Everything to know about the free software update

Have you ever performed round with the brand new iOS 26 but? Here is obtain it in your iPhone if you have not but — when you do, you will discover a number of new modifications, together with a transparent design known as Liquid Glass. The translucent look could be discovered inside apps in addition to your lock and residential screens. (You’ll be able to’t flip it off, however you may scale back the transparency to make it much less clear.) The overhaul is one among a number of massive modifications that include iOS, macOS, iPadOS, watchOS and the remainder of Apple’s software program suite — the brand new working system updates for these devices are additionally accessible to obtain now.

You may additionally see a number of helpful additions within the Cellphone and Messages apps. For example, the power to weed out spam texts or unknown senders and an choice to carry your spot on a cellphone name if you’ve been ready for a consultant to select up. And for enjoyable, now you can create polls in group texts. Different new enhancements coming embrace a confirmed AirPods dwell translation characteristic, and a brand new bouncy animation on the passcode display and within the Management Heart.

In case you’re planning to improve your cellphone this yr, check out all the brand new fashions Apple unveiled throughout its iPhone 17 occasion, from the iPhone 17 lineup (try our overview of the iPhone 17) to the all-new ultra-thin iPhone Air (check out our hands-on overview). In case you missed the keynote, you may make amends for every little thing Apple introduced right here or rewatch the complete iPhone 17 launch. The corporate rounded out its bulletins with three new Apple Watch fashions, in addition to the brand-new AirPods Professional 3.

Most newer iPhone fashions are eligible to obtain iOS 26. We have rounded up a full record of recent options you will have to take a look at. In case you’re ready to replace your cellphone till iOS 26.1 turns into accessible, observe that the beta model is out there now so it should not be too lengthy earlier than it is launched to the general public.

What’s iOS 26 and will I obtain iOS 18.7 first?

As a substitute of releasing iOS 19, Apple skipped its naming conference forward to iOS 26. The corporate has determined to line up its iOS model numbers with a year-based system, just like automobile mannequin years. So whereas iOS and its sibling working programs have been launched in 2025, they’re all designated “26” to replicate the yr forward.

Apple additionally launched iOS 18.7 alongside iOS 26 to deal with safety points — nice information if you do not have a cellphone that is eligible to run the most recent OS. In case you’re questioning which one to obtain first, it is actually as much as you. Do you wish to look forward to Apple to quash any bugs in iOS 26 or would you like entry to all the brand new options everybody’s speaking about now?

What’s Liquid Glass design?

Let’s be sincere. Out of every little thing introduced at WWDC this yr, the brand new Liquid Glass design was the star of the present. The iPhone’s residence and lock screens have appeared just about the identical yr after yr — the final thrilling factor (for my part) was the choice so as to add your personal aesthetic to your own home display by customizing your apps and widgets. So seeing the house and lock screens’ new facelift is refreshing.

So what precisely is Liquid Glass? Apple calls it a “new translucent materials” since, properly, the apps and widgets are clear. Nevertheless, the display can nonetheless adapt to darkish and light-weight modes, relying on environment. You may additionally discover buttons with a brand new floating design in a number of apps, like Cellphone and Maps. They’re designed to be much less distracting than the present buttons, however are nonetheless straightforward to see.

Whereas the design overhaul has confirmed to be controversial since its announcement, some — together with Engadget’s Devindra Hardawar — like the brand new path, even when it is considerably harking back to Microsoft’s translucent Home windows Vista Aero designs from almost twenty years in the past.

That mentioned, whereas it was in beta mode, Apple included some person suggestions into the design, dialing again the transparency in at the very least some locations. And whereas it is going to proceed to evolve, Apple customers will not be capable to escape it: The corporate says Liquid Glass was designed to make all of its platforms extra cohesive.

Here is a have a look at how the translucent aesthetic seems with the brand new macOS Tahoe 26 in your desktop.

Methods to flip iOS 26 Liquid Glass settings off

In case you discover you do not like the brand new clear take care of downloading iOS 26, you may change a pair Accessibility settings, although you may’t fully flip off Liquid Glass. For starters, you may scale back the liquid look by going to Settings > Accessibility > Movement > toggle on Scale back Movement.

You may make your drop-down menus extra opaque as a substitute of translucent by going to Settings >Accessibility > Show & Textual content Dimension > toggle on Scale back Transparency.

