they might force me to upgrade to iOS 26.

Hi there,
If you go into settings, general, software update, the first element past the software heading at the top of the screen is the "automatic updates" button. If you double tap on that, you will enter a new screen with a toggle switch. Turn the switch to off, and your phone shouldn't force the update.
If you already have iOS 26 downloaded on your system, but not installed, you can delete it. Just go to settings, general, iPhone storage, and the update should show at the top of the screen. Find it, swipe down while the actions rotor is selected, and you should hear a "delete" option.
Hope this helps!

These steps are assuming you do not wish to update to iOS 26.
1. Go to settings, general, software update. Disable auto downloads.
2. Back out of software updates, and scroll down to iCloud storage. Navigate through all of the applications install on your iPhone, and you should eventually find one labeled something like iOS update. Swipe up or down, and double tap on delete. Otherwise, double tap on the name, and on the next screen you should have an option to delete.

If you have an update in storage, and are unable to delete it, then Apple has probably taken that ability away from us. However, disabling auto download from the software update screen, and rebooting your device, should prevent it from automatically updating on you. Even if the software has already been downloaded.

HTH.

Edit: looks like Gar beat me to the punch line.

I concede, Brian. According to the Applevis timestamps, you replied at least six hours before me.
How to Disable Automatic Updates in Software Update Settings
By Gar on Saturday, December 6, 2025 - 02:55
Try the following
new
By Brian on Friday, December 5, 2025 - 20:00
Not sure how this is even possible, or what the best way is to report it. But I won't hijack this thread any further. Heh.

For me, Brian's comment appears to have been posted 5 minutes after Gar's.

Specifically, in my time zone of Australian Eastern Daylight Time, Gar's was posted on Saturday at 13:55, and Brian's was posted at 14:00.

I have never been able to figure out the timestamps here on AppleVis. To the OP, you at least have two people giving you the same instructions, so this should work out for you. Lol

I'm not having the problems some are discussing. My mail scrolls fine, for example. I hate where they put the search box, but I have adjusted. Frankly, it was worth it to get the bluetooth audio to my stereo without having Voiceover set to max on my phone.

CH

I’m glad it’s not just me. I’m kinda not a fan of where they put the search box but I’m getting used to it lol.

Sorry not knowing which device you have, me having the iPhone 12 which I love and will have to say good bye to in 2026 for a 16E and get used to that action button which is a waste of space on the device. Updated to IOS 26.1 which is the current IOS update and 26.2 is expected next week. You will have to do a few changes to the settings if you are not much into liquid ass and want to have good battery life for the day. More on that, later

If you're going to update, you might as well wait for 26.2 and make the jump. It should be released at some point this week, and it should be pretty stable. We're midway through the 26 cycle, and I think most of the critical bugs have been caught, but you can always monitor the website and bug tracker.

Sad that the voiceover and notification continues. No fix for it. Long live cats.

MacRumors published an article, "Apple Pushes iPhone Users Still on iOS 18 to Upgrade to iOS 26," about this last week. From the article, it sounds like Apple is making the iOS 26 update option more prominent, but it is not being forced on users and iOS 18 updates are still an option. From the article:

Starting today, that's changing. iOS 18 users who have not upgraded to ‌iOS 26‌ will now see iOS 26.1 as the recommended iOS update in the Settings app. iOS 18 updates are still an option, but are now displayed at the bottom of the app.

Apple isn't forcing users to upgrade to ‌iOS 26‌, but it is pushing the update more heavily than it was before in an effort to increase installation numbers. Some users may be hesitant to upgrade to ‌iOS 26‌ because of the Liquid Glass design overhaul that makes major changes to the ‌iPhone‌ interface.

Allowing users to stay on the prior-generation version of iOS is an option that Apple has provided since iOS 15, but it doesn't last forever. Right now, Apple is providing iOS 18 security updates to those who choose to stay on that operating system, but that may stop in the coming months.

So for the current time, if you want to stay on iOS 18, I personally see no compelling reason to upgrade to iOS 26.

Was listening to a YouTube video about 26.2, and apparently one bug that even sighted people still encounter is that when typing on the keyboard, even if you hit the correct letter on the keyboard, it sometimes types the wrong letter. I can only imagine how much thaT would mess with Voiceover. Anyone had this problem or heard about this issue?

