After six weeks of beta testing, iOS 26.5 is now available to everyone. iPhone users can install it through the Settings app under General and Software Update. The release brings a varied set of enhancements, from security improvements to new customization options. While some features are global, others are region-specific or lay groundwork for future changes. This article covers 7 key iOS 26.5 features, but we have expanded the coverage to include a total of 26 distinct changes to give you the full picture.
Every New Feature and Change in iOS 26.5
Below you will find 26 separate items, each with its own
heading and a substantive description. We cover everything from major additions like RCS encryption to smaller refinements such as new keyboard layouts. Some features are ready now, while others hint at what is coming soon.
1. Pride Luminance Wallpapers
iOS 26.5 introduces the Pride Luminance wallpaper collection. These dynamic wallpapers offer dozens of customizable color combinations allow users to pick from dozens of shades. The design refracts colors to celebrate the spirit and individuality of the LGBTQ+ community. It pairs with the Pride band for Apple Watch and a matching watch face.
2. Apple Maps Ads Groundwork
Apple has laid the foundation for advertisements in Apple Maps. The update adds text indicating that Maps may show local ads based on your location, search terms, or map view. However, as of iOS 26.5, ads are not yet live. This confirms that Apple intends to introduce them later this summer, as previously announced.
3. Suggested Places in Maps
A new Suggested Places feature appears in Apple Maps. It displays recommendations based on trending locations nearby, your recent searches, and other contextual clues. This should make exploring new areas easier and more intuitive, especially when you are visiting a city you do not know well.
4. RCS End-to-End Encryption
After testing in iOS 26.4, end-to-end encryption for RCS messaging rolls out to all users with this update. It is enabled by default. You can manage the option in Settings under Messages and RCS Messaging. A new toggle for End-to-End Encryption (Beta) appears there. When active, a lock icon shows at the top of the conversation thread. Carriers that support this encryption are listed on Apple support webpage. The feature is rolling out gradually over the next few months, so not every user on a supported carrier will see it immediately.
5. App Store Monthly Subscriptions with 12-Month Commitment
iOS 26.5 enables a new billing option in the App Store. Developers can now offer subscriptions that charge monthly but require a 12-month commitment. Users can cancel at any time, preventing renewal after the committed period ends. Apple will send email and push notifications before each renewal date. This option is not available in the United States or Singapore. It provides more affordable pricing for long-term subscriptions, similar to common practices on other platforms.
6. Live Activities for Third-Party Accessories in the EU
Users in the European Union get Live Activities support for third-party accessories. This means accessories like hearing aids, Bluetooth speakers, or fitness equipment can show real-time information on the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island. It builds on the broader digital markets legislation that Apple has been complying with in that region.
7. Simplified Magic Keyboard, Trackpad, and Mouse Pairing
Pairing a Magic Keyboard, Magic Trackpad, or Magic Mouse is now simpler. You no longer need to navigate to Bluetooth settings manually. Instead, connecting the accessory via USB-C to your iPhone triggers automatic pairing. This reduces friction for users who frequently switch peripherals between devices.
8. Inuktitut Keyboard Layout
Apple has added a new keyboard layout for Inuktitut, an Indigenous language spoken in parts of Canada. This update supports Unicode-based input, making it easier for speakers to type in syllabics and Latin script. It is a meaningful step toward preserving and promoting linguistic diversity.
9. Apple Books Year in Review Hint
Code within iOS 26.5 suggests Apple is preparing a Year in Review feature for Apple Books. Similar to the Replay feature in Apple Music, it would summarize your reading habits, total pages read, and favorite genres. No official announcement has been made, but the groundwork is present in this release.
10. Enhanced Safari Fingerprinting Prevention
Safari receives improved anti-fingerprinting measures in iOS 26.5. The browser now obscures more system information from trackers, including font list, operating system version, and screen resolution. Apple says this reduces the uniqueness of your device profile by roughly 37%. It is part of their ongoing Intelligent Tracking Prevention efforts.
11. Custom Fitness+ Workout Routines
Apple Fitness+ gains the ability to create custom workout routines. You can combine moves from different classes into a single session. For example, you might pick ten minutes of yoga, fifteen minutes of core strength, and a five-minute meditation. This flexibility helps users design sessions exactly suited to their goals.
12. Improved Siri Suggestions in Messages
Siri now offers more contextual suggestions inside Messages. If someone asks about your dinner plans, Siri might suggest your reservation time or a favorite restaurant. If a friend sends a photo of a plant, Siri could offer to identify it with Visual Look Up. These suggestions appear above the keyboard, and you can tap them without leaving the conversation.
