Your iPhone and iPad will look considerably totally different when iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 roll out this fall. And no, you haven’t missed seven working system upgrades since iOS 18 final 12 months. Apple has modified the naming construction of its OS updates and made all of them constant—visionOS 26, watchOS 26, macOS 26—so that they’re now tied to the 12 months after their launch, just like what automobile makers do when debuting new fashions.
The principle spotlight throughout all of Apple’s updates introduced at WWDC 2025 revolves across the new feel and look of the interface, a design language the corporate calls Liquid Glass. Past that, a number of new options are coming to iOS, from dwell translation in messages and calls to the flexibility to look something in your iPhone display screen by means of Visible Intelligence. The Pictures app can also be getting its tabs again! Extra vital are the updates to iPadOS, which is able to now assist windowed apps which might be resizable and might be tiled, bringing it nearer to a desktop computing expertise individuals have been ready for.
We’ll run by means of the highest new options in each working programs. Here is what it is advisable know.
Is Your iPhone or iPad Appropriate
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Yearly, Apple tends to chop off a number of older units from downloading the newest iOS or iPadOS model. The reason being supposedly on account of {hardware} age. (Apple usually helps iPhones and iPads for six to seven years.)
iPhones from 2019 and newer—the iPhone 11 and up, together with the iPhone SE (2nd Gen)—will assist iOS 26. The iPhones that obtained iOS 18 however at the moment are minimize off from the newest model are the iPhone XR and iPhone XS collection from 2018. In case you’re not sure about your iPhone mannequin, head to Settings > Common > About and take a look at the mannequin identify.
iPads are just a little extra sophisticated, because the naming scheme fluctuates. Apple not too long ago retired the “generations” and is now utilizing the chipset to indicate the mannequin. You may work out what mannequin your iPad is by heading right here. The Seventh-gen iPad from 2019 appears to be the one one that won’t obtain the replace in comparison with iPads that obtained iPadOS 18.
iPad: eighth gen and later, together with A16iPad Mini: fifth gen and later, together with A17 ProiPad Air: third gen and later, together with M2 and M3iPad Professional 11-inch: 1st gen and lateriPad Professional 12.9-inch: third gen and lateriPad Professional: M4
Learn how to Attempt iOS 26 or iPadOS 26 Now
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Apple has launched the developer beta of iOS and iPadOS 26, however I do not advocate putting in it simply but in your major iPhone; perhaps use an older iPhone you’ve mendacity round should you actually need to strive it out. There are some bugs, and there is all the time a threat of messing up your iPhone on an early model meant for builders.
If you will threat it, ensure you again up your machine. Head to Settings and faucet your identify on the high, then choose iCloud. Faucet on iCloud Backup, toggle it on, and faucet Again Up Now. Learn our Learn how to Again Up Your iPhone or iPad information for different strategies and extra particulars.
Once you’re able to replace, ensure your iPhone is absolutely charged and linked to Wi-Fi. Then go to Settings > Common > Software program Replace > Beta Updates and select the iOS 26 developer beta. It’s going to request the replace after which take a while to obtain it. Your iPhone will then robotically restart to put in it, so ensure you put aside a number of minutes for the entire course of. That is it!
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Apple’s earlier iOS model was iOS 18 in 2024, however the firm has determined to revamp its naming construction so that each one of its platforms are constant. Which means iOS, iPadOS, macOS, visionOS, tvOS, and watchOS are all on model 26. Why 26? Apple is following the automobile maker’s playbook, naming the replace for the final two digits of the next 12 months. Most individuals obtain the newest iPhone OS model in December, though Apple releases it in September; this fashion it continues to really feel contemporary proper as the brand new 12 months rolls round.
Prime iOS 26 Options
Let’s check out the highest new options in iOS 26. You may learn extra about it immediately from Apple right here.
Liquid Glass and Lock Display screen Modifications
Apple has a brand new design language for the iPhone, the primary main visible overhaul in years, and it is referred to as Liquid Glass. It’s extremely very similar to the Home windows Aero theme from the Microsoft Vista days in 2006. The interface acts like glass, so flattening the lock display screen feels such as you’re shifting a pane of glass, and you may see how the apps work together round it. There are even specular highlights on app icons that shift because the cellphone strikes in your hand. Apple has additionally added some newer animations that really feel bouncy, not not like a few of the new animations in Android 16. There’s supposedly no change in efficiency or battery life to render these results.
The iOS 26 dwelling display screen with an non-obligatory all-glass theme.
{Photograph}: Julian Chokkattu
You may have the conventional app icons with Liquid Glass, and you may even tint the apps identical to final 12 months. However there is a new possibility for “Clear” app icons, and all the things within the interface switches to that all-glass look.
On the lock display screen, the time adapts to the obtainable house.
