iOS 26 information: new options in newest model and adjustments coming in iOS 26.1

iOS 26 design and interface adjustments

• New Liquid Glass design language.
• Basic decluttering and simplifying of the interface and app menus.

The largest change in iOS 26 is a visible one: a daring new redesign often known as Liquid Glass.

What’s Liquid Glass?

The brand new design contains a graphical consumer interface that Apple is looking Liquid Glass, which creates a translucent impact that mimics the qualities of glass.

The brand new Liquid Glass design language represents the largest change to iOS since iOS 7 was launched in 2013. Again then, Apple dropped the skeuomorphic design in favor of flat symbolic icons. This time all the things is extra curved, much less flat, with translucent components reflecting or refracting the content material within the background, and resizing to suit round what’s onscreen. The Liquid Glass components can even change shade to replicate the content material beneath as you scroll, and it will likely be attainable to see blurred and refracted components of the background by way of the highest layer.

Apple says that it’ll really feel extra like interacting with the bodily world, with components dynamically reacting to your contact. The corporate additionally says the adjustments “blur the traces between {hardware} and software program”.

This new Liquid Glass design extends to all Apple merchandise and apps. You’ll see the translucent results on the Dock, widgets, and icons. Panes, home windows, buttons and menus might be introduced as translucent layers with specular highlights.

Preliminary suggestions to the brand new Liquid Glass design was detrimental with some beta testers complaining that content material wasn’t seen because of the overlaying of menus over background photos, later variations of the beta dialed this again to make the menus extra seen.

In fact not everybody likes Liquid Glass, and in the event you really feel like you may’t learn your notifications, learn: How one can scale back the Liquid Glass impact.

iOS 26 interface adjustments 

Apple

Apple says iOS 26 can even see design adjustments that simplify app interfaces to make the controls extra seen. Apple is making it simpler to search out the instruments you normally use, with out the litter of all the opposite options you don’t want.

Apple has tailored the interface to focus extra on what’s on the display screen relatively than cowl issues with instruments and menu bars. Menus will shrink as you scroll to disclose the content material under. Apple can be eradicating a number of the litter from menus to simplify issues and emphasize the extra frequently-used choices. For instance, relatively than occupying an oblong bar on the backside of the display screen, teams of controls will seem on floating components that come out further controls, change as you progress between views, and are tucked away if you scroll.

These adjustments to the menus are designed to make it simpler to entry the options you employ most frequently, and uncover others. Apple is attempting to make iOS and its apps extra intuitive. 

A superb instance of how these design adjustments might be utilized is the Lock Display screen, which might be extra adaptive. The picture you select as your wallpaper might be scaled to suit the peak and width of the Lock Display screen and positioned to fill the out there house round components just like the time. Moreover, the wallpaper picture will slide up as notifications are available in.

Apple Intelligence in iOS 26

• New Siri AI options not anticipated till later in 2026.
• Enhancements nonetheless anticipated for Visible Intelligence, Genmoji, and Picture Playground at launch.

Apple has been having hassle with a few of its AI efforts, particularly the Siri options that have been touted at WWDC 2024. Apple had promised that iOS 18.4 would convey a serious replace to Siri, the place it will be higher at pure conversations with the consumer, utilizing private context, consciousness of what’s onscreen, and the flexibility to carry out in-app actions.

Apple has since confirmed that these Siri-related options have been pushed again till 2026, which suggests they need to come as an replace to iOS 26, maybe in March, however we could possibly be ready even longer.

Apple nonetheless has various spectacular Apple Intelligence powered options in iOS 26, although. The truth is, a number of the new options coming to Highlight on the Mac appear like a number of the options promised for Siri.

A few of these new Apple Intelligence options will make a big effect in apps, particularly the Cellphone app, which we’ll focus on under. One other beneficiary of Apple Intelligence is Visible Intelligence, which was launched in iOS 18 and positive aspects a really helpful skill in iOS 26.

Visible Intelligence

IDG

In iOS 18 you should utilize Visible Intelligence by holding up the iPhone to view one thing you might be interested by, triggering Visible Intelligence (through the Digicam Management button when you’ve got one, or through the Management Centre if not) and viewing details about what you have been pointing the digital camera at. It might establish a constructing, or supply so as to add the date from a poster to your calendar, for instance. That’s all very nicely when you find yourself out and about, however what about when you find yourself simply looking the net and wish to know the place one thing somebody is carrying is from or the place a video is being filmed?

