Apple is lastly able to launch iOS 26 to the general public, and it’s a significant replace. The brand new model of the iPhone working system includes a new appear and feel with Liquid Glass, which is able to immediately make your iPhone look recent. However that’s not all.
Below the hood, there are a bunch of refinements, utilities, and new APIs value exploring. Listed below are the highest stuff you completely ought to attempt when you replace your iPhone to iOS 26.
1. Discover the brand new Liquid Glass interface
Probably probably the most notable change in iOS 26 is Liquid Glass, which is what Apple calls its new interface obtainable throughout its household of working programs. Liquid Glass simulates the consequences of glass on the display, bringing far more transparency and brightness to components reminiscent of icons and buttons.
There are cool new animations when opening and shutting apps, flattening the Notification Middle, or unlocking the display. Not solely that, however most of the buttons and toggles now reply to the way you faucet, maintain, and drag them.
However there are different methods to discover Liquid Glass. Attempt customizing your Lock Display screen with one of many new wallpapers. Change up your Dwelling Display screen with the brand new Clear and Tinted icon choices. Or check out a brand new Lock Display screen format. Liquid Glass is greater than only a new look, so go begin exploring.
2. Give Visible Intelligence one other look
Apple Intelligence simply received much more helpful. In case you have an iPhone 15 Professional or later with Apple Intelligence enabled, there are some new options to check out with iOS 26. As an illustration, Visible Intelligence now works throughout apps too, so you possibly can seek for something you see in your display.
To do that, take a screenshot after which merely circle something on it to seek for on Google. This allows you to discover the place to purchase a cool outfit you noticed on Instagram, for instance. Visible Intelligence can even detect issues like addresses or dates in screenshots to supply map and calendar strategies.
Visible Intelligence has a complete new set of tips in iOS 26.
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And if you wish to go additional, faucet the “Ask” button to summon ChatGPT to search out extra details about the screenshot.
3. Use ChatGPT to generate photographs
With iOS 26, Apple has taken its partnership with ChatGPT even additional. Customers can now generate photographs based mostly on textual content prompts utilizing Apple’s Picture Playground app. Simply open the app and select ChatGPT below the Fashion choices. The consequence will seem proper within the Playground app.
Along with ChatGPT help, Apple has added a brand new “Genmoji” type and improved its personal AI fashions, so Picture Playground is now able to creating higher illustrations of what you need.
4. Have some enjoyable with AutoMix
If you happen to’re an Apple Music subscriber, you should attempt AutoMix, a brand new characteristic that acts as a DJ to your playlists.
Primarily, AutoMix makes use of synthetic intelligence to combine the transition from one track to a different, leading to a DJ-like expertise. The characteristic adjusts the velocity and beats of songs to create distinctive transitions.
You possibly can allow AutoMix by going to Settings > Apps > Music > Tune Transitions. Remember the fact that this characteristic solely works for playlists or songs enjoying in shuffle mode.
AutoMix is among the greatest Apple Music options.
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5. Attempt a brand new ringtone
It’s been some time since Apple final added new ringtones to the iPhone, however iOS 26 comes with a whopping seven new ringtones so that you can select from.
Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics and choose the Ringtone menu. There, faucet the Reflection choice to see a listing of a number of new ringtones, reminiscent of Mirrored, Pop, and Buoyant.
6. Change your chat backgrounds
iMessage simply received extra enjoyable with iOS 26 because of new animated backgrounds. You and your folks can add backgrounds to particular person or group chats, and everybody will see them.
There are various choices to select from, reminiscent of coloration, sky, water, and aurora. If you happen to favor, you can even use a customized picture because the background and even generate a brand new picture utilizing Picture Playground.
Simply open an iMessage chat and faucet on the dialog particulars. Then go to the Backgrounds menu and decide one of many obtainable choices.
If you happen to ship a variety of messages, you’ll love the brand new backgrounds in iOS 26.
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7. Filter undesirable calls
iOS 26 provides new filters for undesirable calls, so that you now not should reply unknown numbers to know who’s calling. The system will mechanically reply these calls and wait till the caller shares their title and the rationale for the decision, so you possibly can select whether or not or to not reply.
You possibly can allow the brand new characteristic by going to Settings > Apps > Telephone and searching for the Name Filtering part.
Replace at present to iOS 26
As you possibly can see, there’s much more to check out in iOS 26 moreover the brand new Liquid Glass interface. And at present’s the day to replace your system. Simply go to Settings > Basic > Software program Replace later this afternoon (normally round 10am PT).
Remember the fact that iOS 26 requires an iPhone 11 or later, and that some options are restricted to newer fashions. We additionally suggest that you simply again up your cellphone to iCloud earlier than continuing with the replace.