Have been you so eager to check out the brand new options coming in iOS 26 that you simply determined to throw warning to the wind and set up the iOS beta in your iPhone? Are you regretting it? If you wish to return your iPhone to its pre-beta state and get iOS 18.5 again, right here’s what you might want to do.
Whereas operating the beta of iOS 26 provides you a glimpse of what was to come back later in 2025 when the total model launches, it’s a beta, which implies that it’s prone to be buggy at finest, and at worse it may make your iPhone unusable. These two causes are why we advise towards putting in the beta. When you do must run the beta then run it on a spare iPhone and be sure that the whole lot it backed up earlier than hand.
When you actually wish to run the beta and also you aren’t a developer, wait till the Public beta launch (coming in July) for a barely extra steady model – even higher, await a couple of months and let Apple iron out the preliminary, iPhone breaking, points.
If it’s too late for these phrases of warning, don’t despair. Learn on to search out out what to do to take away the iOS beta.
How straightforward this course of is will depend on the stage of the beta testing section you’re at. We’ll begin with the advanced course of for downgrading the beta of iOS 26 to iOS 18, earlier than discussing the simpler strategy of eradicating iOS 26 beta and leaving the beta program as soon as the ultimate model of iOS 26 is out.
How one can uninstall from iOS 26 beta to iOS 18
Throughout the pre-release testing of iOS 26 beta downgrading from the iOS 26 beta to iOS 18 requires you to utterly wipe your iPhone after which reinstall iOS 18. When you simply wipe your iPhone and restart it would nonetheless be operating the iOS 18 beta.
That is what beta testers must do to revert to iOS 18.5 from iOS 26 beta.
Restore the iPhone and reinstall the pre-beta iOS by way of the Finder

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Typically downgrading from the beta and putting in a full model of iOS needs to be straightforward sufficient and the steps beneath will work. Within the early levels of the beta you might discover that the software program is just too buggy although, wherein case you could have higher luck when you restore your iPhone to manufacturing facility settings first – as per the steps additional down this text.
- Obtain the right model of iOS on your iPhone from IPSW.me. It must nonetheless be signed by Apple, so you’ll solely be capable of select the present full model of iOS.
- Open the Finder in your Mac. (Or iTunes/Apple Music on a PC).
- Plug in your iPhone.
- When you haven’t completed so, you have to to show off Discover My in your gadget. Go to Settings and click on in your ID data. Faucet Discover My > Discover My iPhone and swap the slider to off. Enter your Apple ID password.
- Maintain down the Possibility/Alt key and click on on Restore iPhone. This could mean you can choose the model of iOS you want to set up on the iPhone out of your downloads folder, find it and click on on Open.
- A message will seem saying which model of iOS you’ll set up. Click on to verify this and wait whereas your iPhone is restored.
Your iPhone shall be arrange as a brand new gadget, so you’ll both must get your arms on a backup or sync the info you need in your iPhone, we’ll clarify what to do subsequent beneath.
Restore your iPhone utilizing an iCloud backup

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Now you might have wiped your iPhone and reinstalled the non-beta model of iOS, you will get on with the method of recovering it from a backup previous to your beta journey when you have one. Word that if the backup was made because the beta was put in you’ll reinstall the beta at this stage!
You might be able to find and use an older backup or a backup from a special gadget – test which model of iOS the backup is in by tapping on it.
When you don’t have a usable backup you should still have a good quantity of your knowledge out there to you when you use companies like iCloud Photograph, Messages in iCloud and iTunes Match or Apple Music. Our How one can again up an iPhone or iPad tutorial runs by way of what’s and isn’t included within the backup.
- Swipe up from the Welcome display screen in your iPhone.
- Faucet in your language and choose your nation or area.
- Click on on Set Up Manually.
- Work by way of the varied steps till you get to the Switch Your Apps & Information display screen and faucet on From iCloud Backup.
- Log into your Apple ID and wait whereas your gadget indicators in.
- Now select an iCloud backup from earlier than you downloaded the beta. Click on on Present Extra Backups to search out an older one when you don’t see it. Uncertain, faucet on the gadget to see which model of iOS the backup was made in.
- Wait whereas the Restore from iCloud takes place, which may take some time.
If that doesn’t work, wipe the iPhone utilizing Restoration Mode first

