iOS 26 launch date, beta, options, compatibility for brand new iOS replace

Apple revealed its plans for its subsequent iOS replace on the WWDC keynote on June 9, 2025. The corporate additionally confirmed off new options for the subsequent iPadOS replace, macOS Tahoe, watchOS and extra on the occasion. 

As per the rumors, the upcoming iOS will likely be generally known as iOS 26 reasonably than iOS 19, with Apple breaking with custom and switching to an easier naming conference that pertains to the 12 months reasonably than a sequential quantity. Apple is taking the chance to carry consistency to the way in which it names all of the working techniques, a transfer we at Macworld are celebrating. 

As anticipated, Apple has additionally given all its working techniques a serious design overhaul, with iOS benefiting from a brand new design language that makes use of what Apple refers to as Liquid Glass as a result of it provides every part a shiny fluidity. This design extends to the dock and widgets. Apple can also be making the entire interface extra intuitive, with adjustments designed to raise the most well-liked options in addition to aid you discover new ones. 

The redesign isn’t the one change coming to iOS later in 2025. There are additionally adjustments coming to iPhone apps, together with the Telephone app itself, the Digital camera, FaceTime, Messages and a model new Video games app. You will discover out extra about these options under. We additionally share which iPhones are anticipated to be suitable with iOS 26, and which iPhones aren’t supported. 

The complete model of iOS 26 gained’t launch till September – you will discover out in regards to the iOS 26 launch date under. However you don’t have to attend till then: Apple runs a beta, so builders and those that need to enroll in the general public beta can strive the brand new options out. Learn on for details about the beta program, together with the anticipated launch date for the Public Beta and any developments within the beta testing program

Keep tuned to this frequently up to date superguide for every part you’ll want to know in regards to the upcoming iOS replace, the newest model of the beta and all the brand new options which can be coming.

Apple

iOS 26 Launch date

• Date TBC: 15 September, 2025 predicted

iOS 26 isn’t out but, not less than not for most people. It’ll doubtless be out there to obtain in September. iPadOS, macOS Tahoe, watchOS and the opposite updates will in all probability be out there to obtain on the identical time. This can doubtless occur shortly after the September occasion and the launch of the iPhone 17 and new Apple Watches. 

iOS 26 Beta launch date: The way to get iOS 26 early

• Developer beta: June 9, 2025, June 13 replace.
• Public beta TBC: July 15, 2025 estimated

You gained’t have to attend till the total launch to strive the brand new software program out. Apple runs a developer beta and a public beta for many who need to check out the brand new options earlier than they’re launched to most people. Each betas are free, although the developer beta requires a free registration as a developer.

The primary model of the iOS developer beta was launched following the WWDC keynote, so builders may instantly start testing it with their merchandise. This beta just isn’t secure and there have been stories of points from those that put in it immediately. Apple up to date the primary developer beta just a few days after the launch.

Apple may even launch a public beta. This normally arrives in July, a couple of month after the primary developer beta. In 2024 it arrived on July 15, so we anticipate an analogous launch in 2025. 

Between WWDC and the official launch within the fall, Apple will launch a string of beta releases, usually eight or so in complete. We’ve a separate article that particulars tips on how to be part of Apple’s beta software program program so you may check the brand new software program as quickly because the beta arrives.

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 tips on how to get it. And be sure you learn why we advise towards putting in the iOS beta.

iOS 26 supported gadgets: Which iPhones get iOS 26

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

The next iPhones will 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 gadgets it typically signifies that sure fashions usually are not suitable with the replace. The iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max, which had 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 difficulty security-related software program updates to iOS 18 for just a few 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 every 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. Because of this in case your cellphone isn’t a type of talked about you miss out on options such because the Visible Intelligence and Genmoji updates, in addition to the Telephone app means to handle your undesirable calls. 

Learn the way the brand new iOS compares with the present model in our comparability of iOS 26 vs iOS 18: What’s completely different, what’s new, and must you replace?

iOS 26 design: Liquid Glass and different design adjustments

Apple

Throughout the WWDC keynote Apple previewed the brand new iPhone options coming later in 2025. The most important change is a visible one: a daring new redesign known as Liquid Glass.

This represents the most important 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 the interface will likely be extra curved with a lot of translucent components.

There are additionally adjustments coming that can simplify app interfaces and make the content material extra seen.

What’s Liquid Glass?

The adjustments coming in iOS 26 had been rumoured to be “Slicker and extra fashionable” with Apple stated to be adopting components from visionOS. The brand new design lives as much as these expectations. It’s primarily based on a graphical person interface that Apple is looking Liquid Glass, which creates a translucent impact that mimics the qualities of glass.

