Apple Releases iOS 18.7: Urgent iPhone Update For Users Who Don’t Want iOS 26

Apple’s latest iPhone software, iOS 26, is now on general release: read full details of it here. But maybe you don’t want to plump for the new system just yet, or your iPhone won’t run it. In that case, iOS 18.7, also just released, is for you. Here’s what you need to know.

iOS 18.7 Or iOS 26: Which Should You Choose?

Note that simultaneous releases of iOS 18 and iOS 26 versions won’t continue indefinitely. Apple usually runs the two versions in parallel for maximum two months, to give the cautious time to get used to what’s new. But it also wants you to get on board with the new software if you can before too long.

If you don’t want to get caught up in the first-day shenanigans, you could download iOS 18.7 today. It will take less time because it’s a smaller download (about a fifteenth of the size of iOS 26) but will provide security updates for now.

Staying off iOS 26 for now may also be appealing if you don’t care for the signature update: Liquid Glass. This has been warmly received but not universally liked. Still, be warned, you will have to update sooner or later if you want full security protections.

Which iPhones Can Run iOS 18.7?

This update is for all iPhones from 2018 onwards. That means the iPhone Xs, iPhone Xs Max and iPhone Xr and all iPhones since, including the iPhone SE in both its second- and third-generation models. And all members of the iPhone 16 series are included, right up to the iPhone 16e. Note that iOS 26 is available to all of these phones except the first three. It’s compatible with iOS 11 and onwards.

MORE FOR YOU

How To Get It

Open the iPhone Settings app, then choose General, followed by Software Update. Next, click on Download and Install, and it’ll be on your phone shortly. It’s a smallish update, as these things go, weighing 973MB on my iPhone 16 Pro Max. It downloaded and installed quickly — less than 10 minutes total.

iOS 18.7 — What’s In The Release

Apple is tight-lipped about what’s in iOS 18.7, merely saying “This update provides important bug fixes and security updates and is recommended for all users.” It hasn’t yet updated with full details of exactly what bugs have been squished and usually releases details of security concerns later, when users have had a chance to update to protect themselves.

More to follow as the details become known.