Apple has ended signing for iOS 18.6.2, iPadOS 18.6.2 and tvOS 18.6, blocking downgrades from iOS 26 to iOS 18. Why it happened and what it means for users.
© A. Krivonosov
Apple has officially stopped signing iOS 18.6.2, removing the option to roll back from iOS 26 to an earlier version. The same restriction now applies to iPadOS 18.6.2 and tvOS 18.6.
In Apple’s ecosystem, signing is the server-side check that allows a firmware to be installed. Once the company ends signing for older builds, users can no longer revert to them, even if those releases felt more stable or simply more familiar.
In practice, iPhone and iPad owners who have updated to iOS 26 won’t be able to return to iOS 18. Those who remain on the older version can keep using it, but there’s no way back after an update. The decision is, as usual, tied to security: Apple aims to cut down the use of vulnerable systems and encourage migration to newer releases. For those who considered downgrades a safety net, it will feel like a door quietly closing—consistent with the company’s push to keep its platform current.