💡
Note - This guide has been updated to reflect additions or changes in iOS 261.

Welcome to your definitive companion for iOS 26! This isn't your typical feature list—instead, we're diving deep into how these updates will actually change the way you use your iPhone every single day.

🌊 Understanding Liquid Glass: The Design Revolution

Apple didn't just tweak iOS 26—they reimagined it. The Liquid Glass design language represents the biggest visual overhaul since iOS 7 back in 2013. Inspired by visionOS (the software powering Apple Vision Pro), everything now feels more fluid, transparent, and alive.

What Actually Changed:

  • Interface elements react like actual glass, with depth and translucency
  • Navigation bars collapse and expand organically as you scroll
  • Rounded corners everywhere create a softer, more approachable aesthetic
  • Menus pop out with physics-based animations that feel tactile

Choose Your Preferred Look (New in iOS 26.1):

Apple heard feedback about Liquid Glass being too transparent for some users. Now you can choose:

Settings > Display & Brightness > Liquid Glass

  • Clear: Maximum transparency with full glass effects (original iOS 26 look)
  • Tinted: More opaque with increased contrast, resembles iOS 18 more closely

The Tinted option reduces transparency system-wide while maintaining the rounded corners and fluid animations. It's perfect for:

  • Older devices where transparency affects performance
  • Users who find heavy transparency distracting
  • Outdoor use where high contrast improves readability
  • Those who prefer the aesthetics of previous iOS versions

Additional Refinements in iOS 26.1:

  • Phone app numpad now uses Liquid Glass design
  • Photos app video scrubber and navigation bar have frosted backgrounds with improved legibility
  • App folder titles are now left-aligned (along with Settings app headers)

If You Want Even Less Motion: Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size > Reduce Transparency still works to tone down effects further.

🔒 Lock Screen: Your iPhone's New Front Door

The Lock Screen has evolved from a simple barrier to an interactive canvas.

Dynamic Time Display

The clock is no longer static—it intelligently repositions itself based on your wallpaper, always keeping important subjects visible. Taking a photo of your dog? The time shifts to avoid covering their face. It's small, but it makes your Lock Screen feel genuinely personal.

3D Spatial Effect

Any Lock Screen photo can now have depth. When you tilt your iPhone, images gain a parallax effect that makes them pop. To enable:

  1. Long-press your Lock Screen
  2. Tap the "+" button to create new
  3. Select "Photos" and choose an image
  4. Toggle on "Spatial Scene"

This works retroactively too—iOS 26 can convert existing 2D photos into pseudo-3D scenes by analyzing depth in the image.

Pro Tip: The spatial effect works best with photos that have clear foreground subjects and background separation. Portraits and landscape photos with distinct layers shine here.

Disable Camera Swipe (New in iOS 26.1)

If you accidentally open the Camera app when checking notifications, you can now turn off the swipe gesture:

Settings > Camera > Lock Screen Swipe to Open Camera > Toggle OFF

Your Lock Screen becomes cleaner and you won't accidentally launch the camera when pulling your phone from your pocket.

🏠 Home Screen: Minimalist Meets Personal

Clear, Tinted, Dark, and Light Icons

Apple finally lets you customize app icons without third-party shortcuts:

Clear Icons: Make icons transparent so your wallpaper shows through

  • Long-press Home Screen > Edit > Customize > Clear

Tinted Mode: Match icons to your phone's color or case

  • Long-press Home Screen > Edit > Customize > Tinted
  • Tap the phone or case icon to auto-match colors

Theme Matching: System automatically suggests Light or Dark modes based on your wallpaper

This is perfect for aesthetic-focused users who previously relied on apps like Widgetsmith for custom icons.

🧠 Apple Intelligence: AI That Feels Natural

Requires iPhone 15 Pro or later

iOS 26 significantly expands what Apple Intelligence can do, focusing on practical, everyday usefulness rather than gimmicks. iOS 26.1 brings this to millions more users worldwide.

Live Translation Everywhere

In Messages: Texts automatically translate in real-time. You type in English, they read in Spanish—seamlessly.

In FaceTime: Live captions appear showing translations as people speak. Perfect for international family calls or business meetings.

In Phone Calls: Spoken translations happen on the fly. Your iPhone becomes an interpreter, showing translated text while maintaining voice conversation flow.

Setup: Open Translate app first, download language packs you need. Once downloaded, translation works system-wide without additional setup.

