Last week, Apple released iOS 26.2, alongside iOS 18.7.3, both fixing critical security flaws already being used in attacks on iPhones. But with the release of iOS 18.7.3 and iOS 26.2 came confusion.

Apple released iOS 26.2 on Friday, Dec. 12 and, alongside it, iOS 18.7.3. However, reports emerged that while it was installing nicely on iPhones that couldn’t run iOS 26, nobody else was getting it.

Since the beginning of December, Apple has been pushing iPhone users who opted to stay on iOS 18 to install iOS 26 instead. Apple started by making the iOS 18 upgrades less visible, and has now ...

As DarkSword spreads, Apple tells WIRED it will enable iOS 18-specific fixes for millions of iPhone owners who remain on that iOS version rather than force them to update to iOS 26. Now, however, the ...