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iOS 26 Shows Unusually Slow Adoption Months After Release

iOS 26 is showing unusually slow adoption among iPhone users months after release, according to third-party analytics.


Usage data published by StatCounter (via Cult of Mac) for January 2026 indicates that only around 15 to 16% of active iPhones worldwide are running any version of β€ŒiOS 26β€Œ. The breakdown shows iOS 26.1 accounting for approximately 10.6% of devices, iOS 26.2 for about 4.6%, and the original iOS 26.0 release at roughly 1.1%. In contrast, more than 60% of iPhones tracked by StatCounter remain on iOS 18, with iOS 18.7 and iOS 18.6 alone representing a majority of active devices.

Historical comparisons highlight how atypical this adoption curve appears. StatCounter data from January 2025 shows that roughly 63% of iPhones were running some version of iOS 18 about four months after its release. In January 2024, iOS 17 had reached approximately 54% adoption over a similar timeframe, while iOS 16 surpassed 60% adoption by January 2023.

Based on those figures, β€ŒiOS 26β€Œ adoption appears to be running at less than one-quarter of the rate achieved by recent predecessors during the same post-release window. StatCounter derives its estimates from web traffic analytics, tracking operating system versions via page impressions across its global network of participating websites.

In the first week of January last year, 89.3% of MacRumors visitors used a version of iOS 18. This year, during the same time period, only 25.7% of MacRumors readers are running a version of β€ŒiOS 26β€Œ. In the absence of official numbers from Apple, the true adoption rate remains unknown, but the data suggests a level of hesitation toward β€ŒiOS 26β€Œ that has not been seen in recent years.

Unlike many previous releases, β€ŒiOS 26β€Œ introduces Liquid Glass as a fundamental visual overhaul, replacing large portions of the traditional opaque interface with translucent layers, blurred backgrounds, and dynamic depth effects across system elements. Upon its announcement at WWDC last year, the redesign received mixed reviews, which could be a contributing factor to hesitation around upgrading.

Likewise, Apple now continues to support older operating systems with security updates, allowing users to remain on iOS 18 without immediate pressure to update or forfeit critical patches. This makes it much easier for users to remain on older software.
Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26
Related Forum: iOS 26

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How to Adjust Liquid Glass on Lock Screen of iPhone

29 December 2025 at 23:41
The Liquid Glass interface continues to be polarizing for iPhone users with iOS 26 and newer, but with iOS 26.2 onwards you can now make some adjustments to the intensity of the Liquid Glass look… but only for the clock on the Lock Screen of iPhone. If you’d like to fine-tune the appearance of the ... Read More

Apple Releases First iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3 Public Betas

Apple today provided beta testers with the first releases of upcoming iOS 26.3, iPadOS 26.3, tvOS 26.3, and watchOS 26.3 updates for testing purposes. The public betas come a couple of days after Apple provided the betas to developers.


Anyone can download and install public betas, and all that's required is to sign up on Apple's beta site. Once you've opted in, the software can be downloaded through the Software Update section in the Settings app on each device.

iOS 26.3 introduces a simpler way for iPhone users to transfer their data to an Android device when switching platforms, plus it includes a Notification Forwarding feature for third-party wearables in the European Union. It will allow notifications to be forwarded from the β€ŒiPhoneβ€Œ to a third-party device.

No new features have been found in the other beta updates as of yet.

We're expecting iOS 26.3, iPadOS 26.3, and the other software to come out somewhere around the end of January.
Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26
Related Forum: iOS 26

This article, "Apple Releases First iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3 Public Betas" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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iOS 26.2 Update Released for iPhone & iPad

12 December 2025 at 22:19
iOS 26.2 for iPhone and iPadOS 26.2 for iPad have been released by Apple. These updates include a few bug fixes, and also add a few new small features, as well as include essential security patches, making these updates recommended to any iPhone or iPad user that is running the iOS 26 operating system. New ... Read More

iOS 26.3 Adds Notification Forwarding Option for Third-Party Wearables

iOS 26.3 adds a new "Notification Forwarding" setting that allows incoming notifications on an iPhone to be forwarded to a third-party device.


