iOS 26 was released to the general public on September 15, 2025. Apple announced and seeded the release candidate on the same day it unveiled the iPhone 17 models, and the update features a major design overhaul called "Liquid Glass," along with enhanced AI, new system features, and refreshed apps. The update rollout typically starts around 10 a.m. Pacific Time in the United States, with availability varying by time zone worldwide. iOS 26 is free to download and supports iPhones from the iPhone 11 series onward, including the iPhone SE 2020 and newer models. It also comes preinstalled on the iPhone 17 models and iPhone Air released in 2025. This version replaces the numbering convention that jumped from iOS 18 to iOS 26 for consistency across Apple's platforms. Apple plans to continue releasing incremental updates like iOS 26.1 starting in October 2025 to add features and fix bugs.