Supported Languages (as of iOS 26.1):

  • Danish
  • Dutch
  • English (US and UK)
  • French
  • German
  • Norwegian
  • Portuguese (Brazil and Portugal)
  • Spanish
  • Swedish
  • Traditional Chinese
  • Turkish
  • Vietnamese

AirPods Live Translation (Expanded in iOS 26.1)

Requires: AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, or AirPods 4 with ANC

Now supports additional languages for real-time spoken translation:

  • Chinese (Mandarin - Traditional and Simplified)
  • Italian
  • Japanese
  • Korean

Plus all the original languages from iOS 26. Perfect for international travel, business meetings, or conversations with friends who speak different languages.

Visual Intelligence Gets Smarter

Now works with screenshots! Take a screenshot of anything on your screen and iOS 26 offers contextual options:

  • Google Search for objects or landmarks
  • ChatGPT queries for complex questions about screen content
  • Translation for foreign text
  • Calendar events extracted from posters or emails
  • Copy specific text from images

It's Apple's answer to Android's Circle to Search, but integrated across the entire system.

Genmoji Evolution

Create custom emoji from:

  • Descriptive text ("cat wearing sunglasses")
  • Combinations of existing emoji (🐕 + 🎩 = fancy dog)
  • Photos of people in your library (with adjustable expressions)

New in iOS 26: Genmoji now support facial expressions. Create a happy, sad, surprised, or confused version of the same genmoji. These also work in Image Playground for custom message backgrounds.

Image Playground Backgrounds

Design custom backgrounds for entire Messages conversations using:

  • Text descriptions
  • Photos from your library
  • Generated images from Image Playground
  • ChatGPT integration for more style variety

Important: When you set a background, everyone in the chat sees it. It's collaborative, not just on your end.

📸 Camera: Simplified Yet Powerful

The Camera app received perhaps the most dramatic interface overhaul.

New Layout Philosophy

Before: Cluttered options scattered everywhere
Now: Clean, with intelligent layering

  • Main Screen: Just Photo and Video modes prominently displayed
  • Swipe Left/Right: Access Portrait, Pano, Slo-Mo, Time-Lapse
  • Swipe Up: Reveals grouped controls for Flash, Live Photo, Timer, Exposure, Styles, and Aspect Ratio

Lens Cleaning Notifications

Enable in Settings > Camera > Lens Cleaning Hints. Your iPhone detects smudges and alerts you before you take blurry photos. This uses the camera's sensor data to identify reduced clarity.

AirPods as External Microphones

With AirPods Pro 2, Pro 3, or AirPods 4:

  1. Put AirPods in your ears
  2. Open Camera app
  3. Tap the audio input selector (new button in video mode)
  4. Choose your AirPods

Perfect for vlogging, interviews, or any situation where you're filming yourself from a distance but need clear audio.

Works In: Camera app, FaceTime, video conferencing apps that adopt the new API

📱 Phone: The Spam-Fighting Upgrade

Call Screening

Unknown callers must identify themselves before your phone even rings. Here's how it works:

  1. Unknown number calls
  2. Apple Intelligence asks for their name and reason for calling
  3. They respond verbally
  4. You see a transcription on your screen: "John from ABC Delivery, package at door"
  5. You decide: Answer, Decline, or Ask More Questions

Enable: Settings > Phone > Call Screening > toggle on

Privacy Note: Call screening happens entirely on-device. No call audio is sent to Apple's servers.

Hold Assist

Waiting on hold? Let your iPhone wait for you:

  1. Call connects to hold music
  2. Tap "Hold Assist" button that appears
  3. Put phone down, go about your day
  4. Get notification when a human picks up
  5. Return to call instantly

Works with most automated phone systems. Your iPhone uses on-device audio recognition to detect when hold music stops and conversation starts.

Call Reminders for Missed Calls

Swipe left on any missed call in Recents, tap the blue clock icon, choose:

  • Remind Me in 1 Hour
  • Remind Me Tonight
  • Remind Me Tomorrow
  • Custom time

Reminders appear in the Reminders app, keeping your follow-ups organized.

💬 Messages: Communication Reimagined

Unknown Sender Filtering

New messages from unknown numbers route to a separate "Junk" section, similar to email spam filtering.

Enable: Settings > Messages > Filter Unknown Senders > toggle on

You can review and approve legitimate new contacts without cluttering your main inbox.

