Apple announced last week that it has stopped signing the previous version, iOS 18.6.2, following the release of iOS 26. If you have already upgraded your device to iOS 26, it is no longer possible to downgrade to iOS 18.6.2.

Apple Has Stopped Signing iOS 18

When an iOS version is signed, it means it has passed a server-side verification check performed by Apple. This check confirms that the software downloaded to the iPhone is trustworthy and genuine. Once the signing process is complete, the software cannot be installed on the device because it no longer receives verification from Apple’s servers. This is intended to prevent users from using older, less secure versions that contain security vulnerabilities.

While Apple does not force users to upgrade to iOS 26, once an upgrade is made, there is no going back. The company encourages users to always use the most up-to-date software, which includes the latest security updates and new features. As part of this policy, the suspension of iOS 18.6.2 signing is seen as a step taken to mitigate potential security risks in this version.

At the same time, signing has been halted for iPadOS 18.6.2 and tvOS 18.6. This means that the rollback option is no longer available for iPad and Apple TV users.