The iOS 26 replace has the second-worst adoption charge of all iOS releases since 2015, falling behind each iOS 18 and iOS 8.
Although all eyes is likely to be on iOS 27 and its AI-infused Siri, which debuted at WWDC, the software program has solely entered beta testing.
Most iPhones, or 79% of all gadgets to be extra exact, are at the moment operating iOS 26. That is in response to Apple’s App Retailer knowledge for June 2026, which additionally revealed that 86% of all gadgets launched within the final 4 years have iOS 26 put in.
Whereas these figures may appear spectacular when taken at face worth, the iOS 26 adoption charge is definitely worse than that of the previous iOS 18 replace. In June 2025, 82% of all iPhones ran iOS 18, greater than the 79% at the moment operating iOS 26.
When considering Apple’s App Retailer knowledge from all iOS releases from 2015 by means of 2026, the iOS 26 replace really has the second-lowest adoption charge, with solely iOS 17 seeing fewer person upgrades.
The precise adoption charges for iOS 8 by means of iOS 26 for all appropriate iPhones are the next:
- 2015 iOS 8: 84%
- 2016 iOS 9: 84%
- 2017 iOS 10: 86%
- 2018 iOS 11: 81%
- 2019 iOS 12: 88%
- 2020 iOS 13: 81%
- 2021 iOS 14: 85%
- 2022 iOS 15: 82%
- 2023 iOS 16: 81%
- 2024 iOS 17: 77%
- 2025 iOS 18: 82%
- 2025 iOS 26 79%
Be aware that each one of those adoption charges had been taken in June of the corresponding 12 months, aside from iOS 12 utilization knowledge, which was printed in August 2019.
At 79%, the iOS 26 adoption charge is beneath the 82.3% common from 2015 by means of 2026. Nonetheless, it isn’t all unhealthy information.
In February 2026, solely 66% of all iPhones had been operating iOS 26, that means extra customers have upgraded within the final couple of months. That is to be anticipated, although.
Even so, not everybody has embraced the controversial iOS 26 improve. In keeping with Apple’s June 2026 App Retailer knowledge, 14% of gadgets are nonetheless operating iOS 18, whereas 7% are nonetheless on even older releases.
Apple’s knowledge on newer gadgets operating iOS 26
Since 2020, in June of yearly, Apple has printed iOS adoption charges for gadgets “launched within the final 4 years.” At 86%, the adoption charge for iOS 26 is an identical to that of iOS 17 in 2024. In the meantime, iOS 18 had a better rating, at 88%.
The adoption charge of iOS 26 can be decrease than the 87.6% common when Apple’s knowledge from 2019 by means of 2026 is taken into consideration. Earlier iOS updates, like iOS 12 in August 2019, noticed decrease adoption charges amongst newer gadgets, so iOS 26 will not be an outlier in any sense.
Apple’s precise numbers for “all gadgets launched within the final 4 years,” for the reason that firm launched such knowledge, are:
- 2019 iOS 12: 85%
- 2020 iOS 13: 92%
- 2021 iOS 14: 90%
- 2022 iOS 15: 89%
- 2023 iOS 16: 90%
- 2024 iOS 17: 86%
- 2025 iOS 18: 88%
- 2026 iOS 26: 86%
Whereas iOS 26 has fallen behind iOS 18, presumably as a consequence of its Liquid Glass design language, the distinction is probably going not sufficient to trigger alarm for Apple. Trying forward, iOS 27 may enhance iOS adoption charges.
Fairly than controversial design modifications, Apple says the iOS 27 replace will ship improved efficiency on older iPhones, with app opening speeds now being 30% sooner, relative to earlier releases.
Moreover, the identical iPhone fashions that help iOS 26 might be up to date to iOS 27, together with the iPhone 11. As such, iOS 27 appears to have little to discourage potential upgraders. Time will inform if the iOS 27 adoption charge will really be larger than that of iOS 26, although.