Courtesy of Apple
Over on the lock display screen, the time now adapts to the photograph, stretching till it goes proper behind the highest of the topic for a depth impact. Additionally, when new notifications are available in, the topic in your photograph shifts up in order that the notifications do not block them. There’s additionally a brand new technique to flip 2D pictures right into a 3D impact within the Pictures app, and you may apply these to the lock display screen.
Name Screening and Cellphone App Redesign
Taking a web page from Google’s Name Display screen function on Pixel telephones, Apple has lastly added its personal model in iOS 26. When you allow Name Screening, it’s going to robotically reply calls from unknown callers within the background with out alerting you. As soon as the caller offers a purpose for his or her name, your cellphone will ring, however you’ll see the response on the display screen so you’ll be able to determine whether or not you need to reply or not.
Similar to Google’s Maintain for Me function, Apple has a Maintain Help operate that makes staying on maintain extra bearable. In case you’re making an attempt to succeed in an organization however hear the dreaded maintain music, you’ll be able to flip this function on and will not need to pay tremendous shut consideration to your cellphone. When the music is over and a dwell agent begins speaking, you will get a notification—useful if it is advisable wait greater than half-hour simply to succeed in a customer support rep.
The redesigned cellphone app in iOS 26.
{Photograph}: Julian Chokkattu
These screening capabilities are additionally within the Messages and FaceTime app with an “Unknown Senders” tab. You may approve these numbers they usually’ll present up in your principal Messages view, or mark them as spam. (Some will robotically be screened as Spam.)
The Cellphone app additionally has a brand new look, along with your favorites up high and up to date calls under. You’ll swap to the previous Cellphone app person interface by means of a toggle on the highest proper of the app.
Dwell Translation in Messages, Cellphone, and FaceTime
Now you can get dwell translations from Apple’s Messages, Cellphone, and FaceTime apps. We have seen comparable variations of this know-how from Samsung and Google on their respective telephones over the previous few years. Within the Cellphone app, you’ll be able to activate a translation mode, and a voice will translate what the opposite particular person says and vice versa in actual time. (You may toggle whether or not you want translation each methods or simply for one language.) Over within the Messages app, you will see translated textual content as part of your message bubble when talking with another person, and in FaceTime, you will get real-time translated subtitles. All of those occur on-device, so knowledge does not go away your iPhone, they usually’ll additionally work once you’re speaking with individuals utilizing Android telephones.
Dwell Translation is built-in into Messages, FaceTime, and Cellphone. It will probably translate audio in addition to textual content.
Courtesy of Apple
In the mean time, Dwell Translation in Cellphone and FaceTime solely works with one-on-one calls in English (UK and US), French (France), German, Portuguese (Brazil), and Spanish (Spain). Dwell Translation in Messages has barely broader language assist, together with Chinese language (simplified) and Japanese. Since there’s now a Cellphone app on iPadOS and MacOS, you’ll be able to nonetheless make the most of these options should you reply on these platforms.
Visible Intelligence and the iPhone Display screen
Visible Intelligence debuted with Apple Intelligence as a technique to have Siri perceive the world round you thru the iPhone’s digicam. It is now increasing to know the context of your iPhone’s display screen. Very very similar to Google’s Gemini, Visible Intelligence can establish what’s in your display screen and recommend particular actions.
Not like triggering Visible Intelligence and Siri with the Digital camera Management or Motion Button, to set off the onscreen contextual mode, it’s a must to take a screenshot (these do not need to be saved should you faucet the X icon on the highest left). In case you take a screenshot of an invite somebody despatched you, for instance, you will see a suggestion so as to add it to your calendar with one faucet. In case you’re taking a look at a PDF, a screenshot would possibly recommend a summarization so you will get the highlights.
Constructing on Apple Intelligence, visible intelligence now extends to a person’s iPhone display screen, making it simple to look and take motion throughout apps with something they’re viewing.
Courtesy of Apple
There’s even a function similar to Google Lens or Google’s Circle to Search, the place you’ll be able to take a screenshot after which spotlight a particular factor on the web page you need to search by way of Google, or by means of one other app that is put in in your cellphone that helps the function, like Etsy. So you’ll be able to spotlight a vase, for instance, after which discover comparable outcomes by way of Google or comparable shoppable vases on Etsy.
New Group Message and Emoji Options
Group chats are lastly getting typing indicators and polls (although the latter is unique to iMessage group chats). There’s additionally the flexibility so as to add new background designs for messages to make them extra customized. In case you’re large on emoji, you would possibly like the brand new means to combine two emojis collectively by way of Genmoji within the keyboard or in Apple’s Picture Playground app. (It is considerably just like Google’s Emoji Kitchen.)
Conversations in Messages have background textures now.
{Photograph}: Julian Chokkattu
Group chats get an overhaul.
{Photograph}: Julian Chokkattu
A New Video games App
There is a new app in iOS 26! The Video games app is now your one-stop store to see all of the video games you have ever purchased on the App Retailer, and you may launch them proper from this app. (There’s even controller assist so you should use a cell controller to maneuver by means of the person interface.) The app allows you to uncover new video games, see what your mates are enjoying, and a Challenges tab allows you to compete even with single-player video games by way of a leaderboard.
