The whole lot to know concerning the free iPhone software program replace

Pay attention up, iPhone house owners! iOS 26 is lastly accessible to obtain, in addition to all of Apple’s different new working techniques. The very first thing you will discover after the set up is a brand new clear design language Apple dubs Liquid Glass. The translucent look will be discovered inside apps in addition to your lock and residential screens. The overhaul is one among a number of massive adjustments that include iOS, macOS, iPadOS, watchOS and the remainder of Apple’s software program suite.

You may additionally see a number of helpful additions within the Cellphone and Messages apps. For example, the flexibility to weed out spam texts or unknown senders and an possibility to carry your spot on a telephone name whenever 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 embody a confirmed AirPods dwell translation function, and a brand new bouncy animation on the passcode display and within the Management Heart.

If you do not have a suitable telephone however plan to improve, Apple unveiled a number of new fashions at its iPhone 17 occasion — that features the brand new iPhone 17 lineup and the all-new ultra-thin iPhone Air. In the event you missed the keynote, you may atone for every part 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 checklist of latest options you will have to take a look at.

What’s iOS 26?

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, much like automotive mannequin years. So whereas iOS and its sibling working techniques have been launched in 2025, they’re all designated “26” to mirror the yr forward.

Apple additionally launched iOS 18.7 alongside iOS 26 to handle safety points — nice information if you do not have a telephone that is eligible to run the newest OS.

What’s Liquid Glass design?

Let’s be sincere. Out of every part introduced at WWDC this yr, the brand new Liquid Glass design was the star of the present. The iPhone’s house and lock screens have regarded just about the identical yr after yr — the final thrilling factor (in my view) was the choice so as to add your individual 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, nicely, the apps and widgets are clear. Nevertheless, the display can nonetheless adapt to darkish and lightweight 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 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 harking back to Microsoft’s translucent Home windows Vista Aero designs from practically twenty years in the past.

That mentioned, whereas in beta mode, Apple included some person suggestions into the design, dialing again the transparency in at the least some locations. And whereas it is 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 seems to be 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 checklist of latest options. Among the many most worthwhile:

Cellphone app redesign: Now you can scroll by way of contacts, latest calls and voicemail messages all on one display. It additionally comes with a brand new function known as Maintain Help that’ll notify you when an agent involves the telephone 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 flexibility to have a dialog through telephone 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 leads to some stop-and-go interactions within the examples Apple shared throughout its presentation.

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

Filtering unknown senders in Messages: If you have not obtained 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: Just like a reverse Google picture search, this new function will will let you seek for something that is in your iPhone display. For example, if you happen to spot a pair of footwear somebody is sporting in an Instagram picture, you may 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 yr’s adjustments to the Images app, you will be comfortable 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 seek out what you are on the lookout for.

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

FaceTime “Communication Security” function: A more moderen 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 baby security function 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 totally different: You may discover a number of new options whenever 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 have got concerning the picture.

New adjustments with iPadOS 26

Your iPad is not getting left behind relating to massive updates. This is what to search for.

Multitasking and actual windowing: Whenever you obtain the latest replace, you’ll have a number of apps working in your display on the similar time. When you open an app, it will 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-obligatory so you may flip it off if you happen to 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 possibility if you happen to’re on the lookout 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 here are among the extra notable capabilities.

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 function: Reside translation is on the market on AirPods Professional 3, AirPods Professional 2 and AirPods 4 with ANC when paired with iPhones working iOS 26. Apple says that when somebody speaks to you in a unique language, you need to use your AirPods to translate what they’re saying.

Coronary heart fee monitoring: Apple launched new AirPods Professional 3 earbuds this month, which embody 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 adjustments proper now. However there are experiences 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 might make 2026 a pivotal yr. The corporate can also be reportedly engaged on a “stripped-down” AI chatbot to rival ChatGPT.

Which iPhones will be capable of improve to iOS 26?

Just a few iPhone fashions that run the present model of iOS — iPhone XR, XS and XS Max — aren’t suitable with the newest improve. However any iPhones from 2019 or later will likely be eligible for iOS 26:

• iPhone SE (second era or later)

When to obtain iOS 26?

iOS 26 has formally been launched to the general public without spending a dime immediately, September 15.

In the event you’re extra within the new Apple Intelligence options, this 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 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 will likely 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 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 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 Cook 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 experiences that Apple is contemplating extra exterior LLMs for Siri.

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