(KTLA) — Apple’s biggest iPhone software update in years is here.
iOS 26 introduces a bold new design called Liquid Glass, along with a bunch of new tricks worth trying. But remember: You don’t have to update right away. Apple will continue to support iOS 18 with security updates only, at least for a while.
Still, if you do make the leap, there’s a lot to explore.
Messages
In Messages, you can now create a poll. Tap the plus sign next to the message box, select “Polls,” and type in your options. Want to personalize a chat? Set a custom background by tapping the person’s name or group, then “Backgrounds.” Just know they’ll see it too, if they’ve updated their software.
Phone calls
Call Screening is a new feature that filters unknown callers before your phone even rings. Go to Settings > Apps > Phone and select “Ask Reason for Calling.” Callers must say who they are and why they’re calling — and you’ll see this info on your lock screen.
Hold Assist listens to hold music for you, and alerts you when someone picks up. It’s like having a personal assistant for customer service calls.
Snoozing
In the Clock app, you’re no longer stuck with a nine-minute snooze. Choose anywhere from 1 to 15 minutes for some extra Z’s.
Photos
You can turn pictures into 3D photos by tapping the new Spatial icon in the upper right corner — and yes, it works on old photos too. While you can’t necessarily share these with friends, you can set a spatial picture as your lock screen wallpaper.
While you’re in Photos, check for duplicates by tapping “Collections,” then “Utilities,” and “Duplicates.” This is quite basic, though, and I still prefer the free Clever Cleaner app for freeing up storage on your phone.
Ringtones
You can now create a ringtone from any supported audio file. Open the file in the Files app, hit “Share,” and tap “Use as Ringtone.”
Preview
There’s a new app called Preview. Use it to scan documents or edit PDFs. You can add markups, fill out forms and even sign with your finger.
Liquid Glass
And if the new Liquid Glass design feels too flashy, you can tone it down. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size, then turn on “Reduce Transparency.” Elements will look less see-through.
Personally, I wasn’t a fan of iOS 26 when I first downloaded it but have grown to love the look, feel and new features. Also, if you notice your battery life taking a hit after you first install it, Apple says that’s typical while the system takes a while to organize your phone’s data in the background.
Source: Fox 8 News Channel