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 offers you a glimpse of what was to come back later in 2025 when the complete model launches, it’s a beta, which implies that it’s more likely to be buggy at greatest, and at worse it may make your iPhone unusable. These two causes are why we advise in opposition to putting in the beta. In the event you do must run the beta then run it on a spare iPhone and ensure that all the pieces it backed up earlier than hand.
In the event you actually need 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, look forward to a number 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 seek out out what to do to take away the iOS beta.
How simple this course of is is dependent upon the stage of the beta testing part 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 means of eradicating iOS 26 beta and leaving the beta program as soon as the ultimate model of iOS 26 is out.
The right way to 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 fully wipe your iPhone after which reinstall iOS 18. In the event you simply wipe your iPhone and restart it’s going to 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 through the Finder
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Usually downgrading from the beta and putting in a full model of iOS ought to be simple sufficient and the steps under will work. Within the early levels of the beta you could discover that the software program is simply too buggy although, wherein case you might have higher luck in case you restore your iPhone to manufacturing facility settings first – as per the steps additional down this text.
- Obtain the right model of iOS in your iPhone from IPSW.me. It must nonetheless be signed by Apple, so you’ll solely have the ability to select the present full model of iOS.
- Open the Finder in your Mac. (Or iTunes/Apple Music on a PC).
- Plug in your iPhone.
- In the event you haven’t completed so, you have to to show off Discover My in your machine. Go to Settings and click on in your ID info. Faucet Discover My > Discover My iPhone and swap the slider to off. Enter your Apple ID password.
- Maintain down the Choice/Alt key and click on on Restore iPhone. This could can help you 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 can be arrange as a brand new machine, so you’ll both must get your palms on a backup or sync the info you need in your iPhone, we’ll clarify what to do subsequent under.
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 may get on with the method of recovering it from a backup previous to your beta journey you probably have one. Observe that if the backup was made for the reason that beta was put in you’ll reinstall the beta at this stage!
You could possibly find and use an older backup or a backup from a distinct machine – examine which model of iOS the backup is in by tapping on it.
In the event you don’t have a usable backup you should still have a good quantity of your knowledge obtainable to you in case you use companies like iCloud Photograph, Messages in iCloud and iTunes Match or Apple Music. Our The right way to 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 assorted 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 machine indicators in.
- Now select an iCloud backup from earlier than you downloaded the beta. Click on on Present Extra Backups to seek out an older one in case you don’t see it. Not sure, faucet on the machine 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 easy 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 could 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 aspect button however maintain urgent the aspect button till you see the picture above of a cable and laptop computer (anticipate 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 Choice/Alt key. It will can help you 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.
The right way to swap from iOS 18 beta to iOS 18
Fortunately switching from the iOS 26 beta to iOS 26 as soon as the complete model has been launched can be quite a bit simpler than earlier than the brand new software program launches.
As a result of iOS 18 is the present model of iOS it’s simple to replace to that from the iOS 18 beta. Right here’s how:
If you’re operating the iOS 18 beta and need 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 Common in your iPhone.
- Faucet on Beta Updates and swap it to Off.
- Faucet Again. You probably have the beta put in you will note iOS 18.0 is updated, nevertheless, on the backside of the display screen additionally, you will see Additionally Out there iOS 18.0.
- Faucet Replace Now.

Screenshot
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You’ll find extra info under on the best way to depart the beta program and cease getting beta updates, which you will need to do now the complete model has arrived.
We run by way of The right way to downgrade an iPhone to an older model of iOS in a separate story.
The right way to cease getting iOS Beta updates
Even after the ultimate model of iOS launches Apple will proceed to concern beta updates as it really works on new options. In the event you now not need to obtain iOS beta updates otherwise you need to choose out of getting iOS 26 beta updates, you possibly can 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 machine.
- Open Settings.
- Faucet on Common.
- 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.
The right way to depart the beta program
In order for you no a part of the iOS beta program you possibly can take away your machine from it. That means you received’t have the ability to see any Beta updates, and received’t be tempted to put in them.
To depart the iOS beta program, comply with these steps in your iPhone:
Take away your machine from the iOS beta program.
- Check in.
- Click on Depart Program.
In the event you ever resolve you need again into the beta program you possibly can head over to the Apple Beta Software program Program web site and re-enroll your machine. Learn extra about the best way to be a beta tester right here: The right way to be a part of Apple’s beta program and check out new software program.
The right way to take away a Beta Profile
Previous to iOS 16.3, the method for eradicating an iOS beta was totally different.
- Head over to the Settings app.
- Faucet Common.
- Faucet on VPN & Gadget Administration.
- Choose the iOS Beta Software program Profile that seems.
- Faucet Take away Profile.
- Enter your machine password.
- Faucet Take away a second time to verify.
- The iPhone will now must restart.
We additionally cowl The right way to take away macOS beta from a Mac.