Apple confirmed the public release of iOS 18 on September 16, bringing plenty of new features. However, if you’re not ready to update right away—maybe to avoid potential bugs or app compatibility issues—Apple will allow you to stick with iOS 17 and still receive security patches.
With the release of iOS 18.0 RC on Monday, Apple also rolled out iOS 17.7 RC for developers and public beta testers. While the update doesn’t introduce any new features, it includes important security patches and bug fixes for iOS 17.
Next week, Apple is likely to release iOS 17.7 alongside iOS 18. Users will have the option to choose between staying on iOS 17 with the latest security updates or upgrading to iOS 18 for new features. This isn’t the first time Apple has given users this choice, allowing them to prioritize stability or explore new updates.
Last year, Apple kept rolling out security patches for iOS 16 even after the release of iOS 17. Eventually, those updates only went to devices that couldn’t upgrade to iOS 17. Since iOS 18 will support all devices compatible with iOS 17, it’s likely that iOS 17 updates will stop in a few months.
Choosing to stick with a previous iOS version is helpful for those who rely on apps that might not work well with iOS 18 just yet.
Next week, Apple will also launch iPadOS 18, watchOS 11, tvOS 18, visionOS 2, and macOS Sequoia.
