You open Software Update on iOS 18.7.2, and your iPhone only offers iOS 26.2. You want the smaller step to iOS 18.7.3, but you cannot find it. That mismatch has started showing up for some people right after Apple shipped iOS 18.7.3. Here’s the official support document from Apple.
iPhone users on iOS 18.7.2 report the same problem: when you open Settings > General > Software Update, your iPhone promotes iOS 26.2 and you do not see iOS 18.7.3 as a normal option. Apple has already posted iOS 18.7.3 as an available release, so the missing update usually comes down to how the rollout surfaces on your device.
Why you do not see iOS 18.7.3 right away
Apple often shows two tracks when your iPhone supports the newest major version. You either move to the latest iOS, or you stay on your current major version and install a smaller security update. That older track update typically appears lower on the Software Update screen as an “also available” option, not as the main button.
Even then, your phone might not show it immediately. Apple staggers availability by region, carrier, and device model. As a result, you can see iOS 26.2 first while iOS 18.7.3 appears later.
What you can do on your iPhone
Start with the basics. Connect to Wi-Fi, plug in power, then scroll to the bottom of the Software Update page and look for another update option. If you see iOS 18.7.3 there, tap it and install.
If you still do not see it, restart your iPhone and check again later. Also open Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates and confirm you are not pointed to an iOS 26 beta track if your goal is to stay on iOS 18.
The fallback: update using a computer
If you need iOS 18.7.3 immediately, you can install it using a computer and an IPSW file for your exact iPhone model. Sites that link to Apple-hosted firmware help you find the correct signed file, then you update through Finder on a Mac or iTunes on Windows. Back up first so you protect your data.
Still an issue , on 18.7.2 and 18.7.3 isn’t offeeed
It was offered on an iPad device
My iPhone SE Red is only 64GB. The 26.2 upgrade asks me to free up 15.54GB for install. No amount of jettisoning of apps, sticking photos etc in iCloud has pared it anywhere near that goal. And after the upgrade, would my poor phone even still work? Any ideas?
(64GB seemed like an amazing amount of memory at the time…)
My SE Red is unfortunately only 64GB. The 26.2 upgrade asks me to free up 15.54GB for the installation. No amount of jettisoning of apps, sticking photos etc in iCloud has pared it anywhere near the goal. And after the upgrade, would my poor phone even still work? Any ideas?
One option is to back up your phone to a Mac or iCloud, then do the update via Finder or iTunes, which often requires less free space on the device. After the update, your phone should still work normally, but it’s best to ensure a full backup first in case anything goes wrong.
If this persists and I am unable to update without installing iOS 26, it’s going to be :Goodby Apple” for me!!! This is ridiiculous. Apple has become more and more user unfriendly!
Fr fr fr
Activating the beta updates and ios 18.7.3 shows up. Thank you
I just got off a chat with Apple support. Apple has stopped signing 18.7.3 for devices that are capable of handling 26.x. “I have checked and see that the reason you are not seeing the option to update your iPhone 13 Pro to iOS 18.7.3 is that Apple is only offering the update to iOS 26.2 for devices compatible with the newer operating system.” No amount of fooling with a phone capable of handling 26.2 will make 18.7.3 show up as available. What’s worse, my M4 MBP doesn’t even show the option for 26.2, just says 18.7.2 is up to date, which it obviously is not. On the other hand, I have an old Xs around which does show the 18.7.3 update and is busy installing it at at the moment. So it’s no security update for my 13 Pro unless I want to choke down Liquid Glass and all the other changes.
Apple falls back into their old “tricks” more and more. Either they radically change their behavior or it is a 100% goodbye and NEVER AGAIN! #oneofthemostunreliablecompanies
We want update
Workaround: Enable iOS 18 Beta Updates to display 18.7.3 update.
How do you do that??
https://beta.apple.com/
not worth it, just wait a bit longer
Thank you.
After reading this article, I finally felt clear-headed.