What to know about the free iPhone software update arriving September 15

The iPhone 17 occasion final Tuesday revealed the most recent Cellphone 17 lineup — together with the ultra-thin iPhone Air. (You possibly can compensate for every part Apple introduced or rewatch the complete iPhone 17 launch.) The corporate rounded out its bulletins with three new Apple Watch fashions, in addition to the all-new AirPods Professional 3.

The even higher information is that many people sticking with older iPhones will lastly be capable of set up iOS 26 in only a few days: It arrives Monday, September 15, alongside all of Apple’s different new working techniques. However you do not have to attend to check out the brand new options, since you possibly can obtain and set up the newly launched iOS 26 RC (launch candidate) if you happen to’ve been utilizing the general public or developer betas. (See our preview of the iOS 26 public beta launch for more information.) The very first thing you will discover is a brand new clear design language Apple dubs Liquid Glass. The translucent look may be discovered inside apps in addition to your lock and residential screens. The overhaul is one among a number of large adjustments coming to iOS, macOS, iPadOS, watchOS and the remainder of Apple’s software program suite.

After overpromising on AI plans final 12 months, Apple saved its iOS roadmap targeted extra on primary high quality of life enhancements with iOS 26. There are a number of helpful additions coming to the Cellphone and Messages apps, as an illustration: Apple execs outlined the power to weed out spam texts or unknown senders and an choice to carry your spot on a telephone name if you’ve been ready for a consultant to select up.

It looks like further new enhancements are popping up (or at the very least hinted at) with every beta, resembling an AirPods reside translation function, which Apple talked about through the occasion. We additionally seen a brand new bouncy animation on the passcode display and within the Management Heart. Most newer iPhone fashions are eligible to obtain iOS 26 (each the betas and closing model). We have rounded up a full record of latest options coming this fall under.

What’s iOS 26?

The present iPhone working system is iOS 18, which Apple remains to be actively updating — model 18.6.1 was launched final month, for instance, to revive Apple Watch blood oxygen monitoring performance for sure customers within the US. Extra lately, Apple launched iOS 18.6.2 to handle a vulnerability associated to picture processing.

However do not anticipate to ever see an iOS 19. As an alternative, Apple is skipping its naming conference forward to iOS 26. (Apple can be anticipated to launch iOS 18.7 on the similar time, per MacRumors, to handle safety points.) 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 techniques will probably be launched in late 2025, they’re all designated “26” to replicate the 12 months forward.

What’s Liquid Glass design?

Let’s be sincere. Out of every part introduced at WWDC this 12 months, the brand new Liquid Glass design was the star of the present. The iPhone’s dwelling and lock screens have appeared just about the identical 12 months after 12 months — the final thrilling factor (for my part) was the choice so as to add your personal aesthetic to your house 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, effectively, the apps and widgets are clear. Nevertheless, the display can nonetheless adapt to darkish and lightweight modes, relying on environment. You will 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 simple 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 paying homage to Microsoft’s translucent Home windows Vista Aero designs from almost twenty years in the past.

That stated, as of the discharge of the iOS 26 beta 2, Apple has already included some person suggestions into the design, dialing again the transparency in at the very least some locations. And whereas it’s going to proceed to evolve, Apple customers will not be capable of escape it: The corporate says Liquid Glass was designed to make all of its platforms extra cohesive. This is a take a look at how the translucent aesthetic will look with the brand new macOS Tahoe 26 in your desktop.

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

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

Cellphone app redesign: You will lastly be capable of scroll via contacts, latest calls and voicemail messages all on one display. It additionally comes with a brand new function referred to as Maintain Help that’ll notify you when an agent involves the telephone so you possibly can keep away from the elevator music and proceed on with different duties.

Reside Translation in Cellphone, FaceTime and Messages: iOS 26 is bringing the power to have a dialog through telephone name or textual content message with somebody who speaks one other language. Reside Translation will translate your dialog in actual time, which leads to some stop-and-go interactions within the examples Apple shared throughout its presentation.

