Downgrading iPadOS 26 to iPadOS 18 is Not Possible, But This Silly Workaround Gets You Back to iPadOS 18

If you’re an iPad user and you really don’t like the iPadOS 26 update for whatever reason, you probably already looked around for ways to downgrade iPadOS 26 back to iPadOS 18, and you likely found that it is no longer possible to perform that downgrade. This is because Apple has locked down iPadOS 18 firmware by no longer digitally signing it, making it impossible to downgrade back down to that iPadOS version once your iPad is already running iPadOS 26 (or later).

But that doesn’t mean that it’s impossible to get an iPad running iPadOS 18 again.

The silly trick? Buy a new iPad.

Yes, that’s ridiculous you say. But, it usually works. We say usually because it’s always possible you will get a newer production run iPad and it will com with iPadOS 26 preinstalled instead, but, anecdotally from others, and from direct experience, most new iPad devices are still shipping with iPadOS 18 as the default operating system.

Many new iPad models ship with iPadOS 18 preinstalled

After seeing several brand new iPad models gifted, received, and purchased over the holiday season, I thought it was fascinating to see that every single new iPad was shipped with iPadOS 18 preinstalled. For software update, iPadOS 18.7.3 is then available on those devices as the latest system update.

And of course, there’s the option to update the new iPad to ipadOS 26 as well, but if you’re reading this article that’s probably not what you’re interested in doing, since you’re trying to find a way back to iPadOS 18.

I personally bought a brand new M3 iPad Air 11″ model and it came with a much outdated iPadOS 18.3.2 version installed, and I have seen multiple other iPad Air models come with iPadOS 18.3.x as well, which is the iPadOS version those devices originally would have shipped with on their release date. (Maybe this means some retailers have a lot of stock of iPad models from the original production run?).

We’re focusing on iPad here, but a similar workaround has been discovered by iPhone users, but those often require buying a used device, or an older model iPhone. The iPad situation is usually simpler.

iPad models that are more likely to ship with iPadOS 18 than iPadOS 26

This iPad trick is not guaranteed, but from direct and anecdotal experience, many brand new iPad Air, brand new base model iPad, brand new iPad mini, and new (but now a generation behind) iPad Pro M4 models. Note the newest iPad Pro M5 models all ship with iPadOS 26.x preinstalled, however, so those are definitely not going to come with iPadOS 18 installed.

Here are a few possible examples of new iPad models that are likely (though not guaranteed) to ship with iPadOS 18.x installed on them, instead of iPadOS 26.x:

• M3 iPad Air 13″ – $699 ($100 off)
• M3 iPad Air 11″ – $499 ($100 off)
• A17 iPad mini 8″ – $399 ($100 off)
• A16 iPad 11″ – $299 ($50 off)

(FTC: those are affiliate links, meaning if you click and buy something then the site could make a few pennies that go toward keeping the site going)

Again, the new M5 iPad Pro does not apply here, because that shipped from the factory with iPadOS 26 installed. Also it’s likely that any hardware updates to the iPad Air, iPad mini, and base iPad lineup will also result in those coming with iPadOS 26 preinstalled, meaning there’s a somewhat limited window to take advantage of this.

If you’re going to aim to buy a new iPad specifically for trying to get back to iPadOS 18, you’ll want to make sure the return policy in your location is such that you can return the iPad after if it is opened if it doesn’t suit your needs.

Also you will want to remember that backups from iPadOS 26 will not work on iPadOS 18, though your iCloud login will still work and is able to sync all your important stuff like Contacts, Notes, iCloud Photos, and so forth.

Once you get your new iPad running iPadOS 18, you can always sell your old iPad with iPadOS 26 to fund the purchase, using Ebay, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, Swappa, or any of the other dozens of reseller options out there.

My iPad came with iPadOS 18.3.2, but I updated to iPadOS 26.2 anyway

For what it’s worth, while my new M3 iPad Air came with iPadOS 18.3.2 preinstalled, I actually went ahead and installed iPadOS 26.2 on mine right away, because I think the new windowed app experience is interesting as it behaves a bit more like a Mac. It’s not for everyone, but it’s also not required to use, you can continue to have single-app mode as well.

For several relatives and friends new iPad devices that I setup for them over the past few weeks, I kept them on iPadOS 18.x, since that experience is more familiar to them compared to some of the big changes with iPadOS 26, from the general Liquid Glass visual overhaul to the redesigned interface of many default apps like Photos.

What do you think of this idea? Would you buy a new iPad just to have an iPad that is still running iPadOS 18? Do you prefer iPadOS 18 or iPadOS 26? Do you not care at all? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments!