Apple has started pushing iOS 26.1 as the main update for users who still run iOS 18. This shift marks a clear change in how Apple handles major software rollouts, since the company placed iOS 26 at the bottom of the update list for months. You now see iOS 26.1 at the top of the Software Update screen when you open Settings.
iOS 26 launched in September, but Apple also placed focus on iOS 18.7 and its follow-up patches during the initial rollout. Many users opened Settings and found iOS 18 updates promoted as the recommended option, while iOS 26 sat quietly below. That approach slowed adoption and encouraged cautious users to stay on the older system.
Now Apple wants to move more people forward. As noted by MacRumors, iPhones running iOS 18 now show iOS 26.1 as the recommended upgrade. You can still pick an iOS 18 security update, but it sits at the bottom of the page. This shift signals that Apple is ready to bring more users into the redesigned interface of iOS 26.
Why Apple Is Making This Change Now
Apple is preparing to ship iOS 26.2 in the coming weeks, giving users a chance to settle into the new version before the holiday season. You still need to manually install iOS 26.1 because major updates never install automatically, even when Automatic Updates is enabled. The company wants users to choose the upgrade themselves.
Many users prefer to stay on iOS 18 because of the Liquid Glass design changes in iOS 26. Apple continues to offer security patches for iOS 18, but that support does not last forever. When Apple feels that enough users have moved on, the option to remain on iOS 18 will likely disappear. At that point, iOS 26 becomes the only available upgrade for supported devices.
Apple has not shared adoption numbers for iOS 26 yet, so we do not know how many users have upgraded. The company usually releases that data months after launch. Upgrading from iOS 18 to iOS 26 is permanent, and Apple does not let users roll back once they move forward.
Let us know in the comments if you plan to install iOS 26.1 now that Apple has pushed it to the top of the update screen.
I don’t want Liquid Glass or more intrusive AI software. I will not upgrade from IOS 18 to 26.