Apple Sets September 15 Release Date for iOS, macOS, and watchOS Updates

Apple's latest major operating system updates — iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, and watchOS 26 — will be released to the public on September 15. The date was confirmed following the unveiling of the new iPhone generation. The update introduces the new Liquid Glass visual style, first showcased at WWDC 2025 in June. This design language gives UI elements the appearance of flowing liquid glass, refreshing app icons, context menus, and the Control Center.

Apple is maintaining broad device support. iOS 26 will be available for iPhone models starting with the iPhone 11 lineup, including all Pro variants and the second-generation iPhone SE. This means even five-year-old smartphones will receive the complete new look and feature set.The iPadOS 26 update will come to tablets starting from the 8th-generation iPad, the 5th-generation iPad mini, and the 3rd-generation iPad Air, as well as all newer models — including the latest M4-powered iPad Pro.

For Macs, macOS 26 will support models launched in 2019 and later. This includes the Apple silicon MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro from those specified years onward. As for watchOS 26, the update will be available for Apple Watch Series 6 and newer, including all Ultra models and the second-generation SE.

Although Apple typically releases updates simultaneously worldwide, experts often advise against installing them the very minute they go live. The initial stampede of users can put a strain on servers in the first few hours, leading to slow download speeds and potential errors. A better strategy is to wait a few hours or until the next day to install the update hassle-free.

This is expected to be one of Apple's most significant visual updates in years, thanks to the radical redesign of its operating systems' appearance.