Custom Conversation Backgrounds

Give each chat its own personality:

  • Dynamic Backgrounds: Animated patterns that react to movement
  • Photo Backgrounds: Any image from your library
  • Image Playground Creations: AI-generated scenes matching conversation themes

To Set: Open conversation > tap name at top > Backgrounds > Choose

Polls in Group Chats

Decision-making made easy:

  1. In group chat, tap "+" next to message field
  2. Select "Poll"
  3. Enter question and options
  4. Send

Everyone votes with a tap. Results update live. Perfect for choosing restaurants, meeting times, or settling debates.

Typing Indicators in Groups

Finally! See when multiple people are typing simultaneously in group conversations. Small dots appear showing active participants.

Apple Cash in Groups

Send money to entire groups or specific members:

  1. Tap "+" in message field
  2. Select Apple Cash
  3. Enter amount
  4. Choose recipients
  5. Send

Perfect for splitting bills, rent, or group gifts.

Drafts Filter

Automatic organization for unsent messages. Access via the three-line menu icon (top right). Any message you started typing but didn't send appears here.

Selective Text Copying

Long-press a message, tap "Select," then drag to highlight only the specific text you want (like a link or address). No more copying entire messages for one piece of info.

📷 Photos: The Return of Sanity

After iOS 18's controversial redesign, iOS 26 brings back separate tabs for Library and Collections.

Customizable Collections

Three Display Sizes:

  • Large Tiles: Big, visual browsing
  • Dense Grid: See more at once
  • Highlighted Top Row: Featured content with grid below
  • Reorder Collections: Drag and drop to prioritize what you see first
  • Pin Favorites: Keep frequently accessed collections at the top

iOS 26.1 Improvements:

  • Video scrubber has frosted background with improved legibility
  • Navigation bar refined for better readability
  • Smoother animations when switching between views

Spatial Scenes for Any Photo

Turn 2D photos into pseudo-3D experiences:

  1. Open any photo in library
  2. Tap "Spatial Scene" button (top-right)
  3. iPhone analyzes depth
  4. Tilt phone to explore in 3D

Works particularly well with:

  • Portraits with background blur
  • Landscape photos with clear foreground/background
  • Architecture shots with depth layers

Search results now show relevant video thumbnails with the exact frame containing your search term. Searching "birthday cake"? The thumbnail shows the moment the cake appears, not just the video start.

Improved Panoramas

Under-the-hood processing means you can move faster while shooting panoramas without blurry results. The computational photography does heavy lifting to stabilize and sharpen.

🗺️ Maps: Learning Your Life

Visited Places

Maps now automatically logs everywhere you go (with permission).

Why It's Useful:

  • Remember that amazing restaurant from three weeks ago
  • Share favorite locations with friends/family
  • Build personal travel histories
  • Never forget parking spots at large venues

Privacy: You control this data. It stays on-device via iCloud with end-to-end encryption. Delete anytime in Settings > Privacy > Location Services > System Services > Significant Locations.

Preferred Routes

Maps learns your regular commutes and frequently-traveled routes. Over time, it notices patterns:

  • You take Highway 280 to work most days
  • You prefer surface streets on weekends
  • You always stop at that specific coffee shop on Tuesday mornings

Proactive Alerts: Get notifications about your preferred route conditions before you leave:

  • "Heavy traffic on Highway 280, use Highway 101 instead" (10 minutes before your typical departure)
  • "Accident on your route home, alternative adds 8 minutes"

This works via widget placement on your Home Screen or Lock Screen, with timely notifications.

🎮 Games: The New Hub

Apple's dedicated Games app consolidates everything gaming-related.

What It Includes:

  • Library of all installed games
  • History of every game you've tried (re-download old favorites)
  • Apple Arcade catalog integration
  • Game Center achievements and leaderboards
  • Friend activity and challenges

Play Together

Challenge friends to beat your high scores in compatible games. The app tracks who's winning, sends notifications for new challenges, and creates ongoing competitions.

Setup: Games > Play Together > Challenge Friend > Select Game

This requires developers to adopt iOS 26 APIs, so not every game supports it at launch. Popular titles continue updating throughout 2025-2026.

🎵 Music: Your Personal DJ

AutoMix

Apple Music subscribers get DJ-style seamless transitions between songs. AutoMix analyzes:

  • Song tempo
  • Key signature
  • Energy level
  • Genre

Then creates professional crossfades, beat-matching, and smooth blends between tracks.

