IOS 26
2025 mobile operating system
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
iOS 26[2] is the nineteenth major release of Apple's iOS operating system for the iPhone. It was announced at the 2025 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 9, 2025, and released on September 15, 2025.[3] The successor to iOS 18, its version number was brought forward to 26 as Apple adopted a year-based convention for consistency across its operating systems.[4][5]
| iOS 26 | |
|---|---|
| Version of the iOS operating system | |
 | |
 iOS 26 home screen on an iPhone 15 | |
| Developer | Apple |
| Written in | |
| OS family | iOS |
| Source model | Closed with open-source components |
| General availability | September 15, 2025 |
| Latest release | 26.7 (September 14, 2026) [±] |
| Available in | 55 languages[1] |
List of languages
| |
| Supported platforms | iPhone |
| Preceded by | iOS 18 |
| Succeeded by | iOS 27 |
| Official website | iOS 26 at the Wayback Machine (archived June 7, 2026) |
| Tagline | New look. Even more magic. |
| Support status | |
| Receiving security updates. Widespread third-party app support. | |
| Articles in the series | |
iOS 26 introduces the Liquid Glass design language that is shared across all other Apple platforms, marking the first major redesign of the user interface since iOS 7. The Wallet app introduces an enhanced boarding pass with the ability to track and share flight status using Live Activities. New Apple Intelligence features include additional ChatGPT integration in Visual Intelligence, now usable when taking screenshots, and the ability for third-party apps to integrate the Apple Intelligence framework.
This release was widely received with mixed critical and user reception, with reviewers and users criticizing its controversial Liquid Glass interface, performance issues, slow adoption rates, and widespread complaints about battery life and usability.[citation needed]
Features
System features
User interface
With iOS 26, Apple is introducing Liquid Glass, a design language that spans its software platforms and is inspired by visionOS. Its rounded, translucent interface elements respond to content and motion and have been deployed across system interfaces and applications such as Camera and Safari.[6] [7] The redesign also features an adaptive Lock Screen clock[8] and a Clear appearance for Home Screen icons.[9]
Accessibility and system functionality
iOS 26 introduces new accessibility features such as system-wide Reader Mode[10], Braille Access, and Head Tracking[11]. The system also adds support for Adaptive Power[12] on compatible devices, Wi-Fi Aware[13], HDR screenshots and screen recordings[14], as well as direct eSIM transfer between compatible iPhone and Android devices.[15]
Apple Intelligence
iOS 26 introduces new Apple Intelligence features; Apple Intelligence models were made more efficient and support additional languages.[16] It supports live translation of voice and text conversations using on-device models, and Genmoji can now be invoked to merge existing emojis together rather than needing to use a prompt.[17][18] Visual Intelligence and Image Playground also feature additional ChatGPT integration.[17]
The framework allows Apple Intelligence features to be integrated into third-party apps; Apple said that a Swift app can implement the framework with as little as three lines of code.[16]
Ringtones
New ringtones have been introduced for the first time since iOS 17, including six variations of the "Reflection" ringtone: "Buoyant", "Dreamer", "Pond, "Pop", "Reflected", and "Surge".[19]
App features
Communication
The Phone app includes a new optional unified layout of Favourites, Recents and Voicemail, plus Call Screening and Hold Assist. Live Translation provides real-time translation during supported calls.[20] The Messages app also introduces features to screen unknown senders, conversation backgrounds, polls, group typing indicators, and live translation.[20]
Media and photography
The Music app includes beat matching and time stretching for seamless song transitions with AutoMix, as well as translated lyrics and pronunciation guides. [21] The Photos app has a redesigned interface and a new spatial scenes feature, which adds a depth effect to images. [22] Camera has been redesigned with simplified access to its main Photo and Video modes and reorganized camera controls. [22]
Maps and other applications
Maps adds “Preferred Routes”, which can learn frequently used routes and provide information about delays.[22] Notes adds call transcription and Markdown export,[23] while Passwords includes password history.[22] Safari adds support for HDR images and SVG icons,[24] while Home ends support for the legacy Apple Home architecture[25]. Files, Clock, Podcasts, Reminders and Shortcuts also received updates.
