iOS 26 bug - can’t make a backup

Wekkx wrote:

All sources I found say ipws from the source I downloaded from is safe and its a file signed by apple and wouldn’t some things not work like Apple pay if it wasn’t original? I’m just curious if its really bad to have this iOS. Apple support on call and on messages didn’t say its bad that I did that and didn’t say I should update right now back to ios26 that its bad.

Downgrades aren’t supported.

Trying to get new data back on old versions — with very few exceptions, and with one of those few exceptions being AirPort firmware — is a manual process, and the results may not or doesn’t work, depending on what got modified by the upgrade.

Reset and revert and start over without restore is also AFAIK unsupported, but is available for signed IPSW downloads, and sometimes for particular combinations of iOS and device. Downgrading is not supported.

Reset this iPhone, reload iOS 26, and try a backup restore of your iOS 26 backup.

The iOS 26 backup restore may fail here, and you might have to start with a new iOS 26 install, no backups, and (hopefully) with whatever data is still available in iCloud, and is also uncorrupted.

This same no-preserving-downgrade restriction existed during the beta too, and the data loss that happens with reverting the beta was discussed repeatedly around here.

That is your problem and why we keep saying downgrading is not supported. People keep trying by following some advice from the internet and every time its ends with a screwed up phone.

Do what Apple told you, unless your internet source is also going to provide service for you.

“…so I had to download iOS 18.6 with IPWS file …”

That is a jailbreak, Heaven knows what you have installed. Use Recovery mode to restore to factory and learn to live with iOs26

You cannot downgrade to 18 unless you used the same computer that you used to upgrade to 18 previously.

Any other method you may hve researched, like using IPSW web file, is a jail break and no wonder you have backup and sync problems.

How did you in fact get back to 18?

Wekkx wrote:

All sources I found say ipws from the source I downloaded from is safe and its a file signed by apple and wouldn’t some things not work like Apple pay if it wasn’t original? I’m just curious if its really bad to have this iOS. Apple support on call and on messages didn’t say its bad that I did that and didn’t say I should update right now back to ios26 that its bad.

The people who fiddled with it to make it appear signed are the ones who assured you that this jailbreak is safe.

It isnt signed, it isnt safe.

Wekkx wrote:

Apple support on call and on messages didn’t say its bad that I did that and didn’t say I should update right now back to ios26 that its bad.

You did say "After contacting apple support through messages and next through the phone they couldn’t help me and told me if I want to backup my phone I have to update back to iOS 26." There is no help for you when you use these unauthorized methods and they clearly directed you that for normal operation of your phone you need to go back to iOS 26.

It's your phone and you can do whatever you want to it, but if you want support or for it to work correctly, then you will have to follow the instructions here or from Apple Support directly. If you want to believe someone else and they are going to provide assistance, that is your choice.