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If the simple technique above doesn’t work, to be able to reinstall iOS 18 in your iPhone after you might have been operating the iOS 26 beta you might want to revive your iPhone to manufacturing facility settings utilizing Restoration Mode.
To do that you have to to make use of the Finder on a Mac (or iTunes on a PC).
- Plug your iPhone into the Mac (or PC).
- You will have to place your iPhone into Restoration Mode. To take action press the up quantity and down quantity in fast succession, then the facet button however maintain urgent the facet button till you see the picture above of a cable and laptop computer (count on it to take some time).
- As soon as your iPhone is in Restoration Mode, in your Mac or PC click on on Restore, however on the similar time press the Possibility/Alt key. This may mean you can find the model of iOS 18 you simply downloaded from IPSW.me, as per the steps above.
- Wait whereas your iPhone is wiped and the older model of iOS is put in.
How one can swap from iOS 18 beta to iOS 18
Fortunately switching from the iOS 26 beta to iOS 26 as soon as the total model has been launched shall be loads simpler than earlier than the brand new software program launches.
As a result of iOS 18 is the present model of iOS it’s straightforward to replace to that from the iOS 18 beta. Right here’s how:
If you’re operating the iOS 18 beta and wish to simply run iOS 18 and never be bothered with beta updates, then that is what you might want to do.
- Go to Settings.
- Go to Normal in your iPhone.
- Faucet on Beta Updates and swap it to Off.
- Faucet Again. When you have the beta put in you will notice iOS 18.0 is updated, nevertheless, on the backside of the display screen additionally, you will see Additionally Accessible iOS 18.0.
- Faucet Replace Now.

Screenshot
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You can see extra data beneath on learn how to depart the beta program and cease getting beta updates, which you’ll wish to do now the total model has arrived.
We run by way of How one can downgrade an iPhone to an older model of iOS in a separate story.
How one can cease getting iOS Beta updates
Even after the ultimate model of iOS launches Apple will proceed to problem beta updates as it really works on new options. When you now not wish to obtain iOS beta updates otherwise you wish to decide out of getting iOS 26 beta updates, you’ll be able to cease getting beta updates and simply use the ultimate model.
If you wish to cease getting Beta updates you solely want to show off Beta Updates so that you simply don’t obtain them in your gadget.
- Open Settings.
- Faucet on Normal.
- Faucet on Software program Replace.
- Faucet on Beta Updates.
- Faucet on Off.
- Faucet on Again.
Now you’ll solely obtain software program updates when Apple pushes them to most people, roughly as soon as each six weeks. You may nonetheless see that there’s a beta replace, however your iPhone received’t volunteer to obtain them until you turn Beta Updates again on by following the steps above.
How one can depart the beta program
If you would like no a part of the iOS beta program you’ll be able to take away your gadget from it. That approach you received’t be capable of see any Beta updates, and received’t be tempted to put in them.
To go away the iOS beta program, observe these steps in your iPhone:
Take away your gadget from the iOS beta program.
- Register.
- Click on Depart Program.
When you ever resolve you need again into the beta program you’ll be able to head over to the Apple Beta Software program Program website and re-enroll your gadget. Learn extra about learn how to be a beta tester right here: How one can be part of Apple’s beta program and check out new software program.
How one can take away a Beta Profile
Previous to iOS 16.3, the method for eradicating an iOS beta was completely different.
- Head over to the Settings app.
- Faucet Normal.
- Faucet on VPN & System Administration.
- Choose the iOS Beta Software program Profile that seems.
- Faucet Take away Profile.
- Enter your gadget password.
- Faucet Take away a second time to verify.
- The iPhone will now must restart.
We additionally cowl How one can take away macOS beta from a Mac.