You can too change your clear apps again to the way in which they have been. Simply press and maintain any app in your display and choose Edit House Display screen. From right here, faucet Edit (high left) and Customise. You’ll be able to swap out to Default, Darkish or Tinted.

What are the brand new and notable options of iOS 26?

iOS 26 has a laundry record of recent options. Among the many most worthwhile:

Cellphone app redesign: Now you can scroll by contacts, current calls and voicemail messages all on one display. It additionally comes with a brand new characteristic known as Maintain Help that’ll notify you when an agent involves the cellphone so you may keep away from the elevator music and proceed on with different duties.

Reside Translation in Cellphone, FaceTime and Messages: iOS 26 brings the power to have a dialog through cellphone name, FaceTime or textual content message with somebody who speaks one other language. Reside Translation makes use of Apple Intelligence and it’ll translate your dialog in actual time, which ends up in some stop-and-go interactions within the examples Apple shared throughout its presentation.

Polls in group chats: Uninterested in sorting by what looks as if a whole lot of messages in your group chat? You and your folks can now create polls in group messages to determine issues like which brunch spot you are consuming at or whose automobile you are taking on a highway journey.

Filtering unknown senders in Messages: If you have not acquired spam texts about unpaid tolls or different citations, you are fortunate. For these of us who’ve, these annoying messages will quickly be filtered away in a separate folder.

Visible Intelligence: Much like a reverse Google picture search, this new characteristic will will let you seek for something that is in your iPhone display. For example, should you spot a pair of footwear somebody is sporting in an Instagram photograph, you may screenshot it and use Visible Intelligence to search out these footwear (or comparable ones) on-line.

Pictures tabs are again: For anybody who’s been pissed off with final yr’s modifications to the Pictures app, you will be pleased to know that your tabs are again. Library and Collections have their very own separate areas so you do not have to scroll to infinity to search out what you are searching for.

Digicam app updates: Navigating the Digicam app must be easier in iOS 26, as all of the buttons and menus are in handy spots — much less swiping, extra photograph taking. Plus, there is a new characteristic that tells you in case your lens must be cleaned.

FaceTime “Communication Security” characteristic: A more moderen addition to iOS 26 seems to be the FaceTime “Communication Security” characteristic that pauses communications if and when nudity is detected. The characteristic seems to be a baby security characteristic that makes use of on-device detection, thus obviating any cloud-based privateness points.

New lock display choices: The iPhone lock display is extra customizable in iOS 26, with a cooler clock, 3D wallpaper results, extra widgets and higher focus mode choices.

New alarm setting: You may not be caught with the 9-minute snooze setting in your alarms. As a substitute, you now have the choice to alter your snooze time from one to fifteen minutes.

Screenshots look completely different: You may discover a number of new options if you take a screenshot, together with “spotlight to look,” the choice to look your picture on Google and ChatGPT is there for any questions you might have in regards to the picture.

Preview on iOS 26: There is a new app known as Preview that permits you to scan paperwork, fill out PDF kinds, in addition to spotlight, underline or strike by textual content in a PDF file. You can too take away backgrounds from photographs on this app.

New modifications with iPadOS 26

Your iPad is not getting left behind on the subject of massive updates. Here is what to search for.

Multitasking and actual windowing: Whenever you obtain the most recent replace, you can have a number of apps operating in your display on the identical time. When you open an app, it’s going to seem in your display as regular however you can resize and transfer it throughout your display to make room for different apps. This characteristic is optionally available so you may flip it off should you do not prefer it.

Visible replace: Together with the opposite new OSes, iPadOS 26 additionally has the Liquid Glass aesthetic. This new look seems on the lock and residential screens, in addition to the drop-down menus.

New menu bar: Whenever you swipe down in your display, the brand new menu bar will seem with choices like File, Edit, Home windows and extra. There’s additionally a search choice should you’re searching for one thing particular.

There’s extra past that, so you should definitely try our first impressions of iPadOS 26.

What about AirPods?

AirPods are additionally getting up to date with iOS 26. Listed below are a few of the extra notable features.

Enhanced audio recording: Apple calls this “studio-quality” audio recording, and with it, you will discover extra readability whereas in noisy environments.

Digicam distant management: Utilizing this, you may take a photograph or begin and cease video recording with only one press in your AirPods. When taking images, you will get a three-second countdown earlier than your iPhone or iPad snaps the image.