The setting is located in the Notification section of the Settings app under a new "Notification Forwarding" option. Apple says that notifications can only be forwarded to a single device at a time, so if Notification Forwarding is enabled with a third-party wearable, the Apple Watch won't able to receive and display notifications.

Users can choose to have a device receive notifications only from selected apps rather than all apps, and notifications will include the name of the app and all content contained in the notification. This is a feature that is only available to those living in Europe.

Apple is adding this feature to relieve regulatory pressure that it is facing. The Digital Markets Act in the European Union requires Apple to provide third-party smartwatches and other devices with access to notifications and features that are normally reserved for the Apple Watch.

Update: This article was updated to clarify that Notification Forwarding is only an option in the EU, even though it shows up on iPhones worldwide in iOS 26.3.
Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26
Related Forum: iOS 26

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iOS 26.3 Makes It Easier to Switch From iPhone to Android

With iOS 26.3, Apple is making it simpler for iPhone users to transition to an Android smartphone, with new built-in tools for transferring data.


The new transfer tool allows an β€ŒiPhoneβ€Œ user to place their device next to an Android device to initiate a transfer process. With the two smartphones connected, users can opt to move over photos, messages, notes, apps, passwords, phone number, and more. Data transfers occur with no need to download and use a separate app, making the process simpler.

Health data, devices paired with Bluetooth, and protected items like locked notes are not transferred over to the new device.

Transferring data from an β€ŒiPhoneβ€Œ to an Android device wirelessly requires both devices to have the latest software, and to be connected to Wi-Fi with Bluetooth enabled. There will be an option to display a QR code on the Android device that the β€ŒiPhoneβ€Œ can scan to initiate the process, or there is an option to use a session ID and pairing code instead.

Google has also implemented a similar feature for transferring data from an Android to an β€ŒiPhoneβ€Œ, so it is a two-way process between the platforms.

Last week, the European Commission said that Apple and Google designed and implemented the new transfer system to comply with the Digital Markets Act in the European Union, but it is not a Europe-only feature. The new setting is available worldwide in the iOS 26.3 beta, and it can be found under Settings > General > Transfer or Reset β€ŒiPhoneβ€Œ > Transfer to Android.
Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26
Related Forum: iOS 26

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Apple Seeds First Betas of iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3 to Developers

Apple today seeded the first betas of upcoming iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming just a few days after Apple released iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2.


Registered developers can download the betas from the Settings app on the iPhone or iPad by going to the General section and selecting Software Update.

We don't yet know what's included in the new beta software, but because that these updates will be tested over the holiday period, Apple may be planning to focus on bug fixes and performance improvements rather than adding major new features.

When we learn what's new in the updates, we'll share details.

iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3 are limited to developers at the current time, but Apple will likely release a public beta in the next couple of days.
Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26
Related Forum: iOS 26

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iPhone 12 Users in Australia Should Update to iOS 26.2, Here's Why

In a support document published on Friday, Apple said that a "technical failure" in Australia prevented some older mobile phones from being able to make emergency calls by dialing 000, and it said there is a low chance that it could happen again.


"In the rare event that these exceptional circumstances affecting mobile operators' networks were to happen again, some older mobile phones may still encounter the same issue reaching emergency services through an alternate available network," said Apple. The document does not provide many specific details, but there are some recent news reports about what sounds like a related issue affecting Samsung phones.

Apple said the issue "impacted some Australians in regional areas who attempted to make an emergency call when their primary mobile network was unavailable, even though an alternate network was available and should have connected the call." Apple said "mobile operators are taking steps to mitigate future issues."

For iPhone 12 users specifically, Apple vaguely stated that the iOS 26.2 update released last week "provides support for this scenario."

"iPhone XS, iPhone XR, iPhone 11, and all iPhone models from iPhone 13 and newer are not affected," said Apple. "For iPhone 12 users, iOS 26.2 provides support for this scenario. If it is determined that any earlier iPhone models are impacted, customers will receive additional information and guidance directly from their mobile operator."

