Why wouldn’t it be? Is a legit path I ended up at using only options Apple make available to me.
1 Like
I switched over to the iOS 18 Beta track on my 2022 iPhone SE, downloaded and installed iOS 18.7.3. The Feedback app was added to my iPhone, but went away once I switched back to the release track.
It’s a phyrric victory, though, as the periodic nag about updating to 26.2 is back. 
2 Likes
I wonder if Apple and others even support v18.7.3, with that public beta trick, on iPhones that can run v26.2. :/
It certainly seems to be fully supported—my test iPhone SE can upgrade to iOS 26.2 but has no problem installing 18.7.3 via the beta channels.
It makes complete sense because developers need to be able to keep older devices around with old versions of iOS for testing purposes.
2 Likes
What I find odd is that (like you) iOS 18.7.3 is not available on iPhone SE (2022); but on my iPad Pro (6th Gen, 2022), I can still refuse iOS 26 and then install iPadOS 18.7.3 — which I have done.
1 Like
Same! My iPhone 13 Mini is 2021 as is my iPad but I’ve only been offered the update on the iPad.
It also came through on my new M4 Mini.
But not the phone.
2 Likes
Here’s what Apple has put out in regards to the Production (non-beta) iOS/iPadOS releases last Friday,
-
iOS 9.9.18.7.3 (Build 22H217) for:
-
iPad 7 (Wi-Fi) (iPad7,11)
-
iPad 7 (Cellular) (iPad7,12)
-
iPhone XS (iPhone11,2)
-
iPhone XS Max (China) (iPhone11,6)
-
iPhone XR (iPhone11,8)
-
2 Likes
The last public beta was also 18.7.3 (22H217) still available for many more devices.
Every year around this time Apple stops providing signed updates to the year-old iOS to iPhones that can run the new version of iOS, so nobody should be surprised about 18.7.3 not being offered to iPhone 11 and later.
iPadOS is usually the same, but I suppose it doesn’t have to be.
1 Like
Turned on my iPad Pro 12.9" (4th gen) which can get iOS 26 and that showed me the update to iOS 18.7.3 straight away (no need for the public beta trick).
Is there a method to Apple’s madness?
1 Like
Just another data point…
My iPad Mini 5 shows both the 26.2 and 18.7.3 update. I updated to the latter.
My iPhone SE 3 only shows 26.2. I have not updated.
So some devices that can run 26.2 are still offered 18.7.3.
Edit: My iPad 8th Gen was also offered both 26.2 and 18.7.3.
1 Like
The Six Colors blog has posted a note on the issue today (Thursday):
2 Likes
Fom that post:
Apple shouldn’t be withholding a security update from people not willing to upgrade to the next OS version.
It’s disgusting this even has to be discussed. Whatever happened to just doing the right thing?
5 Likes
I’ve never installed Public Betas so I went there and sure enough 18.7.3 was available, but it just says it is security fixes and recommended for ALL users. Interesting, because I DO have an exception to my “NO Automatic Updating” rule for “Security Responses & System Files”; perhaps that is why I was never offered the normal 18.7.3 update because I already have all security fixes it contains?
1 Like
The only way to get the fixes mentioned in 18.7.3 is to install 18.7.3
1 Like
So Apple is deliberately denying users security fixes EVEN when they have “Security Responses & System Files” enabled? I guess I’ll disable it then.
1 Like
The wording is poorly chosen here. Apple does not mean the same thing when they say “security” fix/response.
The “Security Responses & System Files” setting you have checked allows for RSRs, BSIs, Yara updates, etc. but that is absolutely not the same thing as what they refer to as a “security fixes” which are patches that get rolled into dot updates like 26.2 or 18.7.3.
I think most people likely want the “Security Responses & System Files” setting checked (I leave it checked too) even if they do not want dot updates installed without their explicit permission (and thus have selected no automatic updating), regardless of security fixes/patches that may be contained in these dot updates along with the usual marketing shlock “recommended for all users and their dogs” and/or fear mongering along the lines of “could have been exploited in the wild yada yada”.
5 Likes
Thank you for the explanation, Simon. If “Security Responses & System Files” is not installing the security updates, then I’m going to disable it also.
1 Like
You want to keep it. Although it’s not going to install OS updates, it does pull down things like XProtect database updates, and other security-related content.
6 Likes
Listen to what David C. is saying! Security Responses and System files are updating security databases that don’t require coding changes, many of which are often just as important as OS updates.
5 Likes