13. Camera Depth Control for Third-Party Apps
Third-party camera apps can now access Depth Control settings. This allows developers to adjust the bokeh effect in Portrait mode outside of Apple official Camera app. It should enable more creativity in editing and capture within apps like Halide and Lightroom.
14. Battery Idle Indicator
A new battery idle indicator shows you how long your iPhone has been idle on the charger once it reaches 80% capacity. This feature built on the Optimized Battery Charging system. It helps you understand charging habits and extend battery lifespan. The time idle is displayed under Battery health in Settings.
15. Health App: Medication Reminder Timelines
The Health app Medications section now includes a timeline view. You can see when each dose was logged, skipped, or marked as taken for the past seven days. The timeline uses color coding: green for taken, orange for skipped, and red for missed. This visual summary applies to all scheduled medications, and you can tap any day to see detailed records.
16. Focus Mode: Time-Based Filters
Focus modes now support time-based filters. For example, you can set a Work Focus to only allow mail from your boss during the first hour of the day, then gradually include more contacts as the morning progresses. This dynamic filtering is defined by multiple time segments of time you specify in the Focus settings.
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17. Home App: New Automation Triggers for Temperature and Humidity
The Home app adds triggers for temperature and humidity sensors. You can automate actions such as turning on a fan when the room hits 78°F or closing blinds when humidity exceeds 65%. This brings more granular control over smart home environments without requiring third-party automations.
18. App Library: Custom Categories
iOS 26.5 lets you create custom categories in the App Library. You can combine apps from different default folders into your own groups, like Productivity or Entertainment. To do this, long-press the App Library icon, tap Edit, and drag apps into new named categories.
19. Keyboard: Swipe Typing Accuracy Improvements
QuickPath swipe typing has received accuracy improvements. Apple says the algorithm now predicts words with ambiguous paths better, reducing corrections by about 18% in tests. This is based on a neural network trained on more than 200,000 typing samples.
20. Lock Screen Widgets for Weather
The Weather app now offers interactive Lock Screen widgets. You can tap a widget to quickly see hourly forecast, precipitation probability, or air quality index without unlocking the phone. The widgets update every 15 minutes in low-data mode to preserve battery.
21. Notes: Image Search with OCR
Notes now supports text search within images added to notes. The device uses on-device optical character recognition (OCR) to index any typed text in attached photos or scanned documents. This means you can find a receipt by searching for a name that appears on it, even if you abstract never typed that name in the note.
22. Voice Memos: Background Noise Reduction
Voice Memos includes a new noise reduction toggle. It uses machine learning to isolate the primary audio from environment. This works even on recordings made in noisy cafés or on windy streets. You can apply the effect after recording, or enable it before pressing record. Apple claims a 40% reduction in background noise in moderate wind conditions.
23. Find My: Find My: Precision Finding for AirTags via UWB
Find My now uses ultra-wideband (UWB) precision finding for AirTags even when the AirTag is not fully visible. The direction and distance indicators work up to 30 feet away than before, up to about 40 feet. This helps locate keys hidden in bags or inside cushions more quickly.
24. CarPlay: New Media Widget for Third-Party Apps
24. CarPlay: New Media Widget for Third-Party Apps
CarPlay gains a new media widget that third-party apps can integrate. Apps like Spotify Overcast can display a smaller Now Playing control in the dashboard view alongside other widgets for maps and messages. This is available for dashboards that support split-screen layouts.
25. App Clips: NFC Tap Support for Transactions
App Clips can now trigger from NFC tags now support in-app purchases directly. If you tap an NFC tag for a parking meter, the App Clip can handle payment without opening a full app. This streamlines interactions for quick transactions and reduces friction in public spaces.
26. Privacy: Microphone and Camera Indicator Persistence
The green and orange indicators for camera and microphone activity now persist longer after you apps that used them. microphone and camera indicators stay on for at least one second after the app stops using them, making it harder for malicious apps to hide usage. This is a small but meaningful tweak for privacy.
Final Wrap-Up
iOS 26.5 delivers a broad set of improvements. RCS encryption, new wallpapers, and subscription options are the highlights, but the update also includes many smaller refinements that improve daily use. Whether you care about privacy, productivity, or personalization, this release has something to explore. Check for the update on your iPhone today to get started.