To update your iPhone, open the Settings app on the device and tap General β†’ Software Update.
Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26
Related Forum: iOS 26

This article, "iPhone 12 Users in Australia Should Update to iOS 26.2, Here's Why" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple Seeds Second iOS 26.2 Release Candidate to Developers and Public Beta Testers

Apple today seeded the second release candidate version of iOS 26.2 to developers and public beta testers, with the software coming one week after Apple seeded the first RC. The release candidate represents the final version iOS 26.2 that will be provided to the public if no further bugs are found.


Registered developers and public beta testers can download the betas from the Settings app on the iPhone by going to the General section and selecting Software Update.

iOS 26.2 has a Liquid Glass slider on the Lock Screen to adjust the transparency of the clock, plus it brings AirPods Live Translation to the European Union. The Reminders app now supports alarms for when tasks are due, and there are updates to the Podcasts and Apple News apps. Menu animations have been revamped, and CarPlay supports disabling pinned messages in the Messages app.

We have a full list of all the features available in iOS 26.2 in our guide.

iOS 26.2 will likely see a launch later this week.
Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26
Related Forum: iOS 26

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Fix for Wi-Fi Issues with iOS 26.1 on iPhone: Wi-Fi Not Working, Dropping, No Connection, Slow

18 November 2025 at 22:59
Some iPhone users have discovered that wi-fi is not working consistently with iOS 26.1 since updating their devices, and sometimes the wi-fi stops working entirely, the connection drops, wi-fi is active but does not work, or the wi-fi connection is unusably slow, often leading to timeouts rather than established connections. Sometimes you might even see ... Read More

Apple Releases Second iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 Public Betas

Apple today provided public beta testers with the second releases of upcoming iOS 26.2, iPadOS 26.2, tvOS 26.2, and watchOS 26.2 updates for testing purposes. The second public betas come two weeks after Apple seeded the first betas, and a day after Apple provided developers with the third iOS 26.2 beta.


After signing up for beta testing on Apple's beta site, public beta testers can download the updates using the Software Update section in the Settings app on each device.

iOS 26.2 adds a Liquid Glass slider for the Lock Screen, allowing you to customize the translucency of the clock. Alongside watchOS 26.2, the update changes labeling for the Sleep Score feature, adjusting numbers to better reflect sleep quality.

AirPods Live Translation is available in the European Union with iOS 26.2, and in the Reminders app, there's an option to have an alarm go off when a reminder is due. Apple also added new features to Podcasts, Passwords, Freeform, and more, with a full list of new additions available in our iOS 26.2 feature guide.

In the second beta of iOS 26.2, Apple made tweaks to menu animations, added Liquid Glass to the Measure app, and added a feature for turning off pinned messages in CarPlay. The third beta added further tweaks to iPad multitasking and new AirDrop functionality.
Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26
Related Forum: iOS 26

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iOS 26.2 Available Next Month With These 8 New Features

Apple released the first iOS 26.2 beta last week. The upcoming update includes a handful of new features and changes on the iPhone, including a new Liquid Glass slider for the Lock Screen's clock, offline lyrics in Apple Music, and more.


In a recent press release, Apple confirmed that iOS 26.2 will be released to all users in December, but it did not provide a specific release date.

Below, we have highlighted eight new features coming with iOS 26.2.

Liquid Glass Slider on Lock Screen



A new slider in the Lock Screen customization menu lets you adjust the opacity of Liquid Glass for the clock, allowing you to decide how clear or frosted it appears.

This comes after iOS 26.1 added "Clear" and "Tinted" options for Liquid Glass overall.

Offline Lyrics in Apple Music



iOS 26.2 adds offline lyric support to Apple Music, allowing you to view a song's lyrics even when you are not connected to a Wi-Fi or cellular network.

Sleep Score Revisions



iOS 26.2 and watchOS 26.2 have revised Sleep Score ranges:

  • Very Low: 0-40 (previously 0-29)

  • Low: 41-60 (previously 30-49)

  • OK: 61-80 (previously 50-69)

  • High: 81-95 (previously 70-89)

  • Very High: 96-100 (previously 90-100)
Apple says sleep scores are calculated based on how long you slept, the consistency of when you fell asleep, and the frequency and duration of waking up during the night. The feature is available in the Health app on all iPhone models compatible with iOS 26, and in the Sleep app on all Apple Watch models compatible with watchOS 26.