Polls in group chats: Bored with sorting via what looks like tons of of messages in your group chat? You and your mates will quickly be capable of create polls in group messages for deciding issues like which brunch spot you are consuming at or whose automobile you take 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 function will permit you to seek for something that is in your iPhone display. As an example, if you happen to spot a pair of footwear somebody is carrying in an Instagram photograph, you possibly can screenshot it and use Visible Intelligence to seek out these footwear (or related ones) on-line.

Images tabs are again: For anybody who’s been annoyed with final 12 months’s adjustments to the Images app, you will be comfortable to know that your tabs are coming again. Library and Collections may have their very own separate areas so you do not have to scroll to infinity to seek out what you are searching for.

Digital camera app updates: Navigating the Digital camera 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 function that tells you in case your lens must be cleaned.

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

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

New alarm setting: You will now not be caught with the 9-minute snooze setting in your alarms. As an alternative, you will have the choice to vary your snooze time from one to fifteen minutes.

Screenshots look totally different: You will discover a number of new options if you take a screenshot, together with “spotlight to go looking,” the choice to go looking your picture on Google and ChatGPT is there for any questions you’ve got concerning the picture.

New adjustments coming to iPadOS 26

Your iPad is not getting left behind on the subject of large updates. This is what’s coming this fall.

Multitasking and actual windowing: If you obtain the latest replace, you’ll have a number of apps operating in your display on the similar time. When you open an app, it’s going to seem in your display as regular however you’ll resize and transfer it throughout your display to make room for different apps. This function is non-compulsory so you possibly can flip it off if you happen to do not prefer it.

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

New menu bar: If 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 if you happen to’re searching for one thing particular.

There’s extra past that, so remember to try our first impressions of iPadOS 26.

What about AirPods?

AirPods are additionally getting up to date with iOS 26. Listed below are among 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.

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

Reside translation function: The Apple occasion confirmed that reside translation is coming to AirPods Professional 3, AirPods Professional 2 and AirPods 4 with ANC when paired with iPhones operating iOS 26.

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

Will 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 12 months,” so that you should not anticipate any main adjustments within the present betas. However there are studies that Apple is aiming to present Siri an even bigger mind transplant by basing it on third-party synthetic intelligence fashions like OpenAI’s ChatGPT or Anthropic’s Claude, which may make 2026 a pivotal 12 months. The corporate can be reportedly engaged on a “stripped-down” AI chatbot to rival ChatGPT.

Which iPhones will be capable of improve to iOS 26?

A number of iPhone fashions that run the present model of iOS — iPhone XR, XS and XS Max — will not be appropriate with the most recent improve. However any iPhones from 2019 or later will probably be eligible for iOS 26:

• iPhone SE (second era or later)

Find out how to set up iOS 26 beta

The iOS 26 public beta is on the market to obtain through the Apple Beta Software program Program. In the event you’re not already a member, you will want to enroll to check out all the most recent options. Simply go to beta.apple.com and enroll along with your telephone quantity or e-mail handle. It is free.

When you’re in, you possibly can set up it by going to Settings > Basic > Software program Replace and deciding on iOS 26 public beta.

A phrase of warning: Do not enroll along with your predominant iPhone until you are OK with any dangers that happen with utilizing an OS that is not finalized.

When will the ultimate model of iOS 26 be launched?

iOS 26 will probably be launched to the general public without spending a dime on September 15, which is lower than every week away.

In the event you’re extra within the Apple Intelligence options coming, here is every part Apple revealed for iOS, macOS and extra throughout WWDC. Additionally, try how iOS 26 screenshots may very well be an intriguing preview of Apple’s delayed Siri rework.

Replace, September 11: Added the merchandise Apple launched at its Tuesday occasion and famous when iOS 26 will probably 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 totally 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 Digital camera 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 are actually 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 function 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 function discovered within the developer beta.

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

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