Enable: Settings > Music > Audio Quality > AutoMix

New in iOS 26.1: AutoMix now works over AirPlay! Your seamless transitions extend to:

  • HomePod and HomePod mini
  • AirPlay-compatible speakers
  • Apple TV
  • Third-party AirPlay 2 devices

Quick Track Switching (New in iOS 26.1)

Swipe left or right on the MiniPlayer (Now Playing bar at bottom) to quickly change songs:

  • Swipe Left: Skip to next track
  • Swipe Right: Go back to previous track

You'll feel subtle haptic feedback with each swipe. This is especially useful when the MiniPlayer is collapsed to its smaller form, giving you quick controls without opening the full Now Playing screen.

Lyric Translation & Pronunciation

Tap the Lyrics view in Now Playing, then:

  • Show Pronunciation: See phonetic spelling for singing along
  • Show Translation: Real-time translation to your language

Supports major languages. Perfect for exploring international music or learning new languages through songs.

Pin Your Favorites

Library tab now supports pinning songs, albums, artists, or playlists to the top. Long-press any item > Pin to Top.

Music as Lock Screen Wallpaper

When playing songs with animated album art:

  1. Tap album artwork thumbnail on Lock Screen
  2. It expands to full-screen animated wallpaper
  3. Tap again to return to normal Lock Screen

Creates immersive listening experiences, especially with visually rich albums.

🌐 Safari: Refined Browsing

Tab Bar Options

Safari lets you choose between:

  • New Liquid Glass Bar: Translucent, minimal
  • iOS 18 Classic: Traditional solid bar

Change in Settings > Safari > Tab Bar Style

Quick Bookmark Gesture

Double-tap the three-dot menu button to instant-bookmark current page. Saves two taps versus old method.

Web App Shortcuts

Save any website as an app on your Home Screen:

  1. Tap Share button in Safari
  2. Select "Add to Home Screen"
  3. Edit name/icon
  4. Opens like a native app

These web apps run in their own windows, separate from Safari tabs.

💳 Wallet: Your Digital Everything

Boarding Pass Intelligence

Boarding passes now display:

  • Real-time flight status
  • Gate changes
  • Weather at destination
  • Airport maps
  • Airline app feature integration

All without opening separate apps.

Digital Passports (Released iOS 26.1)

Add a digital version of your U.S. passport to Wallet for TSA checkpoints on domestic flights. Rollout continues across states as DMVs adopt the technology.

How to Add: Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay > Add Passport

Availability depends on your state's participation in the program.

Transaction Categorization

Wallet now auto-sorts Apple Card purchases:

  • Dining
  • Transportation
  • Shopping
  • Entertainment
  • Custom categories

Makes expense tracking effortless.

📄 Preview: iOS Meets macOS

The Mac's PDF app arrives on iPhone.

Core Functions:

  • View, edit, annotate PDFs
  • Scan documents directly in Preview
  • Sign documents with Apple Pencil (or finger)
  • Export PDFs in different sizes/formats
  • Merge multiple PDFs
  • Insert blank pages
  • Jump to specific pages
  • Rotate/crop pages

AutoFill Integration: Fill forms using Passwords app data automatically.

Why It Matters: No more switching between apps for PDF tasks. Everything happens in one unified experience.

🔋 Power & Performance: Smarter Battery

Adaptive Power Mode

iPhone 15 Pro and later

Unlike Low Power Mode's heavy-handed approach, Adaptive Power Mode subtly adjusts:

  • Screen refresh rate
  • Background app activity
  • Network connections
  • Processor performance

Based on your usage patterns throughout the day. It learns when you need maximum performance and when to conserve.

Enable: Settings > Battery > Power Mode > Adaptive Power

Notifications: Optional alerts when Adaptive Power makes changes (like reducing refresh rate during low usage).

Charging Time Estimates

Plug in your iPhone and see estimated time to full charge on Lock Screen. Updates dynamically based on charger wattage and current battery temperature.

Also visible in Settings > Battery anytime your phone is charging.

Disable Game Center for Battery Savings

Settings > Game Center > Sign Out

Stops background syncing and network activity from Game Center services. Can extend battery life 5-10% on heavy gaming days.

⏰ Clock: Finally, Custom Snooze

For years, iPhone snooze defaulted to 9 minutes. No more.

