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

It is lastly right here: Now you can download iOS 26 on your iPhone — Apple’s other new operating systems are additionally obtainable. The primary noticeable factor after putting in the brand new OS? A brand new clear design language that Apple dubs Liquid Glass. The translucent look may be discovered inside apps in addition to your lock and residential screens. (In the event you do not prefer it, there is a strategy to reduce the transparency.) The overhaul is one in every of a number of massive modifications 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 Telephone 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 while you’ve been ready for a consultant to choose up. And for enjoyable, now you can create polls in group texts. Different new enhancements coming embody a confirmed AirPods live translation feature, and a brand new bouncy animation on the passcode display and within the Management Middle.

If you do not have a appropriate 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’ll be able to compensate for everything Apple announced here or rewatch the full iPhone 17 launch. The corporate rounded out its bulletins with three new Apple Watch fashions, in addition to the brand-new AirPods Pro 3.

Most newer iPhone fashions are eligible to download iOS 26. We have rounded up a full listing of recent options you may have to take a look at.

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 automotive mannequin years. So whereas iOS and its sibling working methods have been launched in 2025, they’re all designated “26” to replicate the 12 months forward.

Apple additionally launched iOS 18.7 alongside iOS 26 to deal with safety points — nice information if you do not have a telephone that is eligible to run the newest OS. In the event you’re questioning which one to obtain first, it is actually as much as you. Do you need to await 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 all the things introduced at WWDC this 12 months, the new Liquid Glass design was the star of the present. The iPhone’s dwelling and lock screens have regarded just about the identical 12 months after 12 months — 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 material” 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 Telephone 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 route, even when it is considerably harking back to Microsoft’s translucent Windows Vista Aero designs from practically twenty years in the past.

That mentioned, whereas it was in beta mode, Apple incorporated some user feedback into the design, dialing again the transparency in at the least some locations. And whereas it can 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 have a look at how the translucent aesthetic seems with the new macOS Tahoe 26 in your desktop.

How one can flip iOS 26 Liquid Glass settings off

In the event you discover you do not like the brand new clear take care of downloading iOS 26, you’ll be able to change a pair Accessibility settings, although you’ll be able to’t utterly flip off Liquid Glass. For starters, you’ll be able to cut back the liquid look by going to Settings > Accessibility > Movement > toggle on Cut 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 Cut back Transparency.

You may as well 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 (prime left) and Customise. You possibly can swap out to Default, Darkish or Tinted.

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

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

Telephone app redesign: Now you can scroll by means of 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’ll be able to keep away from the elevator music and proceed on with different duties.

Stay Translation in Telephone, 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. Stay 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: Bored with sorting by means of what looks as if a whole lot of messages in your group chat? You and your pals can now create polls in group messages to resolve issues like which brunch spot you are consuming at or whose automotive you take 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 can help you seek for something that is in your iPhone display. For example, for those who spot a pair of sneakers somebody is sporting in an Instagram picture, you’ll be able to screenshot it and use Visual Intelligence to seek out these sneakers (or related ones) on-line.

Images tabs are again: For anybody who’s been annoyed with final 12 months’s changes to the Photos app, you may 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 seek out what you are in search of.

Camera app updates: Navigating the Digital camera app needs 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 Safety” feature 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 screen options: 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 now 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 different: You may discover a number of new options while 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.

Preview on iOS 26: There is a new app called Preview that permits you to scan paperwork, fill out PDF types, in addition to spotlight, underline or strike by means of textual content in a PDF file. You may as well take away backgrounds from photographs on this app.

New modifications with iPadOS 26

Your iPad is not getting left behind in the case of massive updates. This is what to search for.

Multitasking and actual windowing: Once 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 will seem in your display as regular however you can resize and transfer it throughout your display to make room for different apps. This function is elective so you’ll be able to flip it off for those who 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: Once 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 for those who’re in search of one thing particular.

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

What about AirPods?

AirPods are also getting updated with iOS 26. Listed below are a number of the extra notable capabilities.

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

Digital camera distant management: Utilizing this, you’ll be able to take a photograph or begin and cease video recording with only one press in your AirPods. When taking photographs, you may get a three-second countdown earlier than your iPhone or iPad snaps the image.

Stay translation function: Live translation is available on AirPods Pro 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 unique language, you should utilize your AirPods to translate what they’re saying.

Coronary heart charge monitoring: Apple launched new AirPods Professional 3 earbuds this month, which embody coronary heart charge monitoring. It’s going to work with Apple’s Well being app and different health apps that monitor 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 “in the coming year,” so that you should not anticipate any main modifications proper now. However there are reviews that Apple is aiming to provide Siri a much bigger mind transplant by basing it on third-party artificial intelligence models like OpenAI’s ChatGPT or Anthropic’s Claude, which may make 2026 a pivotal 12 months. 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?

A couple of iPhone fashions that run the present model of iOS — iPhone XR, XS and XS Max — aren’t appropriate with the newest improve. However any iPhones from 2019 or later will probably 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 totally free right now, September 15.

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

Replace, September 16: Added particulars about modifying Liquid Glass settings, and new data concerning the Preview app.

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

Replace, September 12: Famous iOS 26 is coming to eligible iPhones in just some days, timing TBD.

Replace, September 11: Added the merchandise Apple launched at its Tuesday occasion and famous when iOS 26 will probably be obtainable 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 predicted 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 charge 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 obtainable 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 obtainable 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 Middle.

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 obtainable.

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

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

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

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