How iPhone users can delay new iOS 26.5 update to stop battery draining faster

There's a new iPhone update in for Apple users and if you’re trying to avoid it, we’ve got you covered with a little-known trick.

Long gone is the time where all iPhone users were waiting for their phones to update so they could get the benefits of better features.

Instead, people in the UK are holding onto their old systems with all their might, now that iOS 26.5 is being rolled out.

The new update was announced by the tech giant, which really just focuses on bug fixes over new features.

While there’s still some things coming to the phone, like suggested places on Apple Maps, 11 additional Pride wallpaper backgrounds, and encrypted RCS messaging, that’s pretty much the full scope.

But if you’ve been enjoying your iOS 18, and want to keep your stability without conforming to the new Liquid Glass user interface, which apparently has been slowing down aging iPhones as it drains your battery...you can just delay the update via the Software Update Screen on your phone.

Apple is rolling out its iOS 26.5 update (Getty Stock Images)

Okay, so it’s nothing new to be able to disable automatic updates to slow down the process, but how long until Apple does away with this feature to make you really rummage around your settings to delay future updates?

Instead, you can stick to your current iOS and enjoy a few more years of security updates on the same software, without having to commit to a totally new software.

To do this, all you need to do is disable its ability to download and install updates automatically.

Go to Settings > General > Software Update > Automatic Updates.

From there, just switch off the setting at the top that allows your device to automatically install iOS Updates, and then you can turn off the other setting for automatically downloading iOS Updates so that you can stick with iOS 18.

However, if you want to maintain your security updates without compromising your iOS, leave on your Security Responses & System Files toggle.

You can delay it from happening (Getty Stock Images)

Okay, so there’s still a few more things to do to ensure you’re safe from an unwanted update that - if it's anything like the iOS 18.1 and 18.2 - will just drain your battery.

This typically happens because once you've downloaded a new iOS update, something called 'indexing' is still happening in the background on your phone to make sure all files are compatible with the new update - thus taking a hit on your battery usage.

Go back to your Software Update option, tap Beta Updates, click Start your enrolment, sign into your Apple Account, and then agree to the terms of use.

From there, it’ll allow you to see any Beta Updates in your Software Update section.

Once you see it, three options will appear once clicked: Off, iOS 26 Developer Beta and iOS 18 Developer Beta.

Click on iOS 18 Developer Beta, and if a message flags that in doing so, it might delete your iOS 26.1 download, as soon as you confirm that...you’re in the clear.

To confirm it’s all working as it should, go back into Software Update and you should see your iOS 26 update replaced by an iOS 18 update, or a whole lot of nothing.

Either option is good news.