Security and privacy
iOS 26 will also bring new security and privacy features, such as managing wired accessories when an iPhone is locked.[26] A single location is also available for blocked contacts.[27] Recovery Assistant can try to recover a device that doesn't start normally.[28] The OS also introduces quantum-secure key exchange for TLS 1.3.[29]
Supported devices
iOS 26 requires an iPhone with an Apple A13 Bionic chip or newer with at least 3 GB of RAM, thus dropping support for all iPhones with the Apple A12 Bionic SoC, including the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR, thus ending support for all iPhones that use 3D Touch.[30][31] Apple Intelligence features require an Apple A17 Pro chip or newer with at least 8 GB of RAM.[32][33]
| Supported device | Chipset | RAM | Apple Intelligence support |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 11 | A13 | 4 GB |  |
| iPhone 11 Pro & 11 Pro Max | A13 | 4 GB | |
| iPhone SE (2nd generation) | A13 | 3 GB | |
| iPhone 12 & 12 Mini | A14 | 4 GB | |
| iPhone 12 Pro & 12 Pro Max | A14 | 6 GB | |
| iPhone 13 & 13 Mini | A15 | 4 GB | |
| iPhone 13 Pro & 13 Pro Max | A15 | 6 GB | |
| iPhone SE (3rd generation) | A15 | 4 GB | |
| iPhone 14 & 14 Plus | A15 | 6 GB | |
| iPhone 14 Pro & 14 Pro Max | A16 | 6 GB | |
| iPhone 15 & 15 Plus | A16 | 6 GB | |
| iPhone 15 Pro & 15 Pro Max | A17 Pro | 8 GB |  |
| iPhone 16 & 16 Plus | A18 | 8 GB | |
| iPhone 16 Pro & 16 Pro Max | A18 Pro | 8 GB | |
| iPhone 16e | A18 | 8 GB | |
| iPhone 17 | A19 | 8 GB | |
| iPhone 17 Pro & 17 Pro Max | A19 Pro | 12 GB | |
| iPhone Air | A19 Pro | 12 GB | |
| iPhone 17e | A19 | 8 GB | |
Version history
| Version | Build | Release date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26.0 | 23A330 | N/a | Preinstalled on iPhone 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max and Air |
| 23A341 | September 15, 2025 | Developer release notes Release notes Security content | |
| 23A345 | September 18, 2025 | iPhone 17 Pro models only | |
| 26.0.1 | 23A355 | September 29, 2025 | Release notes |
| 26.1 | 23B85 | November 3, 2025 | Developer release notes |
| 26.2 | 23C55 | December 12, 2025 | Developer release notes |
| 26.2.1 | 23C71 | January 26, 2026 | Support for AirTag 2 |
| 26.3 | 23D127 | February 11, 2026 | Developer release notes |
| 23D8128 | N/a | Preinstalled on iPhone 17e | |
| 26.3.1 | 23D8133 | March 4, 2026 | |
| 26.3.1 (a) | 23D771330a | March 17, 2026 | Background Security Improvement |
| 26.4 | 23E246 | March 24, 2026 | Developer release notes |
| 26.4.1 | 23E254 | April 8, 2026 | |
| 26.4.2 | 23E261 | April 22, 2026 | Security content |
| 26.5 | 23F77 | May 11, 2026 | Developer release notes
|
| 26.5.1 | 23F81 | June 1, 2026 | iPhones 17, 17e, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max and Air only
|
| 26.5.2 | 23F84 | June 29, 2026 | |
| 26.6 | 23G71 | July 27, 2026 | Security content, optimizes the Spotlight index to prepare for iOS 27. |
| 26.6.1 | 23G83 | August 17, 2026 | |
| 26.6.2 | 23G90 | September 8, 2026 | |
| 26.7 | 23H24 | September 14, 2026 | OTA only; All iPhones that support iOS 26 also support iOS 27. |
Legend: Unsupported Latest version Preview version | |||