button dance on the iPhone to enter recovery mode:
1. Press and quickly release the volume up button.
2. Press and quickly release the volume down button.
3. Press and hold the sleep/wake button, and keep it held, past the point where you see the Apple logo and until you see the recovery mode screen -- a black background with a cable indicating a connection with the computer.
Restore the iPhone to go back to iOS 18
The computer will ask if you want to update or restore the iPhone; don't be alarmed if the dialog makes it sound as if something is wrong with the phone. Click Restore. In the confirmation dialog that appears, click Restore and Update.
Or, if you don't see that dialog, open a new Finder window (MacOS) or the Apple Devices app (Windows) and select the phone in the sidebar. Click Restore iPhone and follow the directions that follow.
The release version of iOS, currently 18.5, will download and be installed on the iPhone.
During the normal iOS setup process, you're asked if you'd like to transfer settings and data from another device:
1. On the Transfer Your Apps & Data screen, tap From Mac or PC.
2. On the computer, select the iPhone in the sidebar (of a Finder window on Mac or the Apple Devices app on Windows).
3. Select Restore from this backup and choose the most recent backup from the pop-up menu.
4. Click Continue. If you chose to encrypt the backup, enter the password you made.
The computer then restores the data from the backup.
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Limited warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles Powertrain warranty covers eight years or 100,000 miles No complimentary scheduled maintenance Specifications Specifications 2025 Porsche Macan Electric Vehicle Type: rear-motor or front- and rear-motor, rear- or all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door wagon PRICE Base: RWD, $77,295; 4S, $86,895 POWERTRAIN (RWD) Motor: permanent-magnet synchronous AC Power: 355 hp Torque: 415 lb-ft Battery Pack: liquid-cooled lithium-ion, 95.0 kWh Onboard Charger: 11.0 kW Peak DC Fast-Charge Rate: 270 kW Transmission: direct-drive POWERTRAIN (4S) Front Motor: permanent-magnet synchronous AC Rear Motor: permanent-magnet synchronous AC Combined Power: 509 hp Combined Torque: 604 lb-ft Battery Pack: liquid-cooled lithium-ion, 95.0 kWh Onboard Charger: 11.0 kW Peak DC Fast-Charge Rate: 270 kW Transmissions, F/R: direct-drive DIMENSIONS Wheelbase: 113.9 in Length: 188.4 in Width: 76.3 in Height: 63.9 in Cargo Volume, Behind F/R: 48/19 ft3 Front-Trunk Volume: 3 ft3 Curb Weight (C/D est): 5300–5400 lb PERFORMANCE (C/D EST) 60 mph: 3.7–5.2 sec 100 mph: 8.9–12.7 sec 1/4-Mile: 12.1–13.7 sec Top Speed: 137–149 mph EPA FUEL ECONOMY Combined: 91–99 MPGe Range: 288–315 mi 2024 Porsche Macan Turbo Electric Vehicle Type: front- and rear-motor, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door wagon PRICE Base/As Tested: $106,950/$130,760 POWERTRAIN Front Motor: permanent-magnet AC Rear Motor: permanent-magnet AC Combined Power: 630 hp Combined Torque: 833 lb-ft Battery Pack: liquid-cooled lithium-ion, 95 kWh Onboard Charger: 11.0 kW Peak DC Fast-Charge Rate: 270 kW Transmissions, F/R: direct-drive CHASSIS Suspension, F/R: multilink/multilink Brakes, F/R: 15.7-in vented disc/13.8-in vented disc Tires: Pirelli P Zero Corsa Elect PZC4 F: 255/40R-22 103Y NEO R: 295/35R-22 108Y NEO DIMENSIONS Wheelbase: 113.9 in Length: 188.3 in Width: 76.3 in Height: 63.8 in Cargo Volume, Behind F/R: 44/16 ft3 Front Trunk Volume: 3 ft3 Curb Weight: 5440 lb C/D TEST RESULTS 60 mph: 2.9 sec 100 mph: 7.1 sec 1/4-Mile: 11.1 sec @ 124 mph 130 mph: 12.3 sec 150 mph: 17.3 sec Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.2 sec. Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 3.2 sec Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 1.3 sec Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 1.8 sec Top Speed (gov ltd): 163 mph Braking, 70–0 mph: 150 ft Braking, 100–0 mph: 298 ft Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.98 g C/D FUEL ECONOMY AND CHARGING Observed: 88 MPGe Average DC Fast-Charge Rate, 10–90%: 148 kW DC Fast-Charge Time, 10–90%: 33 min EPA FUEL ECONOMY Combined/City/Highway: 91/99/84 MPGe Range: 288 mi C/D TESTING EXPLAINED More Features and Specs
Fast Company
21 minutes ago
- Fast Company
How government can advance innovation