Apple says that it’s going to really feel extra like interacting with the bodily world, with components being be extra curved and fewer flat and dynamically reacting to your contact.

Apple says the adjustments blur the traces between {hardware} and software program. In actual fact, based on Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, Apple is designing a twentieth anniversary iPhone with curved glass on all sides that would be the perfect showcase for Liquid Glass.

This new Liquid Glass design extends to all of Apple’s merchandise and to all of Apple’s apps. You’ll see the impact on the Dock, widgets and icons. Panes, home windows, buttons and menus will likely be offered as translucent layers with specular highlights.

The Liquid Glass components will change coloration to mirror the content material beneath as you scroll and it will likely be potential to see blurred and refracted components of the background by way of the highest layer. This final level has result in some concern about readability, with the seen backgrounds affecting readability of textual content, for instance.

Interface adjustments 

Apple

Apple is designing the interface to present a clearer view of what’s under the instruments and menu bars. Menus will shrink as you scroll to disclose the content material under. Apple can also be eradicating a number of the litter from menus to simplify issues and emphasise the extra regularly used choices. For instance, reasonably than occupying an oblong bar on the backside of the display, teams of controls will seem on floating components that come out extra controls, change as you progress between views, and are tucked away whenever 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 making an attempt to make iOS and its apps extra intuitive. 

instance of how these design adjustments will likely be utilized is the Lock Display, which will likely be extra adaptive. The picture you select as your wallpaper will likely be scaled to suit the peak and width of the Lock Display 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.

We’ll focus on the adjustments coming to particular person apps under, however primarily 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.

iOS 26 and Apple Intelligence

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

Apple has 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 had numerous spectacular Apple Intelligence powered options to point out off at WWDC although. In actual fact, a number of the new options coming to Highlight on the Mac seem like a number of the options promised for Siri.

A few of these new Apple Intelligence options will make a huge impact in apps, particularly the Telephone app, which we’ll focus on under. One other beneficiary of Apple Intelligence is Visible Intelligence, which was launched in iOS 18 and features a really helpful means in iOS 26.

Visible Intelligence in iOS 26

IDG

In iOS 18 you need to use Visible Intelligence by holding up the iPhone to view one thing you had been interested in, triggering Visible Intelligence (through the Digital camera Management button if in case you have one, or through the Management Centre if not) and viewing details about what you had been pointing the digital camera at. It may determine a constructing, or provide so as to add the date from a poster to your calendar, for instance. That’s all very effectively when you’re out and about, however what about when you’re simply looking the net and need to know the place one thing somebody is sporting is from or the place a video is being filmed?

In iOS 26 it will likely be potential take a screenshot and search for details about that picture and merchandise in it utilizing Visible Intelligence. You may as well ask ChatGPT for details about the screenshot. 

Genmoji and Picture Playground in iOS 26

Apple

Additionally benefitting from Apple Intelligence is Genmoji, one other function that arrived with iOS 18. Genmoji enables you to create customized emoji utilizing AI. To create a Genmoji you kind an outline within the Describe an Emoji area and faucet on Create New Emoji. You should utilize pictures of individuals you already know as a foundation and refine the emoji till it represents what you’re searching for. The emoji will then be out there in your emoji keyboard to make use of.

In iOS 26 the Genmoji interface is getting 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 may be created from a photograph). Customers will be capable to additional customise emoji inside Picture Playground, altering expressions.

Picture Playground, which is Apple’s app for making AI-generated pictures, arrived in iOS 18 and is getting an replace in iOS 26. In iOS 26 it will likely be potential to make use of ChatGTP types, corresponding to an oil portray in addition to these supplied by Apple to create pictures in Picture Playground.

iOS 26 new apps and up to date apps 

• New Telephone app capabilities
• Translation
• Digital camera app overhaul

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 gadgets. iOS 26 isn’t any completely different.

This time a number of the upcoming adjustments are going to be fairly transformative to how you employ the cellphone – and by which we imply the phone side to the iPhone.  

Telephone app

The cellphone app won’t be the one we use essentially the most, however as Apple says, it’s elementary to the iPhone. With iOS 26 the cellphone app is getting a giant replace that primarily turns it right into a PA. 

Apple is tapping into Apple Intelligence to carry new Voice Mail summaries to floor an important data, however much more thrilling, it’s aiming to eradicate undesirable calls with a brand new Name Screening possibility that may reply the decision within the background, ask the caller to elucidate 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 likely make it more durable to disregard calls from individuals you ought to truly converse 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 function is Maintain Help, which is able to robotically detect maintain music and mute the decision till it’s related to an agent. In consequence you may get issues finished with out having to maintain your cellphone 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 cellphone 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 Telephone app ought to make it not possible to by accident faucet on contact within the Recents record and name them. At present, when you faucet on a reputation in your Recents record it’ll robotically name that individual. A brand new setting will mean you can flip off “Faucet Recents to Name”.