Different Noteworthy Options
There are a number of different options not talked about right here, however listed here are a number of different highlights.
Pictures: Apple heard your complaints in regards to the Pictures app and introduced again the Library and Collections tabs on the principle web page of the app.Digital camera: The Digital camera app has a brand new look, with a simplified Picture and Video structure that expands once you transfer by means of modes.Reminders: You will now see prompt duties, buying objects, or follow-ups based mostly in your emails and texts in your iPhone, powered by Apple Intelligence. There’s additionally an choice to auto-categorize associated reminders in a listing.AirPods Audio and Video Recording: When you have AirPods or AirPods Professional with the H2 chip, you can begin recording a video within the iPhone’s digicam app by urgent and holding on the stem. It’s also possible to report audio in excessive definition within the digicam app with these AirPods.Maps: Maps will be taught the routes you journey frequently and offers you a heads up about delays earlier than you permit the home. Additionally, there’s now a Visited Locations part within the app (it’s a must to decide in, and you may select for the way lengthy Maps shops this knowledge, from 3 months to perpetually).Apple Music: Within the Music app, there’s now an AutoMix function that can seamlessly mixes one music to the subsequent like a DJ utilizing instruments like time stretching and beatmatching. Additionally, should you’re taking a look at music lyrics, now you can see translations.Pockets: Apple’s Pockets app can create Digital IDs along with your US passport, which can be utilized at TSA checkpoints, in apps, and in particular person. Additionally, your boarding move will now function airport maps, baggage monitoring with Discover My, and sharable Dwell Actions so your family members can simply obtain and see your flight data.Picture Playground: There are new ChatGPT kinds to select from when producing pictures in Apple’s picture technology app.CarPlay: Dwell Actions at the moment are coming to CarPlay, so you’ll be able to see the standing of a pal’s flight as you are in your technique to the airport to select them up. It’s also possible to now react in Messages with Tapback.
The Prime New iPadOS 26 Options
iPadOS 26 will get lots of the identical options as iOS 26, so I will not repeat issues on this part, however let’s check out particular new capabilities coming to iPads this fall. As all the time, you will get a deeper dive from Apple right here.
Multitasking Enhancements
iPads have develop into extremely highly effective over the previous few years, however multitasking has been lackluster, making them really feel insufficient as laptop computer replacements. That is altering now with the multitasking modifications in iPadOS 26. Now apps assist windowing, so you’ll be able to have a number of apps on the display screen in several sizes. Simply resize them by dragging a nook of the app and prepare them wherever.
Apps might be tiled in several configurations.
{Photograph}: Julian Chokkattu
You get Mac-style site visitors gentle buttons too.
{Photograph}: Julian Chokkattu
There are native window tiling choices—a flick to the left or proper will tile apps to the perimeters for simpler split-screen, and you may even cut up apps into thirds or quarters. The acquainted site visitors gentle buttons from macOS are additionally obtainable now on apps, and should you press and maintain them, you will see extra choices to rearrange apps with a faucet. Swipe up and maintain and your apps will unfold out in Exposé mode, and you’ll revisit your grouped apps later even should you swap to a full-screen app. There’s now additionally a menu bar you’ll be able to pull down from the highest in any app, although the obtainable choices will rely upon the app.
Better of all, iPadOS now allows you to deal with extra duties within the background. Beforehand, should you had been rendering a file in Closing Lower, you’d need to maintain it open for the render to finish. Now, that job might be executed within the background, permitting you to change to different apps for a real multitasking desktop expertise.
A Higher Recordsdata App
The Recordsdata app has a brand new design that gives up extra data at a look. There are resizable columns, collapsible folders, and you may set default apps for opening particular file varieties. It’s also possible to customise folders with totally different colours and emojis to make them visually distinct. Talking of, you’ll be able to put folders within the dock for speedier entry.
The Recordsdata app has sortable, resizable columns.
Courtesy of Apple
Preview App Involves iPad
Apple’s Preview app from macOS is now obtainable on iPadOS, permitting you to open, edit, and mark up PDFs or pictures. It really works with the Apple Pencil, making it nice for filling out textual content fields and signing paperwork.
The Preview app works with Apple Pencil.
Courtesy of Apple
Different Noteworthy Options
Cellphone: There’s now a devoted Cellphone app on iPad. Calls made to your iPhone might be routed so you’ll be able to reply from the iPad, and you’ll make the most of new options like dwell translation and name screening, too.Journal: The Journal app, initially an iPhone-exclusive app, is now on iPadOS. It now helps the Apple Pencil, so you can also make your journal really feel much more private with your personal handwriting.Audio recording: There is a new enter chooser that allows you to decide the appropriate microphone for every app, useful should you’re connecting exterior mics to the iPad.Notes: You may seize conversations from the Cellphone app as audio recordings with transcriptions.
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