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iOS 26.5.1 for iPhone 17 and iPhone Air Fixes Low-Battery Charging Problem

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Why This Matters

Apple's release of iOS 26.5.1 addresses a critical charging issue affecting the iPhone 17 series and iPhone Air, ensuring users can reliably recharge their devices after complete drainage. This update highlights Apple's ongoing commitment to resolving hardware-related problems swiftly, which is vital for maintaining user trust and device reliability. Additionally, the update for MacOS Tahoe 26.5.1 improves stability for enterprise users with M5 chips, emphasizing Apple's focus on enterprise and professional markets.

Key Takeaways

Apple on Tuesday released iOS 26.5.1, a small update that targets a potentially big problem if you find yourself with a dead iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max or iPhone Air.

For "a small number of users," according to Apple's note accompanying the update, when the battery gets nearly completely drained, recharging via cable would not work. The workaround has been to replenish power wirelessly, provided a MagSafe-compatible charger was handy.

Update to iOS 26.5.1 in the iPhone Settings app. Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET

iOS 26.5.1 fixes this issue. The update appears only on iPhone 17 and iPhone Air models that are affected by the change.

If you own one of these models, go to Settings, tap General and then tap Software Update.

Separately, Apple has also issued MacOS Tahoe 26.5.1, an update for Mac models with M5 processors that "addresses an issue for enterprise users where Macs with an M5 chip could unexpectedly shut down when using certain content filtering network extensions." That update appears to be available for all Macs.