The successor toiOS 18, itsversion number was brought forward to 26 as Apple changed its version numbering convention for consistency across its operating systems.[9][10]
iOS 26 introduces a unifieddesign language, known asLiquid Glass, across all Apple platforms. Influenced byvisionOS, the design replaces theflat design language introduced iniOS 7 to utilize rounded, translucent elements with the "optical qualities of glass" (includingrefraction), which react to motion, content, and inputs. Multiple apps, including Camera and Safari, have redesigneduser interfaces to reflect the new design language.[11][12]
Home screen and lock screen
Widgets on the lock screen can now be placed at the bottom of the screen.[13]
The height of the time shown on the lock screen is dynamic, and can increase or decrease depending on the objects recognized in the background.[13]
In addition to the Dark, Light, and Tinted themes, iOS 26 adds a "Clear" theme that changes the Home Screen to use icons that use the glass-like effects introduced withLiquid Glass.[14]
Battery
A new energy-saving feature called Adaptive Power was introduced for periods of higher device usage. It makes minor adjustments, such as reducing screen brightness and slowing down processes, without blocking background activities like the traditional low-power mode does. Models earlier than the iPhone 15 Pro do not support it, as it requiresApple Intelligence.[15]
The estimated time to full charge is now displayed on the Lock Screen and in Settings.[15]
In the Settings app, daily battery consumption is color-coded: orange for higher usage and blue for lower or typical usage. Each app shows whether it sent more notifications, ran in the background longer, or consumed more battery than usual.[15]
Accessibility
Reader Mode is a system-level reading mode designed to assist users with blindness, low vision, or other reading impairments.[16]
Braille Access turns the user's phone into a fullbraille note-taking tool, eliminating the need for external devices. It supports braille input (via screen or braille display),Nemeth code for calculations, reading braille files, and app navigation. It also provides real-time conversation transcripts on the braille display.[17]
Head Tracking allows the user to control the pointer on the screen by tracking head movements and perform to customized actions based on facial movements and expressions (e.g. raise eyebrows, open mouth, smile, stick out tongue, eye blink, etc.)[17]
A new audio equalizer with two modes, "Comfort" and "Focus", for automatic frequency adjustment has been added in the Accessibility settings under Audio and Visual Effects.
iOS 26 introduces newApple Intelligence features; Apple Intelligence models were made more efficient and support additional languages.[18] It supports live translation of voice and text conversations using on-device models, and Genmoji can now be invoked to merge existingemojis together rather than needing to use a prompt.[19][12] Visual Intelligence and Image Playground also feature additionalChatGPT integration.[19]
The framework allows Apple Intelligence features to be integrated into third-party apps; Apple said that aSwift app can implement the framework with as little as three lines ofcode.[18]
After taking a screenshot, a full-screen preview appears. Users can search for information on the circled area and ask questions usingChatGPT. This functions like Visual Intelligence.[19]
Wallpaper
In iOS 26 Beta 3, Apple introduced new styles for the default iOS 26 wallpaper, including Shadow, Sky, Halo, and Dusk. A new dynamic wallpaper was added in the first public beta. Wallpaper Blur for AOD is a setting that lets the user apply a blur effect to the Always-on Display's wallpaper image.[20]
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi Aware: introduced support for the new Wi-Fi standard that allows a device to discover other nearby devices and communicate with them securely without an internet connection or access point.[21]
Captive Assist: when the user accesses a public Wi-Fi network on an Apple device by filling out a web form, the form information is automatically shared with the other Apple devices, making it easier to connect to the same network.[21]
Screenshots and screen recordings
The "General" section of the Settings app has a new section for configuring screenshots.
Full-screen previews: a screenshot-capture mode that keeps the captured screen in full-screen view instead of minimizing it to an icon in the screen's bottom-left corner.[22]
HDR captures: it is now possible to capture HDR screenshots and screen recordings.[22]
eSIM transfer
iOS 26 allows the user to directly transfer aneSIM between an iPhone and anAndroid phone without aQR code from the mobile carrier.[23]
Ringtones
New ringtones have been introduced for the first time sinceiOS 17, including six variations of the "Reflection" ringtone: "Buoyant", "Dreamer", "Pond, "Pop", "Reflected", and "Surge".[24]
App features
Phone
An optional unified layout has been introduced, for those who want to have favorite contacts, recent calls, and voicemail in a single view.
Call Screening automatically answers calls from unknown numbers to determine whether they are from a real person or spam. It asks the caller to identify themself and state the reason for the call. If the call is deemed legitimate, it is passed through, and the phone rings.
Hold Assist lets users put a call on hold and notify the caller when they are ready to resume the conversation.
Tap Recents to Call is a setting that, when disabled, preventsaccidental calls by tapping a name or number in the user's call history.
Live Translations in Calls allows real-time translation of the caller's voice, converting it into the desired language during the call.