Alarms for Reminders



iOS 26.2 lets you set alarms for reminders in Apple's Reminders app.

When adding a reminder, selecting a time and then toggling on the "Urgent" option will cause an alarm to go off at the designated time.

Apple Podcasts Enhancements



Apple's Podcasts app has three new features on iOS 26.2, including automatic chapters for episodes, timed links on the screen, and the ability to view other podcasts that a podcast mentions right from the audio player and the transcript.

Apple News Revamp



In the Apple News app, there is now a dedicated "Following" tab, and buttons for quick access to topics like sports, puzzles, politics, business, and food.

iPhone Screen Flash for Notifications



Starting with iOS 26.2, your iPhone's screen can flash when you receive a notification. Previously, this setting was limited to the LED camera flash on the back of the iPhone.

In the Settings app, under Accessibility β†’ Audio & Visual β†’ Flash for Alerts, there are now options for LED Flash, Screen, and Both. Or, you can keep the setting turned off.

AirPods Live Translation in EU



iOS 26.2 makes Live Translation on AirPods available in the EU.

Live Translation allows you to understand someone who is speaking a different language than you. For example, if you speak English, and someone is speaking to you in French, Siri can tell you what they are saying in English through your AirPods.

The feature works best when both participants in a conversation are using Live Translation on AirPods. If you are talking with someone who is not wearing AirPods, you can display a live transcription in the other person's language on your iPhone.

Live Translation is available on the AirPods Pro 3, AirPods Pro 2, and higher-end AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation. The feature launched in the U.S. and select other countries with iOS 26, but it was not available in the EU until iOS 26.2, as Apple said it needed additional time to ensure compliance with the EU's Digital Markets Act.


In addition to compatible AirPods, users need an iPhone 15 Pro or newer with Apple Intelligence turned on and Apple's Translate app installed.

As of iOS 26.1, Live Translation on AirPods supports the following languages:

  • English (U.S.)

  • English (U.K.)

  • French (France)

  • German (Germany)

  • Portuguese (Brazil)

  • Spanish (Spain)

  • Chinese β€” Simplified (China)

  • Chinese β€” Traditional (China)

  • Japanese

  • Korean

  • Italian

iOS 26 also has a built-in Live Translation feature in the Messages, Phone, and FaceTime apps, with no AirPods required.
Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26
Related Forum: iOS 26

This article, "iOS 26.2 Available Next Month With These 8 New Features" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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How to Make Icons Clear in iOS 26 for iPhone & iPad

12 November 2025 at 00:05
The Liquid Glass interface of iOS 26 makes everything more transparent, and you can bring that effect to your Home Screen icons too by making them clear. The clear icon look offers a dramatic visual change to the icons on your iPhone or iPad, stripping them of the usual bright neon colors and transforming them ... Read More

iOS 26.1 Update Released for iPhone & iPad

3 November 2025 at 22:59
Apple has released iOS 26.1 for iPhone, and iPadOS 26.1 for iPad. These are the first major point release updates for iOS 26, and offer a few changes, new features, bug fixes, and security enhancements, and are therefore recommended for users running iOS 26 or iPadOS 26. You will find a new toggle for Liquid ... Read More

Apple Releases First iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 Public Betas

Apple today provided public beta testers with the first releases of upcoming iOS 26.2, iPadOS 26.2, tvOS 26.2, and watchOS 26.2 updates for testing purposes. The public betas come two days after Apple provided the betas to developers.


After signing up for beta testing on Apple's beta site, public beta testers can download the updates using the Software Update section in the Settings app on each device.

iOS 26.2 adds a Liquid Glass slider for the Lock Screen, allowing you to customize the translucency of the clock. Alongside watchOS 26.2, the update changes labeling for the Sleep Score feature, adjusting numbers to better reflect sleep quality.

AirPods Live Translation is available in the European Union with iOS 26.2, and in the Reminders app, there's an option to have an alarm go off when a reminder is due. Apple also added new features to Podcasts, Passwords, Freeform, and more, with a full list of new additions available in our iOS 26.2 feature guide.
Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26
Related Forum: iOS 26

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Apple Stops Signing iOS 26.2 Beta 1 for iPhone Air, iPhone 16e, and Cellular M5 iPad Pro

A day after seeding the first developer betas of iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2, Apple has stopped signing it for the iPhone Air, iPhone 16e, and cellular models of the new M5 iPad Pro, preventing those devices from installing the update.