Set Custom Snooze Duration:

  1. Clock app > Alarms tab
  2. Tap any alarm
  3. Scroll to "Snooze Duration"
  4. Choose 1-15 minutes

Each alarm can have its own snooze time. Your 6:00 AM wake-up might need 5-minute snooze, while your 7:30 AM might be fine with 10.

Works With: Wake Up alarms in the Health app's sleep tracking feature too.

Slide to Stop (New in iOS 26.1)

No more accidentally dismissing your alarm! When an alarm or timer goes off, you now must deliberately slide to stop it instead of just tapping a button.

Why It Matters: The new gesture prevents those moments where you groggily tap your screen and accidentally silence your alarm, then wake up an hour late. The sliding motion requires intentional action.

Also Applies To: Kitchen timers, workout timers, and any other Clock app countdown.

🎙️ Audio Recording: Professional Quality

System-Wide Microphone Selection

Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Audio Input

Choose your default microphone for:

  • Phone calls
  • FaceTime
  • Voice memos
  • Camera video
  • Third-party apps (that adopt the API)

Perfect for content creators with external mics or Bluetooth recording setups.

Local Capture Settings (New in iOS 26.1)

New Centralized Location: Settings > General > Local Capture

What You Can Control:

  • Choose where captured files are saved (default: Downloads folder in Files app)
  • Toggle audio-only capture
  • Manage recording quality settings
  • Adjust gain levels when recording with connected microphones

Previously these settings were scattered across different menus—now everything's in one place.

Enhanced Audio Modes in Video

Camera app now offers:

  • Standard: Balanced for most situations
  • Cinematic: Focus on subject, reduce background
  • Wide Stereo: Capture ambient sound
  • Studio: Optimize for clear speech

Select these while recording or in Settings > Camera > Audio Recording.

🚗 CarPlay: Smarter Driving Companion

Liquid Glass Comes to Your Car

Translucent interfaces, fluid animations, and refined icons make CarPlay feel cohesive with iOS 26.

Widgets on Dashboard

Add widgets for:

  • Music controls
  • Calendar appointments
  • Reminders
  • Weather
  • Smart Home controls

Customize: Settings > General > CarPlay > [Your Car] > Customize Dashboard

Tapback Replies to Messages

Respond to texts with emoji reactions without typing or using Siri. Quick thumbs-up, heart, or laugh keeps you focused on driving.

Media Automation

Create shortcuts that trigger when connecting to CarPlay:

  • Auto-pause current media
  • Launch navigation to work
  • Adjust audio settings
  • Send "on my way" message

Setup: Shortcuts app > Automation > CarPlay

♿ Accessibility: Innovation for Everyone

Braille Access

Revolutionary experience for Braille display users:

  • Direct note-taking
  • Document reading
  • Live Captions access
  • Calculator
  • Time and date

All without leaving Braille environment.

Enable: Settings > Accessibility > VoiceOver > Braille > Braille Access

Vehicle Motion Cues

Reduces motion sickness for passengers in vehicles by displaying subtle animated dots that represent vehicle motion.

Customize: Settings > Accessibility > Motion > Vehicle Motion Cues

  • Adjust dot size, quantity, color, pattern

How It Works: Matches your visual perception with vehicle movement, reducing sensory conflict that causes nausea.

Portable Accessibility Settings

Moving between devices? Share your Accessibility configurations:

  • Export: Settings > Accessibility > Accessibility Settings > Export Settings
  • Import: On another device, Settings > Accessibility > Import Settings

Perfect for using borrowed devices, shared family iPads, or switching between personal iPhone and work phone.

Prefer Single-Touch Actions (New in iOS 26.1)

Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Prefer Single-Touch Actions

Makes certain UI elements usable with a single tap instead of sliding gestures. Helpful for users with motor control challenges who find sliding difficult.

🎧 AirPods: More Than Earbuds

Auto-Pause When Sleeping

AirPods Pro 2, Pro 3, AirPods 4

Your AirPods detect when you've fallen asleep and automatically pause media. Uses motion sensors and wearing detection together.

Enable: Settings > Bluetooth > [Your AirPods] > Auto-Pause When Asleep

Camera Remote Control

Use AirPods to control iPhone camera remotely:

  • Volume buttons take photos
  • Press once for single shot
  • Press and hold for burst mode

Great for group photos where you're in the shot but controlling the camera.

