iOS 26

iOS 26 introduces a new unified design language across all Apple platforms known as Liquid Glass. Influenced by visionOS, the design replaces the flat design language introduced in iOS 7 to utilize rounded, translucent elements with the "optical qualities of glass" (including refraction), which would react to motion, content, and inputs. It also comes with the return of skeuomorphism from iOS 6 and earlier, most notable in the Camera app's new icon (which resembles the icon from iOS 6 and earlier). Multiple apps (including the camera and Safari among others) have redesigned user interfaces to reflect the new design language.{{Cite web |last=Perez |first=Sarah |date=2025-06-09 |title=Apple redesigns its operatings systems with 'Liquid Glass' |url=https://techcrunch.com/2025/06/09/apple-redesigns-its-operatings-systems-with-liquid-glass/ |access-date=2025-06-09 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Jay |date=2025-06-09 |title=Apple announces iOS 26 with Liquid Glass redesign |url=https://www.theverge.com/news/678305/apple-ios-26-wwdc-2025 |access-date=2025-06-09 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}}

{{main|Apple Intelligence}}iOS 26 introduces new Apple Intelligence features; Apple Intelligence models were made more efficient and support additional languages.{{Cite web |date=2025-06-09 |title=Apple Intelligence opened up to all developers with Foundation Models Framework |url=https://appleinsider.com/articles/25/06/09/apple-intelligence-opened-up-to-all-developers-with-foundation-models-framework |access-date=2025-06-10 |website=AppleInsider |language=en}} It will support live translation of voice and text conversations using on-device models, while Genmoji can now be invoked to merge existing emojis together rather than needing to use a prompt.{{Cite web |date=2025-06-09 |title=Apple Intelligence at WWDC: Everything Apple announced for iOS, macOS and more |url=https://www.engadget.com/ai/apple-intelligence-at-wwdc-everything-apple-announced-for-ios-macos-and-more-171133202.html |access-date=2025-06-10 |website=Engadget |language=en-US}} The Shortcuts app will support the integration of AI actions. Visual Intelligence and Image Playground will also feature additional ChatGPT integration.

The new Foundation Models framework will allow Apple Intelligence features to be integrated into third-party apps; Apple stated that a Swift app can implement the framework in as little as three lines of code.

The battery menu in the Settings app has been updated, adding comparison displays for battery usage on a daily basis. A new "adaptive power" mode is also introduced, which automatically performs optimizations (such as screen brightness adjustments and throttling) to improve battery life when device usage is higher than normal.{{Cite web |last=Roth |first=Emma |date=2025-06-09 |title=iOS 26's new 'adaptive power' mode dials back performance to save battery |url=https://www.theverge.com/news/683797/ios-26s-new-adaptive-power-mode-dials-back-performance-to-save-battery |access-date=2025-06-10 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2025-06-09 |title=iOS 26 Features Battery Settings Overhaul |url=https://www.macrumors.com/2025/06/09/ios-26-battery-settings-overhaul/ |access-date=2025-06-10 |website=MacRumors |language=en}}

The Messages app will support adding backgrounds to conversations, polls, typing indicators for group chats, sending money through Apple Cash in group chats, and directing messages from unknown senders to a dedicated folder for screening.{{Cite web |date=2025-06-09 |title=Here's What's New in Messages on iOS 26: Polls, Backgrounds, and More |url=https://www.macrumors.com/2025/06/09/apple-announces-ios-26-messages-app-features/ |access-date=2025-06-10 |website=MacRumors |language=en}}

Apple Music includes several new features, including "AutoMix"—a playback mode that will automatically generate transitions between songs using Apple Intelligence, the ability to view inline translations and pronunciation guides for song lyrics, and integration with the Apple Music Sing karaoke feature on the tvOS Apple Music app (including the ability to use an iPhone as a microphone, and for participants to control karaoke from their devicesOnly available on Apple TV 4K devices.).{{Cite web |last=Mehta |first=Ivan |date=2025-06-09 |title=Apple Music adds lyrics translation and pronunciation features in iOS 26 |url=https://techcrunch.com/2025/06/09/apple-music-adds-lyrics-translation-and-pronunciation-features-in-ios-26/ |access-date=2025-06-10 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}

Home only supports the redesigned Apple Home architecture introduced in iOS 16 and ends support for the legacy architecture.{{Cite news |last=Christoffel |first=Ryan |date=2025-05-12 |title=Apple confirms iOS 19 will end support for legacy Home app system - 9to5Mac |url=https://9to5mac.com/2025/05/12/apple-confirms-ios-19-will-end-support-for-legacy-home-app-system/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250516071831/https://9to5mac.com/2025/05/12/apple-confirms-ios-19-will-end-support-for-legacy-home-app-system/ |archive-date=2025-05-16 |access-date=2025-06-10 |work=9to5Mac |language=en-US}}

A new Games app provides an interface to games from App Store and Apple Arcade, as well as Game Center social features.{{cite web |last1=Mayo |first1=Benjamin |title=Apple unveils new Apple Games app |url=https://9to5mac.com/2025/06/09/apple-unveils-new-apple-games-app/ |website=9to5Mac |access-date=9 June 2025 |date=9 June 2025}}

