In this step-by-step tutorial, we show you how to downgrade your iPhone from iOS 27 developer beta or public beta back to iOS 26 non-beta. The steps to downgrade your iPad from iPadOS 27 to iPadOS 26 are the same.
Before you get to the steps, it’s important to know that the only way to downgrade iOS 27 is to completely wipe your device and reinstall iOS 26.
Although the process is not too complicated, it means that you will lose all your current data that is not already backed up to iCloud or elsewhere.
Another thing to keep in mind is that full device backups — whether they’re made on your Mac, Windows PC, or iCloud — aren’t backward compatible. This means that even if you back up your iPhone running iOS 27 to a computer or iCloud, you can’t restore that backup after installing iOS 26. However, if you backed up your device while it was running iOS 26 and archived that backup, you can restore it after the downgrade (but your iPhone will have data from the date you made the iOS 26 backup saved).
In case you already use iCloud to backup individual things like your photos, contacts, reminders, calendar events, etc., just sign in with your Apple Account, and everything will be synced back to your downgraded iPhone running iOS 26. You can read more about it in our guide to downgrade from iOS 26 to iOS 18.
What you need to get down
- Mac or Windows PC (Install the Apple Devices app on your PC if not)
- A USB-C or Lightning cable to connect your iPhone to the computer. Depending on your computer and cable, you may also need a USB adapter.
- Fast Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection
Downgrade iPhone from iOS 27 beta to iOS 26
1) Make sure that all important iPhone data is stored in the cloud or somewhere else.
2) Put your iPhone into recovery mode using one of these two methods:
- Option 1 (new method): Go to the new recovery screen by turning off your device and holding the power button until you see ‘Loading discovery options‘ on the screen. Then, click Recovery Modehit the Start over button, then connect your iPhone to your Mac or PC.
- Option 2 (old method): Connect your iPhone to your Mac or PC with a USB cable. Press the button volume up again volume down buttons in quick succession, then quickly press and hold the power button until a MacBook with a cable icon appears on the screen.
3) Open it Finder on the Mac (in case it didn’t open automatically) and select your iPhone in the left sidebar. If you’re on a Windows PC, open the Apple Devices app instead and select your iPhone.
We’re using a Mac for these steps, but the process is the same on a PC.
4) Since your iPhone is in recovery mode, you will get a popup on your computer screen saying “There is a problem with the iPhone that needs to be updated or restored.” Click Bring it back here.
Even if you don’t get the above popup, just click on “Restore the iPhone” button after selecting your iPhone in Finder (see screenshot below).
5) Click Restore and Update or Bring it back use “Are you sure you want to restore iPhone to its factory settings? All your media and other data will be erased, and a new version of the iPhone software will be installed.“
6) Click The next one.
7) Agree to the terms and conditions when you do so.
8) Your Mac or PC will now start downloading the full iPhone software, which can run into several GB. At first, it may say that it will take a few hours to download, but the remaining time should decrease soon, as long as you have a good internet connection. Don’t unplug your iPhone from your Mac.
9) Once the download is complete, you should see a pop-up asking for your confirmation again to restore the device. If you don’t see it, click “Restore the iPhone” again.
10) Then, click Restore and Update.
11) You will now see the following on your Finder screen (don’t touch your iPhone and Mac so everything goes smoothly):
- It downloads the software
- Preparing the iPhone for restoration
- Restores iPhone firmware
- It verifies the return of the iPhone through Apple
- Restores iPhone software
- It verifies iPhone software
- It ensures the recovery of the iPhone
- Restores iPhone software (again)
12) Once the process is complete, you will see a popup that says “Your iPhone is restored to factory settings, and restarts. Please leave your iPhone connected. It will appear in the sidebar after it restarts.”
Your iPhone has been successfully downgraded from iOS 27 to iOS 26.5.2 (as this is the latest stable version offered to non-beta users).
Just set up your iPhone like you did when you first bought it. Make sure you use your Apple Account so that the data from iCloud can also appear on your iPhone.
Check out last year’s guide for more help if needed.
Also, check out: How to install macOS 27 Golden Gate in another part