Unable to upgrade IOS 26 after 18.7 installation via iTune or Finder.

You may need to press the button in the Finder user interface to tell the computer to check for a new version.

I was running iOS 17.7 on my phone and connected it to my Mac. The Mac told me that the phone was up to date. Then I pressed the button to check for new versions and the Mac told me that iOS 26.0 was available. Simple as that.

Same issue here...I had developer beta turned on and got the same issue. I set the beta setting to "off" and the iOS 26.0 option showed up at the bottom of the page. Maybe this helps for your situation?

Workaround: use Apple Configurator 2

https://apps.apple.com/de/app/apple-configurator/id1588794674?l=en-GB

works beautifully

yong_42 wrote:

Same issue here.

Mac OS 26.0.1, iOS 18.7.1

This definitely is a bug. Check for update does not work, and thinks iOS 18.7 is the latest version.

What does it offer on Settings, General, Software update on the phone, scroll to bottom? If it is offered there, go for it, it will be a full upgrade

One workaround I was able to find. Before that, first you should connect your phone to Mac or windows and a full backup on it, so you have a point-in-time backup incase you loose your data. Then put the phone in recovery mode and update, following these steps:

1. Connect your iPhone to your computer.
2. Press and quickly release the Volume up button.
3. Press and quickly release the Volume down button.
4. Press and hold the Power button until you see the screen displaying a laptop and a cable.
5. Finder (or iTunes) will display a message saying it needs to update or restore the iPhone.
6. Click Update. Your computer will download the update and install it on your iPhone.
7. If the iOS 26 installation goes through without issues, your iPhone should reboot normally.

Good Luck!

Have you tried this

Update your iPhone using a Mac with macOS Catalina or higher

On a Mac with macOS Catalina or higher, you will use the finder in order to upgrade your iPhone. Make sure to Back up your device before starting the upgrade process.

On a Mac with macOS Catalina or later, you will follow the following steps:

1. Open a finder window
2. Connect your device to your Mac via a lighting to usb A or a lightning to usb c cable On the iPhone 15 series, use an usb c to usb c cable.
3. Select your device in the left sidebar of the finder window
4. click general, then click check for update
5. Click download and update.
6. If asked, enter your iPhone passcode

Updating/upgrading your iPhone - Apple Community

I have been digging around for a standard fix but it seems both macOS/Finder and iPadOS do not understand each other, If you really, really want to update to iPadOS 26 (or iOS 26) from 18.7 from the Finder interface, you won't be able to do this unless there's a fix or an improvement for the Finder interface that allows you (and your device) to "see" more than one option for updating.

What did I do? First of all I did a Finder BackUp Now to my Mac so that I can have a point-in-time backup and then updated my iPad through the iPadOS interface (General/Software Update) which, by the way, only shows the option to upgrade (not update) to 26.0 as a button on the lower part of the screen.

Hope this helps.

-Fernando

Having the same issue as well. No problems coming from iOS18.6 to iOS26 (I did this on my iPad and other iPhone), but if you update already to iOS18.7 and then try to go to iOS26 via Mac Finder, it thinks iOS18.7 is the latest version. The phone (iPhone 14 Pro) does show the iOS26 as an upgrade under the settings/general/software update window.

I chatted with tech support on this and they didn't understand the issue, even though I clearly explained it a few times.

Hope that this bug gets fixed soon.

That's right, it happened to me too. After updating my iPhone 14 Pro to iOS 18.7, now the iOS 26 update is only available OTA (from the device) but when I ask to check for updates on iTunes/Finder the response is that iOS 18.7 is the latest version available and there are no further updates. I hope the situation resolves itself when iOS26.0.1 or iOS26.1 is available. I hope then the update can also be done from iTunes/Finder.

Sounds simple, but have you scrolled all the way to the bottom of the update screen?

Having the same problem with my Ipad. Today it updated to ios18.7.1, but issue still persists on finder. As my ipad is only 32gb it is almost impossible to free up the 13.5gb it needs, so doing it through finder is my best option.

Just tried to update to iOS 26(.0.1) via Finder on my iPhone 16 and it is saying iOS 18.7 is the latest version when I click "Check For Updates".

No option for 18.7.1 (which I've discovered has no ipsw, so that explains that), and no prompt to Upgrade to iOS 26 (which DOES have an ipsw).

So is the upgrade to iOS 26 OTA-only?

I have a similar problem with my iPhone 16 PM, except in my case there seems to be no way to upgrade from iOS 18.7 to iOS 26.

Updated to 18.7 a while ago. On my Mac, Finder says iOS 18.7 is the latest version when I click "Check For Updates".

Trying to update OTA just spins on "Checking for Update". Rebooting the phone does not help. Not a network issue either.

Somehow the OTA update from 18.7 to 18.7.1 became available after trying to get the phone into recovery mode, but ending up powering down instead while connected to my Mac.

In the iOS 18.7.1 Software Update Settings, iOS 26 shows up.

Possibly a coincidence that it worked. Sorry it does not help those who want to update from Finder or iTunes, but maybe it's useful info.

ios 18