Apple Officially Releases iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 [Download]
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Posted September 15, 2025 at 11:45pm by iClarified
Apple has officially released iOS 26 and iPadOS 26, making the major software updates available to all users with a compatible iPhone or iPad. The release follows a summer of beta testing that began after the software was unveiled at WWDC in June. The update is a big one, bringing a significant design overhaul and a new suite of features powered by Apple Intelligence.
The biggest change is a new design aesthetic built around a material Apple is calling 'Liquid Glass.' It's a translucent material used across the system on app icons, widgets, and controls, creating a look that reflects and refracts its surroundings. The update also brings a simplified layout to the Camera app, new tabs in Photos, and a floating tab bar in Safari.
For iPad users, the headline feature is a completely new windowing system that brings more Mac-like multitasking to the tablet, letting you fluidly resize app windows, place them anywhere on the screen, and arrange them with tiling. A new Exposé feature lets you see all open windows at once, and a menu bar, accessible from the top, brings familiar app commands to the forefront. iPadOS 26 also adds the Preview app for PDF and image editing, Background Tasks for long-running processes, and the native Phone app.
Apple Intelligence gets a major expansion across both operating systems. Live Translation is now built into Phone, Messages, and FaceTime for real-time conversations, and a new Apple Games app serves as a central hub for gaming. In the Phone app, new tools like Call Screening and Hold Assist help manage unwanted calls and wait times.