The exact reason for the change is unknown, but all three devices use either the C1 or C1X modem, Apple's new custom cellular chips, so it's possible Apple has identified a specific bug related to iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 with that chip and is preventing users who have yet to update from being affected by it.

The updates will continue to show for users on those devices enrolled in the iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 developer beta programs, but the updates will now fail to install.

It's unknown how long it will take for Apple to address whatever issue it has discovered, at which time we should see revised developer betas for these C1 and C1X devices.

Update 4:50 pm: Creative Strategies analyst Max Weinbach notes that his β€ŒiPad Proβ€Œ experienced an issue with the update that forced his device into recovery mode, where he was able to restore it to iPadOS 26.1.

Update 6:30 pm: Apple has now fully pulled the updates for the affected devices, so iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 beta 1 won't even show as available on these devices.
Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26
Related Forum: iOS 26

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iOS 26.1 Brings Back 2007 Feature in New Way

The upcoming iOS 26.1 update includes a small but helpful change for iPhones, and it could prevent you from running late to something important.


Specifically, when an alarm goes off in the Clock app, there is a new "slide to stop" control on the screen for turning off the alarm. On previous iOS 26 versions, there is simply a large "stop" button, which could be accidentally tapped.

The new "slide to stop" control looks very similar to the classic "slide to unlock" bar that existed on the iPhone's Lock Screen from 2007 until 2016.


Given that the iOS 26.1 Release Candidate was seeded earlier this week, Apple will likely release the update next week, on either Monday or Tuesday.
Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26
Related Forum: iOS 26

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iOS 26.1 Coming Next Week: All the New Features

Apple is currently beta testing iOS 26.1, which will be the first major update to the iOS 26 operating system. It's not going to bring the new version of Siri that we've been waiting for, but it does include useful new features and interface changes. We're nearing the end of the beta testing process, and iOS 26.1 could be released early next week.


We've rounded up all of the new features that are included in iOS 26.1.

Liquid Glass Transparency Toggle


Apple added a toggle for customizing the look of Liquid Glass. In Settings > Display and Brightness, there's a new option to switch between Clear or Tinted settings.


Clear is more transparent and is the standard version of Liquid Glass that displays the background underneath buttons, menu bars, and other interface elements, while Tinted increases the opacity of Liquid Glass and adds contrast.

Lock Screen Camera Swipe


In the Camera section of the Settings app, there's a Lock Screen Swipe to Open Camera setting, and turning it off disables the feature where you can swipe left to open the camera from the Lock Screen.


The iPhone has long allowed users to open the Camera app directly from the Lock Screen with a swipe, but it can be a setting that's easy to activate, and it provides a way for someone that gets ahold of an β€ŒiPhoneβ€Œ to use it to take unwanted photos.

There was previously no way to turn off Lock Screen camera activation without disabling the camera app entirely.

Phone Haptics


In the Phone app, there's a toggle to turn off haptic feedback when a call is connected or dropped.



Alarms and Timers


Alarms and timers that you set up in the Clock app now have a slide to stop button rather than a tap to stop button on the Lock Screen. You can snooze an alarm with a tap, but to turn it off entirely, you need to use a slide gesture.


The change makes it much harder to accidentally dismiss an alarm when you're trying to tap on the snooze button.

New Apple Intelligence Languages


Apple Intelligence is now available in Danish, Dutch, Norwegian, Portuguese (Portugal), Swedish, Turkish, Chinese (Traditional), and Vietnamese.

AirPods Live Translation Languages


AirPods Live Translation works with additional languages in iOS 26.1, including Japanese, Korean, Italian, and Chinese (both Mandarin Traditional and Simplified).

Apple Music


You can swipe on the music player in Apple Music to switch songs. Just slide a finger over where the song title is listed, and it'll go to the next song or back to the previous song.