Reside translation characteristic: Reside translation is out there on AirPods Professional 3, AirPods Professional 2 and AirPods 4 with ANC when paired with iPhones operating iOS 26. Apple says that when somebody speaks to you in a special language, you should utilize your AirPods to translate what they’re saying.

Coronary heart fee monitoring: Apple launched new AirPods Professional 3 earbuds this month, which embrace coronary heart fee monitoring. It would work with Apple’s Well being app and different health apps that observe coronary heart charges.

Did Siri get an replace?

Siri is in a holding sample. Apple has beforehand specified that its smarter voice assistant — first promised at WWDC 2024 — is delayed till some level “within the coming yr,” so that you should not count on any main modifications proper now. However there are experiences that Apple is aiming to provide Siri an even bigger mind transplant by basing it on third-party synthetic intelligence fashions like OpenAI’s ChatGPT or Anthropic’s Claude, which might make 2026 a pivotal yr. The corporate can be reportedly engaged on a “stripped-down” AI chatbot to rival ChatGPT.

Which iPhones will be capable to improve to iOS 26?

A couple of iPhone fashions that run the present model of iOS — iPhone XR, XS and XS Max — aren’t suitable with the most recent improve. However any iPhones from 2019 or later might be eligible for iOS 26:

• iPhone SE (second era or later)

When are you able to obtain iOS 26?

iOS 26 has formally been launched to the general public at no cost as of September 15, 2025.

In case you’re extra within the new Apple Intelligence options, here is every little thing Apple revealed for iOS, macOS and extra throughout WWDC. Additionally, try how iOS 26 screenshots might be an intriguing preview of Apple’s delayed Siri rework.

Replace, September 19: Added particulars about making Liquid Glass much less clear.

Replace, September 18: Added information about Engadget’s iPhone 17 overview.

Replace, September 17: Added particulars and hyperlink in regards to the new iPhone Air.

Replace, September 16: Added particulars about modifying Liquid Glass settings, and new information in regards to the Preview app.

Replace, September 15: Famous iOS 26 is formally accessible for obtain.

Replace, September 12: Famous iOS 26 is coming to eligible iPhones in only a few days, timing TBD.

Replace, September 11: Added the merchandise Apple launched at its Tuesday occasion and famous when iOS 26 might be accessible to obtain.

Replace, September 9: Famous the iPhone occasion is beginning quickly.

Replace, September 8: Famous the iPhone 17 occasion is tomorrow.

Replace, September 4: Added particulars about how screenshots are completely different in iOS 26.

Replace, September 3: Famous Apple is anticipated to launch iOS 18.7 alongside iOS 26.

Replace, September 2: Added extra new options coming with iOS 26.

Replace, August 29: Added new part about Siri and a hyperlink to what’s new with the iOS 26 Digicam app.

Replace, August 27: Added the official iPhone 17 occasion date, in addition to the potential iOS 26 launch.

Replace, August 25: Added a rumor about new AirPods Professional having coronary heart fee monitoring.

Replace, August 22: Famous that Apple has formally stopped signing iOS 18.6.

Replace, August 20: Famous that iOS 26 public beta 4 and iOS 18.6.2 at the moment are accessible to obtain.

Replace, August 18: Added particulars a few potential iOS 18.6 replace.

Replace, August 15: Added to hyperlink to what to anticipate on the Apple iPhone occasion and particulars about what’s accessible within the iOS 26 screenshots editor.

Replace, August 13: Added new AirPods element noticed within the iOS 26 beta.

Replace, August 11: Famous that iOS 26 developer beta has hit beta 6.

Replace, August 8: Added new options coming with iPadOS 26 and AirPods.

Replace, August 6: Famous the discharge of iOS 26 beta 5 and the brand new bouncy characteristic on passcode display and Management Heart.

Replace, August 4: Famous that Apple is reportedly engaged on a ChatGPT rival.

Replace, August 1: Added quote from Tim Prepare dinner about iOS 26.

Replace, July 31: Famous that iOS 18.6 is now accessible.

Replace, July 24: Famous the iOS 26 public beta is now accessible.

Replace, July 3: Famous new FaceTime characteristic discovered within the developer beta.

Replace, June 30: Famous ongoing iOS 18 releases, and experiences that Apple is contemplating extra exterior LLMs for Siri.

Replace, June 25: Famous modifications added in iOS 26 beta 2.