Just a few days after the unexpected presentation of a new MacBook Pro, new iPad Pro models, and updates for Vision Pro, Apple has released iOS 26.1 alongside iPadOS 26.1, macOS 26.1, tvOS 26.1, watchOS 26.1, and visionOS 26.1. With this, we have the first major update to the operating systems since their launch last September. On the iPhone, this version brings interface changes, new customization options, and several new features in Phone, Photos, Safari, and Apple Music. Let’s go over all the updates.
Visual improvements and customization options
One of the most noticeable changes in iOS 26.1 is that we can now customize the Liquid Glass design from Settings > Display & Brightness. Here we can choose between the Clear style, which is more transparent, or the Tinted one, which has greater opacity and contrast.
While we’re in the Settings app, we’ll notice that the description texts for sections are now left-aligned. The same alignment also applies to folders on the Home Screen, where the folder name now appears on the left.
In Photos, the slider for navigating through videos is now more visible, and the navigation bar has a slightly more frosted effect to improve legibility. When selecting multiple images, the options for Favorite, Hide, or Play Slideshow now appear automatically at the top, making them easier to use.
New features in apps and system settings
iOS 26.1 brings several practical improvements that change how we use our iPhone in different situations. For example, we can now disable the swipe-left gesture on the lock screen that opens the camera, found in Settings > Camera.
We can also turn off vibration when answering or ending a call in the Phone app. In the Music app, it’s now possible to skip tracks by swiping forward or backward on the song title in the mini player. In Safari, the bottom tab bar is wider and visually more uniform.
When it comes to alarms and timers, stopping them completely—if we have the snooze option enabled—now requires sliding the corresponding button instead of just tapping it. This change helps reduce accidental alarm dismissals without us realizing it.
In the security section, iOS 26.1 adds a setting to automatically download and install security improvements in the background. Without restarts or waiting, our iPhone becomes safer thanks to this feature.
Updates for Apple Intelligence, AirPods, and more
Apple Intelligence continues to expand. With iOS 26.1, Apple’s AI learns new languages: Danish, Dutch, Norwegian, European Portuguese, Swedish, Turkish, Traditional Chinese, and Vietnamese. AirPods also gain new features with the live translation function, which now supports Japanese, Korean, Italian, and Mandarin Chinese (both Traditional and Simplified).
Meanwhile, the TV app introduces a new icon that reflects the Liquid Glass style, coinciding with the streaming service’s name change from Apple TV+ to simply Apple TV. The Fitness app now allows us to create fully customized workouts, adjusting parameters such as exercise type, estimated active calories, duration, effort level, and even start time.
iOS 26.1 is available for all iPhones compatible with iOS 26, and we can install it now, along with the rest of the operating systems for iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV, and Apple Vision Pro. All we have to do is open the Settings app, go to General, and tap Install Now under Software Update.
With this, we’ll enjoy an update that, while not a major system overhaul, brings a solid list of small details that collectively make the daily experience with our Apple devices more pleasant and practical.
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