Apple TV App


The Apple TV app has a new, more colorful icon that adopts the Liquid Glass aesthetic that Apple added alongside the β€ŒApple TVβ€Œ+ name change. Apple is no longer referring to its streaming service as β€ŒApple TVβ€Œ+, and is instead just calling it β€ŒApple TVβ€Œ, like the app.



Fitness App


You can create custom workouts in the Fitness app on β€ŒiPhoneβ€Œ. There are options for selecting workout type, estimated Active Calories, effort, duration, and start time.



There were workout creation options before, but they were more structured than the open, custom creation options that are in iOS 26.1.

Settings App


Apple changed the alignment of icons and text in the Settings app. All settings with headers that feature text now have that text aligned to the left instead of center aligned. It's a small change that makes a big visual difference.


This includes General, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Cellular, Personal Hotspot, Accessibility, and more.

Home Screen Folders


When you tap into a folder on the Home Screen, the name of the folder at the top is left aligned instead of center aligned, matching the changes made in the Settings app.


Phone


The Phone keypad now uses Liquid Glass for the numbers.


Photos


The slider for scrubbing through videos in the Photos app has been updated.


The navigation bar also has a slightly more frosted look that makes it easier to see on light backgrounds.


The interface for managing multiple photos that you've selected has been tweaked slightly. Play as Slideshow, Favorite, and Hide are now at the top of the menu.



Safari


The Tab Bar (Bottom) in Safari is wider with less padding around the edges. In Reduce Transparency mode, there's more padding, so it no longer looks odd.



Background Security Improvements


The Privacy and Security section of the Settings app now has a toggle to automatically download and install security improvements. It's a revamp of the prior Rapid Security Responses feature.


Display Settings


The Display section of the Settings app now has iOS 26-themed wallpaper instead of iOS 18 wallpaper.



Liquid Glass


The light refraction effect around apps is now more subtle with darker icon colors and background colors.

Wallpaper


When setting a wallpaper on the Lock Screen, instructions like Pinch to Crop show up momentarily and then disappear, rather than being shown all the time.



Display Accessibility


Under the Display and Text Size section in the Accessibility settings, there is a new "Display Borders" toggle. It adds a border to all buttons, and replaces the prior "Button Shapes" setting.

Local Capture Settings


There's now an option to set a location in the Files app for audio and video recordings from calls. It's available by going to Settings > General > Local Capture.

Bonus: iPadOS 26.1


Many of the changes above are in iPadOS 26.1 too, and iPadOS 26.1 also makes some changes to multitasking.

Slide Over


With iPadOS 26.1, Apple is reintroducing Slide Over. Slide Over works alongside the window-based iPadOS 26 multitasking functionality, so you can have multiple windows open and still swipe over to quickly access a Slide Over app.


You can only have one Slide Over app at a time in iPadOS 26.1, and you can use the feature by tapping on the green window resizing button and toggling on Enter Slide Over.

External Microphones on iPad


There's now an option to adjust input gain on the iPad when using an external microphone.

Download iOS 26.1


iOS 26.1 is available for both developers and public beta testers, so if you want to get your hands on the new features now, you can. It's easiest to sign up for public beta testing by visiting Apple's beta website. You don't have long to wait for a public release, though.

Compatibility


iOS 26.1 is available on all iPhones that support β€ŒiOS 26β€Œ.

Release Date


Apple could release iOS 26.1 on Monday, November 3 or Tuesday, November 4.
Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26
Related Forum: iOS 26

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Apple This November: iOS 26.2 Beta, Rumored New Products, and More

Tomorrow is Halloween, and then November is upon us. Below, we outline what to expect from Apple next month, as the slower holiday season approaches.


Apple is expected to kick off November by releasing iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1, macOS 26.1, watchOS 26.1, tvOS 26.1, and visionOS 26.1. With beta testing now wrapped up, the updates will likely be released this Monday, November 3 or Tuesday, November 4.

iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1, and macOS 26.1 let you choose your preferred look for Liquid Glass. iPadOS 26.1 also reintroduces a version of the Slide Over feature for multitasking, and it expands the Apple Vision Pro app to iPads. With visionOS 26.1, videos in the Spatial Gallery app will show playback controls and video length while in immersive view.

watchOS 26.1 and tvOS 26.1 are minor updates, with bug fixes and performance improvements.