In iOS 26 it will likely be attainable to take a screenshot and search for details about that picture and merchandise in it utilizing Visible Intelligence. You can even ask ChatGPT for details about the screenshot. 

Genmoji

Apple

Additionally benefitting from Apple Intelligence is Genmoji, one other characteristic that arrived with iOS 18. Genmoji allows you to create customized emoji utilizing AI. To create a Genmoji you kind an outline within the Describe an Emoji subject and faucet on Create New Emoji. You need to use images of individuals you realize as a foundation and refine the emoji till it represents what you might be on the lookout for. The emoji will then be out there in your emoji keyboard to make use of.

In iOS 26 the Genmoji interface will get a redesign. Customers will be capable to combine two emoji collectively, or alter an present emoji to create one thing new, and even mix an emoji and a Sticker (which might be created from a photograph). Customers will be capable to additional customise emoji inside Picture Playground, altering expressions.

Picture Playground

Picture Playground, which is Apple’s app for making AI-generated photos, arrived in iOS 18 and will get an replace in iOS 26. In iOS 26 it will likely be attainable to make use of ChatGPT with new kinds and prompts, comparable to an oil portray in addition to these supplied by Apple to create photos in Picture Playground.

Overhauled Cellphone app in iOS 26 

• Name Screening solutions the decision, finds out why they’re calling, and allows you to know earlier than you resolve whether or not or to not take the decision.
• Maintain Help stops you needing to sit down in a queue to be linked with an agent.
• Voice Mail textual content summaries rapidly floor an important particulars of missed calls.

With every iteration of iOS the set of apps Apple offers grows and evolves, and most of the adjustments coming to the apps on the iPhone are shared by those self same apps on Apple’s different units. iOS 26 isn’t any totally different.

This time, a number of the adjustments are going to be fairly transformative to how you employ the telephone – and by which we imply the phone facet of your iPhone.  

The telephone app won’t be the one we use probably the most, however as Apple says, it’s elementary to the iPhone. With iOS 26 the telephone app is getting a giant replace that basically turns it right into a PA and a spam filtering software. 

Apple is tapping into Apple Intelligence to convey new Voice Mail summaries to floor an important data, however much more thrilling, it’s aiming to remove undesirable calls with a brand new Name Screening choice that may reply the decision within the background, ask the caller to clarify their motive for calling, after which present a textual content abstract of these particulars to you earlier than you resolve whether or not or to not take the decision. In fact, this will make it more durable to disregard calls from folks you ought to truly communicate to, however it will likely be a great way to siphon off spam and hoax calls from unknown numbers.

That’s not all. One other new characteristic is Maintain Help, which is able to routinely detect maintain music and mute the decision till it’s linked to an agent. Because of this, you will get issues carried out with out having to maintain your telephone speaker taking part in irritating maintain music till somebody solutions. When an agent turns into free they are going to be knowledgeable that you’re there and your telephone will ring alerting you to the connection and you may take the decision. It’s going to be like having your individual receptionist. 

One other change within the Cellphone app ought to make it not possible to by accident faucet on contact within the Recents checklist and name them. Presently, in the event you faucet on a reputation in your Recents checklist it is going to routinely name that individual. A brand new setting will assist you to flip off “Faucet Recents to Name”.

Dwell Translations in iOS 26

• Actual-time voice translations in English, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish.
• Translated Dwell Captions in FaceTime video calls.
• Automated translations in Messages.
• Lyrics in your language in Apple Music.

Coming to the Cellphone app, but in addition current as a characteristic in Messages and FaceTime, is Dwell Translations. This may assist you talk with somebody who speaks one other language.

With this characteristic it is possible for you to to have a dialog with some who speaks a unique language to you. In case you are conversant in the Hitchhiker’s Information to the Galaxy that is nearly on the degree of getting a Babel Fish.

In case you are talking to somebody through the telephone app, the iPhone will translate what’s being mentioned, with a spoken voice translating what has been mentioned into your language. The recipient can even hear translations in their very own language. Apparently, they don’t must have an iPhone. The principle restriction proper now’s that Dwell Translation for Cellphone is accessible just for one-on-one calls in English, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish.

As we mentioned above, it’s not solely the Cellphone app that can get the Dwell Translation options. FaceTime and Messages will as nicely. And Translation can be discovering its means into the Music app.

FaceTime translations

When talking to somebody through FaceTime you will notice real-time captions in your individual language. Dwell Captions aren’t solely new to FaceTime, you may already activate that performance in Accessibility > Dwell Captions – though this solely works in case your language is about to English U.S.