Stay Translations

Additionally coming to the Telephone app, but in addition current as a options in Messages and FaceTime, is Stay Translations, which is able to aid you talk with somebody who speaks one other language.

With this function it is possible for you to to have a dialog with some who speaks a distinct language to you. If you’re conversant in the Hitchhiker’s Information to the Galaxy that is virtually on the stage of getting a Bable Fish.

If you’re chatting with some through the cellphone app the iPhone will translate what it being stated, with a spoken voice translating what has been stated into your language. The recipient may even hear translations in their very own language. Apparently they don’t have to have an iPhone. The principle restriction proper now could be that Stay Translation for Telephone is accessible just for one-on-one calls in English, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish.

As we stated above, it’s not solely the Telephone app that can get the Stay Translation options. FaceTime and Messages will as effectively. And Translation can also be discovering its approach into the Music app.

FaceTime 

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

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

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

Messages

Apple

If you’re utilizing Messages to speak with somebody who speaks a distinct language what you kind is translated into their language and vice versa.

As with the cellphone, Messages is getting a screening software to fight spam. On-device spam detection provides you with “complete management over who seems in your dialog record,” based on Apple.

It’s already potential to filter out spam by utilizing the Unknown Senders record in Messages, however in iOS 26 Messages can have a larger means to display for spam, and it’ll be sure you nonetheless obtain verification codes and different crucial or time delicate 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 will likely be out there. Messages will even recommend a ballot if a scenario requires one. Anybody can add choices to the ballot, as effectively. 

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

Apple

Music

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 possibility that makes use of AI to fade between songs and match beats like a DJ would.

There may be additionally a brand new animated Apple Music paintings possibility for the Lock Display. 

Interface adjustments must also imply it’s quicker and simpler to get to the music you’re in to. For instance, you may pin your favorite album or playlist to the highest of your library. 

Apple

Video games

Apple is lastly tidying up the gaming expertise on the iPhone with a model new Video games app. With half a billion individuals taking part in video games on iPad, based on Apple, it’s about time. 

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 will provide numerous tabs to make discovering the video games you’re taking part in or have performed simpler. The House tab reveals what’s most related to you. The Library tab reveals all of the video games you’ve ever downloaded. 

There may be additionally a Play Collectively tab the place you may see what your pals are taking part in, play video games with them, evaluate scores, and invite them to play video games. You may as well problem them to beat your highest rating in single participant video games. Turning single participant video games into enjoyable competitions with buddies, with scores in actual time. 

Apple

One other change coming to gaming on iPhone (and iPad) is a brand new consistency to hoe 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 offers its personal contact controls for buttons, thumbsticks, dpads, throttles, and touchpads.

Apple Pockets

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

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

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

You may as well observe Apple Pay orders, with Apple Intelligence discovering the order particulars and monitoring data and holding them collectively for you. 

Passwords & Autofill

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

As well as, iOS 26, Apple is introducing enhancements 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 potential for iPhone and iPad apps to allow customers to create a passkey with only a faucet. Passkeys may be authenticated with Face ID or Contact ID, and credentials will likely be synchronized between your Apple gadgets through iCloud.

It’ll even be potential to pre-fill private knowledge, corresponding to identify and e-mail, so that you not must waste time filling in lengthy sign-up kinds. Even higher, iOS 26 will be capable to autofill verification codes from Gmail and WhatsApp. Verification code autofill might also work in Google Chrome, at present verification codes solely work with Apple’s Safari browser.

Maps 

Apple

The Maps app additionally will get an replace, utilizing Apple Intelligence to know your common commutes and be taught your favourites. With this data it will likely be capable of warn you when you ought to take a distinct route on account of site visitors. 

One other change to Maps is that in order for you it to it will possibly log Visited Locations, which is able to make it simpler to search out and recall locations you’ve been to up to now. It’s simple to delete this historical past too. 

Reminders

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

Clock

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

Additionally, you will achieve the flexibility to set alarms from inside different apps. For instance, you could possibly 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 itself, a lot of which is able to enhance the general expertise.

Operating duties within the background

iOS 26 can have a brand new API for operating duties within the background. So that you gained’t must preserve an app open after they’re doing one thing necessary, corresponding to importing information or exporting a video. Customers can swap to different apps with out interrupting the earlier job.

AI-powered battery administration

A new adaptive low energy mode has been noticed within the iOS 26 developer beta. This doesn’t exchange 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 a little bit extra juice out of your battery.

As well as, the Lock Display will now show estimated charging occasions to hit 80 % and one hundred pc battery energy.