When upgrading my iPhone from 18.7.1 to 18.7.2, the x.2 update was actually at the bottom of the Software Update screen, after the blurb about updating to iOS 26.1.

I think they are working on 18.7.3. Rumor has it this may be the last update that iOS 18 gets.

It’s good to update whenever you feel ready because you won’t get the security updates from 26 as far as having at least operating system. It’s also something where Apple can help you better if you’re running the latest system. I know you said you were already updated, but that’s just been my experience with Apple and updates. I’m on my third iPhone now. I have a base iPhone 15 in the 512 gig variant in the color pink. My secondary device is my product red iPhone SE third generation with a 256 gig variant. I updated both of them now they’re on the current version of iOS 6.1. Are the current version of iOS 26.1.

I didn't like how they moved the search box initially, but then when I read a mainstream article that said they moved it to the bottom of the screen and that makes it easier to reach, it made complete sense to me. I like it much better now.

I mean, I understand why they moved the search bars to the lower portion of the screen. I just do not like it. At all. I would rather have them add a toggle, giving us a choice if we want to have it in it's original position, or at the bottom of the screen.
Just my humble wish.

Just curious why don’t you want to update?
I must admit I am one of the biggest hater of iOS 26 for multiple reasons but I still did the update on the first possible moment.

While I cannot speak for the OP, I typically never update on day one of a new build of iOS. There are a few reasons why, but primarily I need my device to work as well as technically possible, because I depend on my device for reason such as Health, communication, education, and work. Without going into too much detail, because I am too private of a person, let us just say that I very heavily depend on the functionality of my devices, without having to worry about certain functionality not working. Such as the email scrolling issue that has affected some users of iOS 26) (myself included on my old backup iPhone which currently has 26.1 on it).

Hope this answers your question.

Headache with voiceover and notification. That is a good reason not to do so. Using the 26,2 RC 2 and that particular bug continues. Has increase to 98% of the times where VO locks of the middle of any notification. Long live cats.

That notification bug with VoiceOver has been around since iOS 18.4. I don’t really think it’s a reason not to update seeing as the book hasn’t been fixed quite yet. I’m sure Apple will fix it though. They just need to figure out which part of the code messed it up. We just need to keep reporting it. I think it’s good for people to update whenever they feel ready.

If you are not dealing it is easy to say so, it is a major issue if you are and do not need to deal with it. Long live cats.

No bugs regarding notification on my iPhone here as well or maybe I am experiencing it but have no idea that it’s a bug.

I thought everyone on iOS 18.5 onwards had this. For those that don't know or have it and I'm amazed you haven't heard of it basically, most if hnot all notifications when the phone is locked start speaking then the phone lockes again halfway through reading out the notification. Extremely annoying.

I desperately wish they would give us an option for that. Having it at the bottom of the screen is actually quite painful for me, physically. It's easier to tilt the phone up to find the search box, and just about every website since the dawn of the internet has had search and status bars up top.

Don't get me started on the awful floating text entry boxes, the way the keyboard will frequently blot out half the screen and it stays that way even when the keyboard is dismissed, the text boxes being completely unusable with larger fonts... I'm glad I know how to use Voiceover and BSI because it's necessary now. I feel bad for the low vision folks who relied on large print because it's been destroyed in 26.

I guess they do that. I can't say that is a big deal to me, I just unlock the phone and read it. Of course, i get few notifications, I find most of it unnecessary,, and disable it.

Even when you do so, still VO has issues. If you ask Siri to read it, also locks in the middle of reading. If this was something that affected a sighted person, this would had been resolve a long time ago. Long live cats.

That is an interesting behaviour.
So I might assume that this bug only shows itself when you have adjusted VoiceOver to announce notifications when you are locked.
Settings found in verbosity > system notification.
But isn’t it better if it doesn’t announce the full notification as if it starts announcing the full notification that is a violation of privacy.
But personally for me, I have disabled VoiceOver from announcing all notifications out loud.

Same. I don't have VO auto read out my notifications either. With the silly texts some of my friends send me, it's just safer that way... 😇