iPhone users warned ‘do not delay’ installing | Tech News

Apple jumped a number of numbers and overhauled the look of iPhones to get from iOS 18 to iOS 26 with its newest free software program replace back in September. That overhaul launched a new Liquid Glass’ look to iOS, more Apple Intelligence options, and upgrades for key apps equivalent to Messages, Mail and Safari.

But Apple does not simply dump a load of new issues on you and depart it at that. For the remaining of the twelve months till iOS 27 (presumably), the firm will push out month-to-month function and security patches to deliver new instruments and fixes to your iPhone.

For a clue as to how main every of these updates is, test the numbers after ‘26’. If there are two factors, it’ll be a small change, equivalent to final month’s iOS 26.0.1. If it’s only one quantity there might be more notable updates, which is the case with in the present day’s iOS 26.1.

iOS 26.1 is on the market on the iPhone 11 and later, which is to say each iPhone launched since 2019. While all these fashions will get the visible modifications, yours may not get each single new function – for instance, solely the iPhone 17 and 16 sequence and the iPhone 15 Pro telephones get Apple Intelligence, Apple’s AI instruments.

To replace to iOS 26.1, head to your iPhone’s Settings app and obtain the replace (Settings > General > Software Update). The measurement of the obtain appears to differ relying in your model of iPhone and which model of iOS you might be working, nevertheless it’ll be a number of GB (mine was nearly 9GB on my iPhone 16).

The predominant factor that’s now doable to change is the looks of Liquid Glass. This was a large visible improve when iOS 26 landed, introducing clear visible parts all all through the OS, which mimic the look of glass. Certain buttons, icons and menus are partially see-through in Apple’s own apps, and third occasion apps equivalent to WhatsApp have been up to date shortly to make use of it.

In a new Display setting, you possibly can change Liquid Glass from ‘Clear’, the default, to ‘Tinted’, which will increase opacity and distinction.

It comes after some vocal suggestions from media and basic Apple users that Liquid Glass made issues more durable to learn or see.

Along with this, Apple additionally used iOS 26.1 to repair a quantity of bugs and security flaws.

“iOS 26.1 is a substantial update, addressing more than 50 security issues and introducing Background Security Release, a feature that quietly strengthens Apple’s long-term security posture,” mentioned Adam Boyton, Senior Security Strategy Manager EMEIA at Jamf.

“Background Security Release is a particularly important step forward because it removes the need for users to manually install every update and ensures critical patches are deployed faster across the ecosystem. With mobile devices now central to both personal and professional life, timely patching is one of the simplest and most effective defences users can have.”

That’s not all that’s new in iOS 26.1, although. Here are Apple’s full notes on what’s new within the obtain:

Liquid Glass setting provides you the option to decide on between the default clear look or a new tinted look which will increase opacity of the fabric in apps and notifications on the Lock Screen

Live Translation with AirPods help for Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Japanese, Korean and Italian

Apple Music MiniPlayer swipe gesture to go to the subsequent or earlier observe

Apple Music AutoMix help over AirPlay

Gain control is on the market for exterior USB microphones when recording with native seize

Local seize information may be saved to a particular location

Manual exercise logging is on the market instantly from the Fitness app

New Camera setting to activate or off Lock Screen swipe to open Camera

Improved FaceTime audio high quality in low-bandwidth circumstances

Communication Safety and Web content material filters to restrict grownup web sites are enabled by default for current baby accounts for ages 13-17 (Age varies by nation or area)

Live Translation is a function unique to Apple Intelligence, so that you’ll need one of the aforementioned iPhones and both AirPods Pro 2 or Pro 3 to get the new Chinese, Japanese, Korean or Italian languages. Live Translation makes use of your iPhone and AirPods to translate somebody talking in a single language into your chosen language, with the translated audio piped into your ears by way of the buds.