New Delhi: Apple’s latest software rollout has left many iPhone users very confused after the company released its latest iOS 26.2 and iOS 18.7.3 on December 12. According to some sources, iPhones capable of running iOS 26 are no longer being offered the iOS 18.7.3 update, despite Apple’s long-standing policy of providing security patches for users who avoid major upgrades. Instead, the only update option appearing on the devices from the iPhone 11 to iPhone 16 is iOS 26.2, forcing hesitant users toward Apple’s newest operating system.
Earlier, some users briefly accessed iOS 18.7.3 through beta settings, but those options, as per the report, have now disappeared, raising questions over whether the change is an error or a deliberate shift in the strategy. Apple traditionally supports the previous year’s software for at least several months to offer stability and security fixes to users who do not immediately upgrade to the latest OS. This year, that window has closed abruptly. iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR continue to receive iOS 18.7.3.
All newer, iOS 18-compatible devices now show iOS 26.2 as the sole update option in Settings. Users have reported that enabling beta updates restored access to iOS 18.7.3, though only in public or developer beta form. Apple has now removed even that workaround, indicating a possible permanent block.