In addition to the brand new Dwell Translation characteristic, FaceTime additionally will get adjustments to the interface designed to floor the controls you want whereas maintaining the caller seen. For instance, controls float to the underside proper and recede if you don’t want them. 

The FaceTime name checklist additionally will get a brand new look, with video messages autoplaying as you scroll. 

Messages translations

Apple

In case you are utilizing Messages to speak with somebody who speaks a unique language what you kind is translated into their language and vice versa.

As with the telephone, Messages is getting a screening software to fight spam. On-device spam detection will provide you with “whole management over who seems in your dialog checklist,” in response to Apple.

It’s already attainable to filter out spam by utilizing the Unknown Senders checklist in Messages, however in iOS 26 Messages can have a higher skill to display screen for spam, and it’ll be sure you nonetheless obtain verification codes and different crucial or time-sensitive messages.

Additionally in Messages it is possible for you to so as to add a background picture to Group Chats, and a brand new choice to create a ballot might be out there. Messages will even recommend a ballot if a scenario requires one. Anybody can add choices to the ballot. 

Those that have entry to Apple Money (nonetheless U.S. solely) may also entry this from group chats. 

Apple

A small however good replace coming to Messages is the flexibility to copy components of a textual content, relatively than the entire thing. That is a type of incomprehensible failures of Messages on iPhone proper now: the one choice is to repeat the complete message, paste it, after which edit out what you don’t need. When utilizing Messages on the Mac you may simply copy the a part of the Message you want. It’s a protracted overdue characteristic for iPhone Messages.

Apple Music lyric translations

Apple

In Apple Music it is possible for you to to comply with the lyrics alongside the interpretation into your individual language. For some languages you’ll even see a pronunciation information.

Additionally coming to the Music app is a brand new auto-mix choice that makes use of AI to fade between songs and match beats like a DJ would, animated Apple Music paintings choice for the Lock Display screen, and interface adjustments that ought to make it sooner and simpler to get to the music you might be into. For instance, you may pin your favorite album or playlist to the highest of your library.

Overhauled Digicam & Pictures apps in iOS 26

• Redesigned Digicam app hides away much less frequent taking pictures modes to declutter the interface.
• Fast entry to extra frequent settings.
• Add 3D results to images.

In iOS 26, Apple has redesigned the digital camera app, hiding many of the lesser-used digital camera taking pictures modes and choices to simplify the more and more cramped format and giving customers fast entry to settings.

Within the Pictures app there’s the flexibility so as to add 3D results to images.

We’ve got a separate article overlaying the best way to use the iOS 26 Digicam app, together with the place to search out digital camera modes and options, the best way to change seize settings and the best way to use AirPods as a distant.

New Video games app in iOS 26

• Discover video games which might be good for you.
• Shortly uncover all of your beforehand performed video games.
• Problem pals to battle.
• Extra constant contact controls throughout video games.

Apple

Apple is lastly tidying up the gaming expertise on the iPhone with a brand-new Video games app.

Apple says it’s creating a brand new vacation spot to assist its avid gamers get extra out of their video games. The Video games app affords varied tabs to make discovering the video games you might be taking part in or have performed simpler. The House tab reveals what’s most related to you. The Library tab exhibits all of the video games you could have ever downloaded. 

There’s additionally a Play Collectively tab the place you may see what your folks are taking part in, play video games with them, examine scores, and invite them to play video games. You’ll be able to problem them to beat your highest rating in single participant video games. Turning single-player video games into enjoyable competitions with pals, with scores in actual time. This might be Apple’s second try to get customers to attach socially: bear in mind iTunes Ping? (Apple would in all probability relatively you forgot).

One other change to gaming on iPhone (and iPad) is a brand new consistency to how contact controls are utilized in video games. Builders engaged on an iPhone or iPad sport that requires extra superior controls have all the time needed to design their very own contact controls, and this may be inconsistent. In iOS 26, Apple will present its personal contact controls for buttons, thumbsticks, dpads, throttles, and touchpads.

Extra app adjustments in iOS 26

Apple Pockets

Like Apple Money, most of the new Apple Pockets options are U.S. solely, comparable to the flexibility so as to add Drivers Licenses to Apple Pockets. 

Apple says there might be extra methods to pay with Apple Pay in iOS 26, for instance you may redeem factors or select to pay in instalments. That characteristic is at present out there in 9 states. From the autumn Apple says it will likely be attainable so as to add a U.S. passport, however just for use for flights contained in the U.S. 