Keep Audio in Headphones

Prevent audio from automatically switching to car speakers or other devices when AirPods are in.

Enable: Settings > General > AirPlay & Continuity > Keep Audio in Headphones

Battery Notifications

Get alerts when:

  • AirPods fully charged
  • AirPods low battery (before they die)
  • Case low battery

Appears as standard notifications or Lock Screen alerts.

📝 Notes & Reminders: Intelligence Meets Productivity

Notes Math Solver

Write math problems by hand, and Notes solves them:

  1. Draw equation with Apple Pencil or finger
  2. iOS 26 recognizes handwriting
  3. Tap the equals sign
  4. Solution appears

Supports:

  • Basic arithmetic
  • Algebra
  • Geometry
  • Calculus (basic derivatives/integrals)

3D Graphs for Three-Variable Equations

Type three-variable equations, and Notes renders interactive 3D graphs you can rotate and explore.

Example: x² + y² + z² = 25 (creates a sphere)

Reminders from Websites & Emails

Apple Intelligence scans text for task-relevant information:

  • "Send report by Friday" → Creates Friday reminder
  • Recipe ingredients → Grocery list
  • Meeting mentioned in email → Calendar-linked reminder

Works With: Mail, Safari, Messages, Notes

🎙️ Podcasts: Fine-Tuned Listening

Variable Speed Control

Old: 1x, 1.25x, 1.5x, 2x
New: 0.5x to 3x in 0.1x increments

Adjust: Tap playback speed button, drag slider to precise speed

Enhanced Dialog

Boosts voice frequencies and reduces background music/effects. Perfect for:

  • Podcasts with poor audio mixing
  • Heavy accents you're learning to understand
  • Noisy environments

Enable: Tap three dots in Now Playing > Enhanced Dialog

Liquid Glass Player

Translucent controls that adapt to podcast artwork colors, creating visual harmony.

📊 Journal: Multiple Lives, Multiple Journals

Create Separate Journals

Examples:

  • Personal Life
  • Work Projects
  • Travel Adventures
  • Gratitude Journal
  • Dream Log

To Create: Journal app > "+" button > New Journal > Name & Customize

Inline Drawing

Draw directly within text entries using Apple Pencil or finger. No separate drawing mode—just start sketching in-context with your writing.

Map View of Entries

See all your journal entries plotted on a map based on where you wrote them. Tap any location to jump to that entry.

View: Journal > three dots menu > Map View

🔐 Security & Privacy Upgrades

Wired Accessory Trust Permissions

Settings > [New] Wired Accessories

Manage which cables and adapters can access your iPhone. Prevents malicious charging stations or cables from data access.

How It Works:

  1. New accessory connects
  2. iPhone prompts "Trust This Accessory?"
  3. You approve or deny
  4. Decision saved for that specific accessory

Automatic eSIM Switching

For multi-SIM users or travelers, iOS 26 detects location and switches eSIMs automatically.

Setup: Settings > Cellular > Automatic eSIM Switching

  • Add multiple eSIM profiles
  • Set rules (home country vs roaming)
  • System handles switching based on strongest signal and your preferences

Background Security Improvements (New in iOS 26.1)

Settings > Privacy & Security > Security Improvements

Enable automatic download and installation of security patches. These updates happen silently in the background without requiring a full iOS update or restart.

Benefits:

  • Critical security fixes deployed faster
  • No interruption to your workflow
  • Still maintains your control over major iOS updates

🎬 Apple TV: Redesigned Entertainment Hub

App Rebrand (New in iOS 26.1)

The Apple TV+ streaming service is now simply "Apple TV" with a vibrant new app icon.

What Changed:

  • More colorful, eye-catching icon design
  • Replaces previous minimalist look
  • Reflects the service's broader identity

Why It Matters: Apple is consolidating its media branding. "Apple TV" now serves as the umbrella for all video content—purchased movies/shows, Apple Original programming, and third-party channel subscriptions.

Features Available:

  • Watch Now: Personalized recommendations across all your content
  • Apple TV: Original shows and movies (formerly Apple TV+)
  • Store: Buy or rent movies and TV shows
  • Library: All your purchased content
  • Search: Find content across apps and services

🎯 Advanced Tips & Hidden Features

Disable CarPlay Screenshots

Settings > Privacy > Photos > CarPlay Screenshots > Off

Prevents duplicate photos when using navigation apps that auto-screenshot directions.