The Phone app provideshaptic feedback, vibrating when the call is answered on the other end.
From the Recent Calls page, it is possible to create a reminder to re-call recently called numbers in an hour, tonight, tomorrow, or later.
Full per-contact Call History: for each contact, you can now view the full call history, spanning months and years, rather than just the most recent calls.
Messages
TheMessages app now supports custom backgrounds, polls, and the user indicator for typing in group chats. The user can also select and copy part of a message instead of the entire message.
Spam messages from unknown senders are automatically recognized and moved to a separate list.
Users can activate translation in real time to ensure that everything written in one language is sent as a message written in another.
Music
The user can pin favorite songs or albums at the top of the library.
Translation and pronunciation of live lyrics allows users to understand the lyrics of the songs in other languages and to sing (i.e., pronounce) them even if the user person does not know the language.
AutoMix switches from one song to another using Time Stretching and Beat Matching techniques for a more continuous mix.
Users can create folders in which to put playlists.
Live Radio Widget is a widget for the Home screen that allows direct access to 6 radio stations.
Fullscreen artwork: the album cover of the playing song extends to full screen on the Lock Screen.
Photos
The Photos app is redesigned to replace its short-lived design from iOS 18 with a layout that reinstates the command bar at the bottom of the screen, though unlike before, it is simplified to allow the user to quickly switch among Library, Collections, and Search selections.
It is possible to apply a 3D effect to a photo to make it appear that the represented subjects come out of the screen when the phone moves. This is the sameVisionOS technology that has been brought to the iPhone.
Camera
The Camera interface is simpler, with two main buttons, "Photo" and "Video", initially visible and placed at the bottom. An expandable and scrollable command bar reveals other shooting modes. Menus are also more intuitive: to access controls like flash, timer, and photo format, the user need only tap the grid-shaped button at the top of the toolbar, without a swipe gesture.
Lens Cleaning Hints is a setting that displays a suggestion when the camera lens should be cleaned to improve image quality.
The items in the side menu can now be reordered, allowing the preferred control to be placed in the first position.
Notes
TheNotes app can record and transcribe calls into notes, whileMarkdown is added as an export option.[25]
Reminders
A Reminders control can be added to the Control Center, allowing users to quickly create a reminder directly from there.
Maps
Preferred Routes automatically learns the routes the user takes every day, such as those between home, school, and work, and notifies them in advance of any delays without needing to be checked manually.
The user can save the favorite places they visit, such as bars or parks, to find them immediately.
Safari
A third "Compact" (floating) style has been added for tab management alongside the existing "Tab Bar" (bottom) and "Single Tab" (top) styles.
There is added support for HDR images and SVG icons.[26]
Files
The user can now color folders and assign custom icons for easier identification.
File Types per App: from the File app, the user can quickly assign the default app needed to open a given file type.
The user can directly use audio files (e.g., MP3, M4A, etc.) as ringtones by selecting the file, tapping Share, and choosing "Use as Ringtone".
Clock
The "Snooze" duration can be adjusted from 1 to 15 minutes. The buttons to stop or snooze the alarm are displayed in a large size for easier access.
Calculator
Equations in 3 variables and 3D graphs are supported in Math Notes.
Passwords
Password History allows users to view previous passwords and password change dates.
Export Passwords allows users to securely export passwords, passkeys, and verification codes to other password manager apps.
Podcasts
Enhance Dialogue: a new option that enhances podcast episode audio by emphasizing speakers' voices and reducing background noise and music. It is located in the menu that appears to adjust the podcast playback speed.
Home
Home supports only the redesignedApple Home architecture introduced iniOS 16, ending support for thelegacy architecture.[27]
Games
A new Games app provides an interface for games from the App Store andApple Arcade, as well asGame Center social features.[12][28]
Apple Wallet
TheApple Wallet app adds additional functions forboarding passes, including the ability to display interior maps of the respective airport and real-time flight information as a Live Activity. Users in theUnited States will also be able to add their digitalpassport to Wallet.[29][30]
Shortcuts
AI Actions enable the user to create commands leveraging AI capabilities. These commands begin with an action that selects an AI model or "engine," such as Cloud (Private Cloud Compute), On-Device, or ChatGPT.
Security and privacy
Wired accessories permission
In the privacy and security settings, a new permission allows or denies the use of accessories connected to the phone via cable when the phone is locked. The options the user can choose are: always ask, ask for new accessories, allow automatically when the phone is unlocked, and always allow.
Blocked contacts
A new section is available in the privacy and security settings that collects all blocked contacts across various apps, such as all unknown phone numbers automatically classified as spam.
Recovery Assistant
Recovery Assistant is a feature that allows the iPhone to automatically attempt to recover if the device fails to start up successfully.[31]
Quantum-secure TLS
TLS 1.3 in iOS 26 uses a key exchange based onquantum-secure cryptography, and it is enabled by default since it has already been adopted by the leading service providers.[32]
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