iPhone users will get a major new software update this fall with iOS 26 and its Liquid Glass design. But the next iPhone update, iOS 18.6, will release much sooner. Here’s what Apple’s official release notes say is coming.
Apple’s software development follows a fairly predictable schedule.
Every year, Apple introduces big new OS versions at WWDC in June, then ships those updates in the fall—usually September.
However, between June and September, there’s typically one more noteworthy update to the current versions of Apple software.
This year, that’s iOS 18.6, macOS 15.6, watchOS 11.6, and so on.
Apple’s goal with these updates isn’t usually to add new features, but rather to optimize performance and provide as many security fixes as possible before shifting its full focus to the next OS version—in this case, iOS 26.
Release notes for iOS 18.6 have now confirmed that will be true again this year. They say:
This update provides important bug fixes and security updates, and fixes an issue in Photos that could prevent memory movies from being shared.
Aaron Zollo posted the notes on X, which arrived via an updated iOS 18.6 RC for Public Beta testers.
Apple’s official notes confirm that there aren’t expected to be new features in iOS 18.6, just important fixes that should make your iPhone run smoother than before.
If you’re in the EU, however, you will notice a couple feature changes. Specifically, the process of installing third-party app marketplaces or apps from the web has changed.
It’s been believed that Apple Intelligence might finally launch in China in iOS 18.6 too. That’s still possible, since the notes Zollo posted are for US users. But it seems unlikely Apple would implement such a major revision without us hearing about it during the beta process.
iOS 18.6 is expected to launch any day now, with early next week being the most likely release date. It may not be the most exciting release, but bug fixes and security updates are always important. And if you’re looking for new features, iOS 26 in just a couple months will have you covered.
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