There might be a brand new API for builders to make the most of, enabling them to supply prospects with extra data throughout the Pockets app, comparable to particulars of the providers included with the fare and improve choices that may be accessed from throughout the Pockets app.

You can even observe Apple Pay orders, with Apple Intelligence discovering the order particulars and monitoring data and maintaining them collectively for you. 

Passwords

The Passwords app, launched in iOS 18, will get an replace. You’ll be able to test adjustments that you simply’ve made to accounts logged within the Passwords app, view earlier passwords that have been used for these accounts, and see after they have been altered.

Passkeys

As well as, Apple has launched enhancements to iOS 26 that can make utilizing passkeys simpler. Passkeys is an authentication methodology that replaces conventional passwords with safety keys and biometrics. Many apps and web sites already present help for passkeys and, with the iOS 26 replace, it will likely be attainable for iPhone and iPad apps to allow customers to create a passkey with only a faucet. Passkeys might be authenticated with Face ID or Contact ID, and credentials might be synchronized between your Apple units through iCloud.

Autofill

It’s going to even be attainable to pre-fill private information, comparable to identify and electronic mail, so that you not should waste time filling in lengthy sign-up types. Even higher, iOS 26 will be capable to autofill verification codes from Gmail and WhatsApp. Verification code autofill may additionally work in Google Chrome; at present verification codes work solely with Apple’s Safari browser.

Apple Maps 

Apple

The Maps app will get an replace, now utilizing Apple Intelligence to grasp your common commutes and be taught your favorites. With this data it will likely be capable of warn you in the event you ought to take a unique route as a consequence of heavy visitors. 

One other change to Maps is that it may possibly log (in your gadget, with encryption) Visited Locations, which is able to make it simpler to search out and recall locations you could have been to previously. It’s simple to delete this historical past, too. 

Reminders

In iOS 26, Reminders will recommend issues comparable to duties and grocery gadgets, plus follow-ups primarily based in your emails or different textual content in your iPhone, Mac, and extra.

Notes

Notes will achieve Markdown help.

Climate

Satellite tv for pc-based reporting.

Clock

You’ll lastly be capable to set a sleep length of between one and quarter-hour, relatively than being caught with set eight-minute snoozes!

Additionally, you will achieve the flexibility to set alarms from inside different apps. For instance, you would set an alarm from inside a recipe app with out you needing to open the Clock.

Different new options in iOS 26

There are many different adjustments coming to iOS, lots of which is able to enhance the general consumer expertise.

AirPods: Pause Media When Falling Asleep

Present AirPods ought to get some new options because of the iOS 26 replace. These embody a brand new characteristic that can allow AirPods to pause after they sense the wearer has fallen asleep. Code within the iOS 26 beta signifies that this characteristic is tied to iOS 26, relatively than the AirPods line particularly – it might even work on Apple’s Beats headphones.

As well as, it will likely be attainable to simply swap between totally different audio enter units – so you would swap from AirPods as devoted microphones to a different gadget, for instance.

Working duties within the background

iOS 26 can have a brand new API for working duties within the background. So, you received’t should maintain an app open after they’re doing one thing necessary, comparable to importing recordsdata or exporting a video. Customers can swap to different apps with out interrupting the earlier process.

Adaptive Energy Mode

This characteristic goals to increase battery life by adjusting efficiency primarily based on utilization patterns. The place Low Energy Mode throttles your iPhone’s efficiency and kills sure background actions to avoid wasting vitality, Adaptive Energy Mode makes smaller changes to your iPhone’s efficiency primarily based on how you employ it. Because of this the influence must be subtler, and probably one thing customers might carry on always.

Battery Intelligence: AI-powered battery administration

iOS 26 will introduce a characteristic dubbed Battery Intelligence. This presents the estimated charging length to achieve 80% (then 100%) when linked to a charger – so you understand how lengthy you will want to alter your iPhone earlier than you may depart the home.

A new adaptive low energy mode has been noticed within the iOS 26 developer beta. This doesn’t change the common low energy mode (that’s nonetheless round) however as a substitute makes use of machine studying to make changes that would assist eke out somewhat extra juice out of your battery.

As well as, the Lock Display screen will now show estimated charging instances to hit 80 p.c and 100% battery energy.