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At the recent Think Conference hosted by IBM, Healey spoke with Stephanie Mehta, CEO and chief content officer of Mansueto Ventures (parent company of Fast Company), about the steps her state has taken to advance collaboration with industry, academia, and entrepreneurs to support advances in AI. Here are four takeaways from the discussion. (Some quotes were edited for clarity and length.) 1. Government support helps big ideas take off. Bringing innovative ideas to life takes teamwork, and the public and private sectors can be a powerful pair. 'The only way to address the challenges of today, to solve the world's problems, is for government to work directly in partnership with private industry,' Healey said. Take AI. Healey explained how the technology requires massive computing power and uses enormous amounts of energy. In Massachusetts, Healey saw an opportunity to help make it easier for energy supply to keep pace with the increasing demand from the state's AI industry. She championed legislation to simplify permitting and siting of energy infrastructure, speeding up the process for bringing more energy online. Healey also believes government can play a pivotal role in helping to support AI entrepreneurs at their earliest stages. To that end, she recently announced a $31 million grant to expand the supply of compute and data capacity for those in the AI sector. In addition, the state's AI Hub is exploring partnerships to create an accelerator program for entrepreneurs developing AI technologies. 2. Progress must be sustainable—and inclusive. Businesses often consider a range of internal and external stakeholders when making major decisions. But it's up to governments to take the broadest view, crafting policies and making investments that address issues such as climate change and foster greater economic participation, Healey said. In the case of AI, that involves addressing the technology's environmental impact. The Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center, a collaboration between several of the state's public and private universities, provides infrastructure for computationally intensive research. Much of that power comes via renewable energy from solar arrays and a hydroelectric dam, helping to reduce the carbon footprint associated with scaling AI. Meanwhile, Healey has looked for opportunities to ensure that the benefits of AI are enjoyed by all Massachusetts residents, not just some businesses. She recently assembled a taskforce, including labor officials, who considered what AI adoption will mean through a workforce lens and to offer strategies to manage the potential impacts on the labor market. 'We looked at what we need to do to upskill those who are going to have to participate in what will be an AI economy,' Healey said. 3. Innovative thinking will let organizations maximize their AI investment. To show how generative AI can make organizations more efficient without leaving workers behind, the Massachusetts government decided to start using the technology itself. To prepare to take the AI plunge, leaders did their research. As part of the InnovateMA program, Healey invited students from Northeastern University to research productive AI use cases in state agencies. For instance, students created generative AI prompts that helped Department of Transportation employees wade through hundreds of pages of rules and regulations to advance transportation infrastructure projects. Tasks that used to take several days could now be completed in minutes, and workers felt more empowered to tackle other projects. 'Our employees loved it,' Healey said. 4. Crisis can be a catalyst for innovation. When it comes to disruption, Healey said that she draws inspiration from the business world, embracing solutions-oriented strategies that helped her turn crisis into opportunity. Healey looked to leverage assets in Massachusetts to strengthen the state's own investment in innovation when federal government spending was being cut. She immediately reached out to Massachusetts's teaching hospitals, colleges and universities, and private equity investors to determine what the state needed to do to stay competitive globally. Healey expects that by continuing to fund science and research at the state level amid federal cuts, Massachusetts will emerge from the crisis even stronger in these areas. At the same time, government needs to be a model for thinking beyond the bottom line, she said. 'For the purposes of the creation of a better world, a world where there is an abundance of energy, of housing, of healthcare, of transportation, of economic opportunity and prosperity for every child, it's got to come with a little bit of a broader lens.'
