The first significant update after the release of iOS 26 in September, iOS 26.1, has officially begun to be released by Apple. With useful adjustments, visual enhancements, and quality-of-life enhancements, the update, which is currently available for all compatible iPhones, aims to improve the user experience. Additionally, it includes numerous long-overdue solutions for problems that users have voiced, particularly with the Liquid Glass interface and the Lock Screen camera shortcut.
Apple releases the iOS 26.1 update, which includes a comprehensive list of new features and enhancements for iPhones.
Fundamentally, iOS 26.1 improves upon the iPhone experience rather than completely reimagining it. From changing the interface’s appearance to giving users more control over typical annoyances, Apple has concentrated on nuances that improve everyday interactions.
The new Liquid Glass Transparency Toggle is one of the most significant upgrades. With the addition of a “Clear” or “Tinted” mode under Display and Brightness options, users may now alter how translucent the UI looks. By adding opacity to components like buttons and notification panels, the Tinted version enhances contrast and visibility. Since the release of iOS 26, one of the most talked-about visual issues has been resolved by this minor but significant update.
The ability to turn off the Lock Screen camera gesture is another good update. People have been complaining about unintentionally opening the camera on their phones while they were in their pockets or bags for years. Apple has finally included a feature in the Camera section of iOS 26.1 that allows you to disable the left-swipe gesture without completely turning off the camera. Although it’s a small addition, many users noticeably benefit from it.
For those who find the faint vibration annoying, the update also adds new customization to the Phone app, allowing users to turn off haptic feedback when calls connect or finish. To reduce unintentional dismissals and promote more intentional involvement, Alarms and Timers have been updated with a new “Slide to Stop” gesture on the Lock Screen in place of a tap.
Additionally, language support has grown. Danish, Dutch, Turkish, and Vietnamese are among the new languages that Apple Intelligence, the company’s on-device AI engine, can now understand. With this extension, a wider worldwide audience can now use Apple’s cutting-edge features. In a similar vein, owners of the AirPods Pro 2, Pro 3, and 4 can now communicate in real time even more easily thanks to the addition of additional languages like Chinese, Korean, and Japanese to AirPods Live Translation.
There are also some useful enhancements for music enthusiasts. Users may now skip tracks in Apple Music by swiping across the song title. This gesture-based shortcut is user-friendly. Smoother playback on compatible speakers is now possible thanks to Apple Music’s new AutoMix transitions, which now function even over AirPlay.
Modifications to the system’s design are ongoing. iOS now has a cleaner, more contemporary style thanks to the transition from center-aligned to left-aligned headers for the Settings app and Home Screen folders. The Photos app now has a better video slider and repositioned editing choices, while the Phone keypad now employs the Liquid Glass appearance. Additionally, Safari users will notice a slightly broader tab bar that makes browsing feel more condensed by reducing wasted space.
With this version, Apple has also prioritized security. The Rapid Security Response mechanism has been replaced by a new automatic background security update toggle under Privacy and Security settings, which enables devices to receive security patches without needing a complete system upgrade.
With completely customizable workouts, the fitness app adds new dimension. Users can now build sessions with considerably more freedom, selecting the type of workout, number of calories, and time. Additionally, there are accessibility improvements, such as the replacement of the previous “Button Shapes” function with a new “Display Borders” setting that outlines buttons for improved visibility.
More control over recordings is available to professionals and producers in iOS 26.1. This includes the ability to choose a local storage location for call captures and modify input gain when using external microphones.
Even FaceTime is becoming smarter, with enhanced voice quality available in bad network situations and better Communication Safety settings for child accounts between the ages of 13 and 17.
As an homage to the multitasking versatility of iPads, iPadOS 26.1 brings back the well-liked Slide Over functionality, which enables users to swiftly open a secondary app without exiting the current window. In order to bring iPadOS into line with Apple’s growing spatial computing ecosystem, the upgrade also includes a Vision Pro app.
By going to Settings > General > Software Update, users can download iOS 26.1 as usual. All iPhones running iOS 26 are supported by the upgrade, including the iPhone SE (2nd generation) and models 11 and beyond.