Assist for Qi2 25W wi-fi charging

Since fall 2024, Apple’s MagSafe Charger has supported as much as 25W wi-fi iPhone charging on the iPhone 16 household. Third-party chargers—beforehand restricted to a 15W most—will be capable to match that velocity with the launch of the brand new Qi2 25W, which the iPhone 16 and later will help from iOS 26.

RCS Common Profile 3.0 and different Android ‘pleasant’ options

Assist for RCS Common Profile 3.0 could are available in an replace to iOS 26. RCS 3.0 will encrypt iPhone-to-Android messages, and supply different options to make speaking between iPhones and Android telephones extra seamless. Presently, Android customers can edit a message inside quarter-hour of it being despatched – this works in iOS 18.5 and the iOS 26 developer beta however the iPhone shows the edited message as a brand new one with an asterisk relatively than changing the message with the edited message.

iPhone customers are capable of edit messages despatched to different iPhones, however they don’t seem to be but capable of edit RCS messages despatched to an Android telephone. RCS 3.0 also needs to make this out there to iPhone customers.

There even be simplified eSIM switch from Android.

iOS 26 launch date

• First seen at WWDC on June 9, 2025
• Accessible to obtain on September 15, 2025

The discharge normally occurs across the following instances the place most of our readers stay. However observe that Apple’s servers are prone to be overloaded so an early obtain could take a very long time! In case you wait a day or so the obtain might be sooner – and Apple could have addressed any early bugs.

• U.S.: at 10 am (PST/PDT), 11 am (MST/MDT), midday (CST/CDT), 1 pm (EST/EDT)
• Canada: as above, and a pair of pm (AST/ADT)
• U.Okay.: at 6 pm (GMT/BST)
• Europe: at 7pm (CET/CEST), 8 pm (EET/EEST)
• India: at 10.30 pm (IST)
• Australia: Subsequent day at 1 am (AWST/AWDT), 2.30 am (ACST/ACDT), 3 am (AEST/AEDT)
• New Zealand: Subsequent day at 5 am (NZST/NZDT)

For assist putting in iOS 26 learn: How one can replace iOS on iPhone.

iOS 26 newest beta

• Newest Developer Beta: iOS 26.1, September 22, 2025
• Newest Public Beta: N/A

With iOS 26 out there to the general public now, the beta program will shift to testing updates: iOS 26.1 arrived in September 22, iOS 26.2 will comply with, and so forth.

We’ve got a separate article that particulars the best way to be part of Apple’s beta software program program. Beta improvement of iOS 26 will proceed even after the iOS replace arrives with the general public, with much more new options being developed.

Anybody utilizing the beta is inspired to file bug stories utilizing the included Apple’s Suggestions Assistant app in order that the corporate can deal with them. If you wish to be taught extra in regards to the beta learn: What’s within the newest iOS beta and the best way to get it.

iOS 26 supported units

• iOS 26 is a free software program replace for iPhone 11 and later.
• The iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max will miss out on iOS 26.

Apple has confirmed the next iPhones will be capable to get iOS 26:

• iPhone 16e (2025)
• iPhone 16/16 Plus/16 Professional/16 Professional Max (2024)
• iPhone 15/15 Plus/15 Professional/15 Professional Max (2023)
• iPhone 14/14 Plus/14 Professional/14 Professional Max (2022)
• iPhone SE (Third gen) (2022)
• iPhone 13/13 mini/13 Professional/13 Professional Max (2021)
• iPhone 12/12 mini/12 Professional/12 Professional Max (2020)
• iPhone SE (2nd gen) (2020)
• iPhone 11/11 Professional/11 Professional Max (2019)

When Apple updates the working system for its units it typically implies that sure fashions should not appropriate with the replace. The iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max, which have been supported by iOS 18 and launched in 2018, will miss out on iOS 26. 

This doesn’t imply that these 2018 iPhones are unsupported by Apple. Apple will proceed to concern security-related software program updates to iOS 18 for a couple of extra years. Examine how lengthy iPhones are supported to search out out which iPhones are not supported with safety updates. 

Nor does this imply that each one the supported iPhones get all the brand new options. As was the case in 2024, solely sure iPhones can help Apple Intelligence powered options. That’s the iPhone 15 Professional and Professional Max and the entire of the iPhone 16 vary. Which means that in case your telephone isn’t a type of talked about you miss out on options such because the Visible Intelligence and Genmoji updates, in addition to the Cellphone app skill to handle your undesirable calls. 

Learn how the brand new iOS compares with the present model in our comparability of iOS 26 vs iOS 18: What’s totally different, what’s new, and do you have to replace?