Apple released its own figures showing that iOS 26 adoption tracks closely with previous releases, countering claims that this latest update is seeing an unusual slowdown.
iOS 26 has seen an unusual amount of criticism on social media, but it’s not stopping people from installing the new version.
Surprise! iOS 26 adoption rate is normal.
Each fall, Apple releases the latest version of iOS as a free software update, making it broadly available to iPhone models that date back five or more years. Rather than limiting major upgrades to its newest hardware, the company supports multiple generations of devices simultaneously, allowing hundreds of millions of users to install new features, bug fixes and security enhancements at no additional cost.
Apple doesn’t force anyone to upgrade their iPhone, so it’s up to users to decide when to make the jump. And while not everyone does so immediately, a large majority do so eventually. And that includes the latest update.
Roughly five months after the release of iOS 26, 74% of iPhones released in the past four years have it installed, according to Apple. That figure is “measured by devices that transacted on the App Store on February 12, 2026.”
That’s a typical rate. As of January 2025, the iOS 18 adoption rate measured by Apple was 76%. In February of the previous year, the iOS 17 adoption rate was also 76%. Back in February 2023, Apple’s official adoption rate for iOS 16 was 81%.
A small change made for big controversy
In an ordinary year, Apple revealing the iOS adoption rate might not even make the news, but a behind-the-scenes change in iOS 26 made the rate seem unusually low until the problem was discovered.
Turns out Apple deliberately misidentifies devices that run iOS 26 as running iOS 16 to make it more difficult for unscrupulous advertisers to “fingerprint” iPhone users. The result was that the web analytics firm StatCounter reporting iOS 26 adoption by iPhone users was at historic lows, and this was widely reported. The company has since updated its report.
And now that Apple revealed the official iOS 26 adoption rate, putting any questions to rest.
Many iPhone users aren’t happy with iOS 26
That said, while iOS 26 is going onto iPhones at a normal rate, many of those who have installed it aren’t happy with the result.
Apple’s latest iPhone update has proven unusually controversial, drawing criticism from some users over its redesigned Liquid Glass interface as well as accusations of significant bugs. While Apple framed the revamp as a forward-looking evolution of the iPhone experience, critics decry performance concerns on older devices and adjustments to core apps that disrupt long-standing workflows.
To be fair, iOS 26 absolutely has fans. A poll of Cult of Mac readers showed strong support.
And Apple is apparently quite aware of iOS 26 problems. Early reports indicate Apple made cleaning up the iPhone operating system a focus of iOS 27.
Ed Hardy has been writing full-time about tech for 25 years, and using it for much longer than that. His intro to Apple was a Macintosh Classic II (which he still has), but now he uses a 13-inch iPad Pro as his primary computer. He’s written for NotebookReview, TabletPCReview, and Brighthand, as well as other sites.
One response to “What slowdown? Apple says iOS 26 adoption is right on track.”
Out of 6 devices only one is on 26, rest is still on 18 and Sequia… used to say Mountain Lion or Big Sur were bad, but Tahoe takes the freaking crown – right up next to Windows 8 redesign
Well done Tim Apple!