Amid negative user reception to its redesign on iOS 18, the user interface of the Photos app reverted back to a tab-based interface, though now only with separate "Library" and "Collections" areas. It also adds the ability for photos to be converted to "spatial photos" with a parallax-like effect.{{Cite web |last=Perez |first=Sarah |date=2025-06-09 |title=Apple brings back tabs to the Photos app in iOS 26 |url=https://techcrunch.com/2025/06/09/apple-brings-back-tabs-to-the-photos-app-in-ios-26/ |access-date=2025-06-10 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Perry |first=Alex |date=2025-06-09 |title=WWDC 2025: Apple's iOS 26 brings much-needed updates to Photos, Camera apps |url=https://mashable.com/article/apple-ios-26-camera-photos-update |access-date=2025-06-10 |website=Mashable |language=en}}

The Notes app can record and transcribe calls into notes, while Markdown is added as a new export option.{{Cite web |date=2025-06-09 |title=Four New Features Coming to Apple Reminders and Notes |url=https://www.macrumors.com/2025/06/09/four-features-coming-to-apple-reminders-and-notes/ |access-date=2025-06-10 |website=MacRumors |language=en}}

Maps will use "on-device Intelligence" to determine a user's most commonly–travelled commutes (such as travelling from home to work), allowing them to be automatically recalled, and the user to receive notifications of potential delays and alternate routes. It also adds a new "Visited Places" menu leveraging the user's location history.{{Cite web |last=Marcin |first=Tim |date=2025-06-09 |title=iOS 26 gives Apple Maps a new look and 'Visited Places' tool |url=https://mashable.com/article/apple-maps-ios-26-updates-wwdc-2025 |access-date=2025-06-10 |website=Mashable |language=en}}

The Apple Wallet app adds additional functions for boarding passes, including the ability to display interior maps of the respective airport, and real-time flight information as a Live Activity. Users in the United States will also be able to add their digital passport to Wallet.{{Cite web |date=2025-06-09 |title=iOS 26 brings big changes to Music, Maps, and Wallet |url=https://appleinsider.com/articles/25/06/09/ios-26-brings-big-changes-to-music-maps-and-wallet |access-date=2025-06-10 |website=AppleInsider |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Chant |first=Tim De |date=2025-06-09 |title=Apple Wallet gains new travel-friendly features in iOS 26 |url=https://techcrunch.com/2025/06/09/apple-wallet-gains-new-travel-friendly-features-in-ios-26/ |access-date=2025-06-10 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}

iOS 26 includes new accessibility features, such as Accessibility Reader for systemwide narration, Braille Access, which allows connection to braille displays, as well as updates to Live Listen, Background Sounds, Personal Voice, and more.{{cite web |title=Apple elevates the iPhone experience with iOS 26 |url=https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/06/apple-elevates-the-iphone-experience-with-ios-26/ |access-date=9 June 2025 |website=Apple Newsroom}}

iOS 26 requires a device with an Apple A13 Bionic processor or newer, thus dropping support for the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR.{{Cite web |last=Cunningham |first=Andrew |date=2025-06-09 |title=Apple drops support for just three iPhone and iPad models from iOS and iPadOS 26 |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/06/ios-and-ipados-26-will-run-on-most-things-that-support-ios-and-ipados-18/ |access-date=2025-06-10 |website=Ars Technica |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2025-06-10 |title=iOS 26, iPadOS 26 Are Compatible With These iPhone and iPad Models |url=https://www.gadgets360.com/mobiles/news/ios-ipados-26-compatible-iphone-ipad-apple-wwdc-2025-8630859 |access-date=2025-06-10 |website=Gadgets 360 |language=en}} Apple Intelligence requires an Apple A17 Pro processor or newer.{{Cite web |last=Prospero |first=Mike |date=June 10, 2024 |title=Here are the devices that will support Apple Intelligence — no older iPhones allowed |url=https://www.tomsguide.com/ai/here-are-the-devices-that-will-support-apple-intelligence-no-older-iphones-allowed |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240611153848/https://www.tomsguide.com/ai/here-are-the-devices-that-will-support-apple-intelligence-no-older-iphones-allowed |archive-date=June 11, 2024 |access-date=June 10, 2024 |website=Tom's Guide |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=iOS 18 Preview |url=https://www.apple.com/ios/ios-18-preview/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240610182101/https://www.apple.com/ios/ios-18-preview/ |archive-date=June 10, 2024 |access-date=September 8, 2024 |website=Apple |language=en-US}}

The first developer beta of iOS 26 has been released as of June 9, 2025.

• iPadOS 26
• macOS Tahoe

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• {{cite web |title=Apple elevates the iPhone experience with iOS 26 |url=https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/06/apple-elevates-the-iphone-experience-with-ios-26/ |website=Apple Newsroom |access-date=9 June 2025}}

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Category:2025 software

Category:Applications of artificial intelligence

Category:Mobile operating systems

Category:Products introduced in 2025

Category:Proprietary operating systems