iOS 26 has arrived. The biggest iPhone software redesign since iOS 7 in 2013 is now available as a free update for compatible devices. In addition to a new look, iOS 26 upgrades core apps and pushes Apple Intelligence further in new ways. Here are the highlights.
Liquid Glass redesign across iPhone
Not since iOS 7 in 2013 has Apple changed the look of its software in such a dramatic fashion. Apple is calling the new look Liquid Glass.
The material refracts and reflects what is underneath it, creating a dynamic, fluid effect that gives depth to the Lock Screen, app icons, Control Center, and system apps. The redesign is meant to make iOS more expressive without losing its familiarity, and it also brings consistency across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV.
The Lock Screen has been revamped with a more dynamic clock that automatically scales to stay in view alongside notifications, while photos can transform into spatial scenes with subtle 3D depth as you move your device.
Album art in Music can animate behind playback controls, and app icons now offer more personalization with light, dark, tinted, and clear styles.
Each app including Camera, Photos, Safari, and FaceTime have been redesigned with the same Liquid Glass foundation. Safari introduces a new floating tab design, and FaceTime gains a refreshed landing page that highlights recent contacts with animated posters and video previews.
Apple Intelligence in action
Apple Intelligence expands in iOS 26 with new features. Visual intelligence can analyze whatever is on your screen, letting you add events from a flyer into Calendar, translate text, or ask ChatGPT about images and information without leaving the app.
Live Translation works across Messages, FaceTime, and Phone, providing on-device translated captions and even real-time translated audio during calls.
Shortcuts benefit from intelligent actions, such as summarizing documents, creating images with Image Playground, or using Apple Intelligence models directly for more complex automation.
Genmoji, a feature powered by generative AI, lets you combine emoji with text descriptions or customize characters inspired by people in your Photos library. Image Playground offers similar creative control for generating visuals and integrates directly with Messages.
Core app upgrades
Several everyday apps receive significant attention in iOS 26. The Phone app introduces a unified layout that merges Favorites, Recents, and Voicemail, while Call Screening helps filter unknown numbers and Hold Assist keeps your place in line when calling businesses.
Messages introduces dynamic backgrounds for conversations, live polls, and improved spam filtering. Group chats now display typing indicators for each participant and integrate Apple Cash for quick payments.
The Photos app separates Library and Collections into distinct views, with new customization options and immersive spatial photo effects. Camera adds a streamlined layout, quick-access controls, and even remote shutter support with AirPods.
Maps learns your preferred routes and saves places you visit frequently for quick recall. Apple Music adds AutoMix transitions, Lyrics Translation, and pinned favorites.
Wallet expands with TSA-ready Digital IDs, installment payments in store, and more detailed order tracking powered by Apple Intelligence.
Gaming gains an all-new Apple Games app that centralizes your library, achievements, challenges, and Apple Arcade content. A Game Overlay makes it possible to tweak settings or chat without leaving a game, and MetalFX Frame Interpolation delivers smoother frame rates.
Everyday improvements
Beyond design and apps, iOS 26 includes a wide range of smaller but useful additions. Reminders can suggest tasks from text or web pages and automatically sort them into categories.
Accessibility gains a systemwide Reader mode, new Braille tools, and expanded motion cues. Safety features include expanded Communication Safety in FaceTime and Shared Albums, and parents can now more easily set up child accounts.
Other updates include the option to record high quality audio with AirPods, Markdown support in Notes, enhanced alarms in Clock, estimated charging times in Battery, Focus-based SIM silencing for dual SIM users, and improved eSIM handling when traveling.
Podcasts add Enhance Dialogue and flexible playback speeds, while Journal introduces multiple journals, inline images, and a map view.
Updating is simple. On iPhone, open Settings > General > Software Update and follow the prompts. Make sure your device is backed up to iCloud or a Mac before you start. The download is free, though installation time varies depending on your model and storage.
iOS 26 works on iPhone 12 and later, including all iPhone 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17 models, plus iPhone Air and iPhone SE (2nd generation and later). Apple Intelligence features require iPhone 16/17/Air models or iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max.
Catch up on all our iOS 26 coverage since June here.