Background Tasks in Safari

Download files in Safari while using other apps. iOS 26's new API lets downloads continue via Live Activities notification.

How To: Start download in Safari, switch apps. Progress appears in Dynamic Island (iPhone 14 Pro and later) or notification banner.

Swipe Back From Anywhere

Don't need to swipe from screen edge anymore. Swipe from middle or anywhere on screen to go back in most apps.

Enable: Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Back Navigation > Full Screen Swipe

Language Suggestions

iPhone notices if you're communicating in a language different from your system language and suggests:

  • Adding that keyboard
  • Downloading translation packs
  • Content recommendations in that language

Example: System is English, but you text in Spanish regularly → iPhone suggests Spanish keyboard

Bilingual Keyboard Suggestions

Type in English, get suggestions in both English and your secondary language's script (Arabic, Hindi, Chinese, etc.).

Supports 10 languages including:

  • Arabic transliteration
  • Hindi (Devanagari)
  • Japanese (Romaji/Kanji)
  • Chinese (Pinyin/Characters)

Volume Control from Output Picker

Control Center > Audio output selector > Volume slider appears right there

No need to navigate to separate volume controls.

Camera Control Indicator Toggle

Settings > Camera > Indicators

Hide or show:

  • Flash indicator
  • Live Photo indicator
  • Video format badge
  • Action Mode indicator

Declutters camera viewfinder for cleaner composition.

Screenshot Menu Redesign

New visual intelligence options appear contextually:

  • Summarize this page
  • Read aloud
  • Translate
  • Search Google/ChatGPT

Appears automatically based on screenshot content.

Native Arabic Transliteration Keyboard

Settings > Keyboard > Add New Keyboard > Arabic (Transliteration)

Type Arabic words using English letters, get proper Arabic script suggestions.

24-Key Thai Keyboard

Settings > Keyboard > Add New Keyboard > Thai (24-key)

Improved layout for Thai language input.

🎬 Shortcuts Integration with Apple Intelligence

Shortcuts app can now trigger:

  • Writing Tools (summarize, proofread, rewrite)
  • Image Playground (generate images from text)
  • ChatGPT queries
  • Visual Intelligence analysis

Example Shortcut:

  1. Take photo of receipt
  2. Extract text with Visual Intelligence
  3. Summarize expenses with Writing Tools
  4. Create reminder for reimbursement
  5. All with one tap

Access AI Models: When building shortcuts, choose "Apple Intelligence" action, then select:

  • On-Device Model (fast, private)
  • Cloud Model (more capable, requires internet)
  • ChatGPT (most flexible, uses ChatGPT Plus if subscribed)

📱 Device Compatibility & Performance

What Works Where

Liquid Glass Design: All iOS 26 devices (iPhone 11 and later)

Apple Intelligence Features:

  • iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max
  • All iPhone 16 models (16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, 16 Pro Max, 16e)
  • All iPhone 17 models (17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, Air)

Spatial Photos:

  • Creating: All devices with camera
  • Viewing with tilt: iPhone 12 and later
  • Lock Screen spatial effect: iPhone 12 and later

Adaptive Power Mode: iPhone 15 Pro and later

Hold Assist & Call Screening: All iOS 26 devices

Performance Considerations

Older Devices (iPhone 11-13):

  • Consider using Tinted mode instead of Clear (iOS 26.1)
  • Disable motion effects if lag occurs
  • AutoMix uses more processing power—may warm device during extended listening

Battery Impact:

  • Live Translation adds 5-10% battery drain during active use
  • Visual Intelligence screenshot processing minimal impact (on-device)
  • Spatial effects on Lock Screen negligible battery impact

🚀 Getting Started Checklist

First 15 Minutes After Updating:

✅ Choose Liquid Glass style (Settings > Display & Brightness > Liquid Glass - Clear or Tinted)
✅ Customize Home Screen icon style (Long-press > Edit > Customize)
✅ Enable Call Screening (Settings > Phone > Call Screening)
✅ Download language packs for Live Translation (Translate app)
✅ Set custom alarm snooze times (Clock > Alarms)
✅ Consider disabling Lock Screen Camera swipe if you accidentally activate it (Settings > Camera)

Within First Week:

✅ Explore new Camera layout (practice swiping for modes/controls)
✅ Set up Messages backgrounds for important conversations
✅ Configure Visited Places privacy settings (Settings > Privacy > Location)
✅ Try Genmoji creation (Messages > +)
✅ Organize Photos Collections to your preference
✅ Try swiping on Music MiniPlayer to change tracks

For Maximum Benefit:

✅ Build AI-powered Shortcuts for repetitive tasks
✅ Enable Adaptive Power Mode if you have compatible device
✅ Set up CarPlay widgets and automations if you drive
✅ Explore Games app and challenge friends
✅ Try Preview app for PDF workflows
✅ Configure Local Capture settings if you record audio (Settings > General > Local Capture)

🔮 What's Next for iOS 26

iOS 26.1 (Released November 3, 2025) ✅

Major Features:

  • Liquid Glass toggle: Choose between Clear or Tinted transparency
  • Lock Screen camera disable: Turn off swipe-to-camera gesture
  • Slide to stop alarms: Prevents accidental alarm dismissal
  • Background Security Improvements: Automatic, silent security patch installation
  • Eight new Apple Intelligence languages: Traditional Chinese, Danish, Dutch, Norwegian, Portuguese (Portugal), Swedish, Turkish, Vietnamese
  • Five new AirPods Live Translation languages: Chinese (Mandarin), Italian, Japanese, Korean
  • AutoMix over AirPlay: DJ-style transitions work on wireless speakers
  • Music app swipe gesture: Quick navigation in Now Playing
  • Apple TV app rebrand: New colorful icon reflecting service rename
  • Local Capture settings centralization: Now in Settings > General
  • Prefer Single-Touch Actions: New accessibility option
  • Digital passport support: Add U.S. passport to Wallet (state availability varies)

iOS 26.2 (Expected Mid-December 2025)

  • Additional Apple Intelligence capabilities
  • Enhanced Shortcuts AI actions
  • Additional Liquid Glass refinements based on feedback

Highly Anticipated (Before End of 2025)

End-to-End Encryption for RCS Messaging:

  • Secure RCS conversations with Android users
  • May arrive via server-side update or iOS 26.2
  • Requires carrier implementation of RCS Universal Profile 3.0

Weather via Satellite (Potential):

  • View forecast without Wi-Fi or cellular
  • Found in early iOS 26 beta code
  • No official announcement yet—may be scrapped or delayed

Throughout 2026

  • Third-party apps adopting Games app Play Together
  • More banking apps supporting Wallet transaction categorization
  • Developer adoption of background tasks API
  • Expanded AutoMix compatibility with more audio apps
  • Continued rollout of digital passport support to more states

💡 Final Thoughts

iOS 26 represents Apple's most ambitious interface redesign in over a decade while simultaneously making AI feel genuinely useful rather than gimmicky. The Liquid Glass aesthetic divided users initially, but iOS 26.1's transparency toggle gives everyone the flexibility to choose their preferred experience.

The Real Winners:

Communicators: Live Translation breaks language barriers in more languages than ever

Photographers: Simplified Camera interface speeds up workflow

Privacy-Conscious Users: Enhanced call screening and security features

Busy Professionals: Hold Assist, call reminders, and smart notifications

Creative Types: Genmoji, Image Playground, and custom backgrounds

Aesthetic Enthusiasts: Full control over icon styles and transparency levels

The Learning Curve

Give yourself a week with Liquid Glass before deciding which mode works best for you. The brain adapts quickly to new visual paradigms, and many who initially disliked Clear mode found it natural after regular use. Others prefer the Tinted option for its familiarity. There's no wrong choice.

The Bottom Line

iOS 26 isn't just an update—it's a reimagining of what your iPhone can be. Take time to explore, customize, and discover which features genuinely improve your daily life. Not everything will resonate with everyone, and that's okay. Apple built flexibility into this release precisely for that reason.

The addition of iOS 26.1's features—particularly the transparency toggle and expanded language support—shows Apple's commitment to refining the experience based on user feedback while expanding accessibility to global audiences.

This guide reflects iOS 26.0 through iOS 26.1 and will continue evolving as additional updates arrive. Check back for new insights, tips, and hidden features as they're discovered.

Compatible Devices: iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max, SE (2nd & 3rd gen), 12 series, 13 series, 14 series, 15 series, 16 series (including 16e), 17 series, iPhone Air

Release Dates:

  • iOS 26.0: September 15, 2025
  • iOS 26.1: November 3, 2025

Current Version: iOS 26.1