Apple’s February 2026 App Store data shows that iOS 26 adoption is closely following the pace set by iOS 18 in January 2025, and iPadOS 26 is ahead of iPadOS 18, undermining claims that the upgrade cycle is faltering.
Apple publishes operating system adoption rates based on devices that have transacted on the App Store. Data from February 12, 2026 can be compared to data published by Apple on January 24, 2025 for a like-for-like comparison.
The split separates recently introduced hardware from the full active installed base. Since Apple publishes these numbers annually, it allows category-by-category comparisons between the 2025 and 2026 cycles at the same stage.
Adoption of iOS 26 in 2026
As of February 12, 2026, 74% of iPhones introduced in the last four years are running iOS 26. Across all active iPhones, 66% are on iOS 26.
- 74% of iPhones released in the last four years are on iOS 26
- 66% of all active iPhones are running iOS 26
- 24% of all iPhones remain on iOS 18
- 10% use older versions
Apple’s measurement reflects devices that have completed App Store transactions. The method favors actively used hardware and provides developers with a realistic view of the addressable market.
Adoption of iOS 26 in 2026
Adoption is strongest among newer devices. The wider installed base lags because older hardware often stays in service longer or doesn’t support the latest version.
The timing of the release also plays a role. The Jan. 24 snapshot captured iOS 18 at roughly the same point in the rollout cycle as the Feb. 12 iOS 26 data.
Adoption of iPadOS 26 in 2026
On iPad, 66% of devices introduced in the last four years have iPadOS 26. Of all active iPads, 57% are on iPadOS 26.
- 66% of four-year-old iPads use iPadOS 26
- 57% of all active iPads are running iPadOS 26
- 26% remain on iPadOS 18
- 17% use older versions
Tablet adoption typically lags iPhone adoption due to longer replacement cycles. Enterprise and education deployments also slow large-scale OS transitions.
The longer lifespan of the device reduces urgency, and iPads often stay in service for years, especially in classrooms and businesses. This naturally eases the rush to upgrade to the latest version.
Adoption of iPadOS 26 in 2026
More than half of the iPad’s active base that will upgrade to the current version within months remains significant. This is particularly notable in an industry that often struggles with platform fragmentation.
How 2026 compares to Apple’s 2025 snapshot
Apple’s App Store data from Jan. 24 showed comparable adoption rates for iOS 18 at the same stage of the cycle.
On that day, Apple announced:
- 76% of four-year-old iPhones were on iOS 18
- 68% of all active iPhones were on iOS 18
- 63% of four-year-old iPads were on iPadOS 18
- 53% of all active iPads were on iPadOS 18
Direct comparison:
- iPhone, four-year period: 76% in 2025 to 74% in 2026
- iPhone, all active: 68% in 2025 to 66% in 2026
- iPad, four-year period: 63% in 2025 to 66% in 2026
- iPad, all active: 53% in 2025 to 57% in 2026
In a year-on-year comparison, the cycle up to 2026 closely approaches the benchmark from January 2025.
What the shift in adoption suggests
The slight differences do not indicate weak demand, despite what analysts and incomplete data might suggest. And it’s certainly not half of those numbers, as one report suggested.
Annual iOS adoption rates depend on features, timing of hardware updates, perceived stability improvements, and what is no longer supported.
The introduction of iOS 18 in 2025 coincided with high-profile AI features and customization changes. iOS 26 seems to be on a more stable path, with adoption rates staying pretty much the same year over year.
Even with 66% of all active iPhones on the current version, Apple maintains one of the fastest platform migrations in the industry. Android remains highly fragmented, and the rate of adoption of a new operating system in the same year is nowhere near what Apple offers.