The beta train never stops, with Apple likely to seed the first betas of iOS 26.2, iPadOS 26.2, macOS 26.2, watchOS 26.2, tvOS 26.2, and visionOS 26.2 in the first or second week of November. Apple typically releases the "point-two" updates in mid-December, before Apple's software engineers take time off for the holiday season.

We are still waiting on Apple's promised U.S. passport feature in the iPhone's Wallet app. Apple said the feature is "coming later this year," but it is unclear if it will require iOS 26.2, or if will be enabled with a server-side update.


Earlier this month, Apple updated the 14-inch MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, and Vision Pro with its next-generation M5 chip, and previous rumors have indicated the company still planned to announce at least a few additional products before the end of the year. However, as we head into November, it is unclear if that will still happen.

The following Apple products have at one point been rumored to be updated in 2025:

The following products are rumored to launch in late 2025 or early 2026:Apple rarely announces new products in November, but it is not unheard of. Apple introduced the first 16-inch MacBook Pro in November 2019, and the original HomePod mini debuted in November 2020. Apple has even announced a few products in December over the years, such as multiple Mac Pro models, the Pro Display XDR, and the AirPods Max.

HomePod mini and Apple TV inventory is starting to dwindle at select Apple Store locations around the world, as often happens ahead of new models.


There is one big caveat, though. Apple delayed its more personalized version of Siri until next year β€”Β it is expected to launch with iOS 26.4 in March β€” so perhaps it is holding off on releasing a new HomePod mini until then. Apple's long-rumored smart home hub was reportedly delayed until the all-new Siri is ready. However, this is just a theory.

Apple's professional video editing tool Final Cut Pro often receives a major update in November, and we recently reported that the company is possibly planning to release iPad versions of its Final Cut Pro companion apps Compressor and Motion, Logic Pro companion app MainStage, and Pixelmator Pro. Maybe those will come out next month, too.


Finally, Apple has been heavily promoting its upcoming sci-fi drama series Pluribus, which hails from Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan. The first two episodes of Pluribus will be released on Apple TV (formerly known as Apple TV+) on Friday, November 7, and a new episode will follow every Friday through December 26.

Of course, these are only the things that we know to expect, and Apple could have some other announcements in store this November. Apple will likely implement its extended return policy for the holiday season next month, announce year-end awards for services like Apple Music and the App Store, and more. Stay tuned!
Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26
Related Forum: iOS 26

This article, "Apple This November: iOS 26.2 Beta, Rumored New Products, and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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iOS 26 Leaker Being Sued by Apple is Actually a 'Lifelong Apple Fanboy'

In July, Apple sued well-known YouTuber Jon Prosser and his acquaintance Michael Ramacciotti over alleged theft of the company's trade secrets, after Prosser leaked some iOS 26 details in videos uploaded to his YouTube channel Front Page Tech. If you are not caught up on the lawsuit, read our initial coverage to learn more.


Earlier this week, Prosser told The Verge he has "been in active communications with Apple since the beginning stages of this case," despite Apple's attorneys indicating he missed his deadline to formally respond to the complaint. The court entered a default judgment against Prosser last week, citing his failure to respond.

"The notion that I'm ignoring the case is incorrect," said Prosser. "That's all I am able to say."

In a court document filed on Thursday, Apple's attorneys said they are aware that Prosser has "publicly acknowledged" the complaint. However, they said he "has not indicated whether he will file a response to it or, if so, by when."

As for Ramacciotti, Apple said he has agreed to respond to the complaint by October 29.

In a statement filed with the court, Ramacciotti's attorneys said he is "not a professional leaker," but rather "a lifelong Apple fanboy who failed to fully appreciate the value and proprietary nature of the information that he learned about iOS 26."

Ramacciotti had "no intent to monetize this information" when he contacted Prosser, they said.

Apple is concerned that Ramacciotti "intentionally deleted relevant evidence," including "several hundreds of thousands of text messages," after the company advised him of the need to preserve evidence on July 23. His attorneys disputed this assertion.

Apple and Ramacciotti have informally discussed a potential settlement, and these talks were "ongoing," according to the court filing on Thursday.
Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26
Related Forum: iOS 26

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