iOS 26 is coming right now: These are the highest 7 options you have to strive first

Apple is lastly able to launch iOS 26 to the general public, and it’s a significant replace. The brand new model of the iPhone working system incorporates a new feel and look with Liquid Glass, which can immediately make your iPhone look contemporary. However that’s not all.

Underneath the hood, there are a bunch of refinements, utilities, and new APIs price exploring. Listed here are the highest stuff you completely ought to strive when you replace your iPhone to iOS 26.

1. Discover the brand new Liquid Glass interface

Presumably essentially the most notable change in iOS 26 is Liquid Glass, which is what Apple calls its new interface obtainable throughout its household of working programs. Liquid Glass simulates the consequences of glass on the display, bringing way more transparency and brightness to components comparable to icons and buttons.

There are cool new animations when opening and shutting apps, knocking down the Notification Middle, or unlocking the display. Not solely that, however most of the buttons and toggles now reply to the way you faucet, maintain, and drag them.

However there are different methods to discover Liquid Glass. Strive customizing your Lock Display with one of many new wallpapers. Swap up your House Display with the brand new Clear and Tinted icon choices. Or check out a brand new Lock Display structure. Liquid Glass is greater than only a new look, so go begin exploring.

2. Give Visible Intelligence one other look

Apple Intelligence simply received much more helpful. In case you have an iPhone 15 Professional or later with Apple Intelligence enabled, there are some new options to check out with iOS 26. As an example, Visible Intelligence now works throughout apps too, so you’ll be able to seek for something you see in your display.

To do that, take a screenshot after which merely circle something on it to seek for on Google. This allows you to discover the place to purchase a cool outfit you noticed on Instagram, for instance. Visible Intelligence can even detect issues like addresses or dates in screenshots to offer map and calendar strategies.

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And if you wish to go additional, faucet the “Ask” button to summon ChatGPT to seek out extra details about the screenshot.

3. Use ChatGPT to generate photos

With iOS 26, Apple has taken its partnership with ChatGPT even additional. Customers can now generate photos based mostly on textual content prompts utilizing Apple’s Picture Playground app. Simply open the app and select ChatGPT underneath the Model choices. The outcome will seem proper within the Playground app.

Along with ChatGPT assist, Apple has added a brand new “Genmoji” type and improved its personal AI fashions, so Picture Playground is now able to creating higher illustrations of what you need.

4. Have some enjoyable with AutoMix 

Should you’re an Apple Music subscriber, you have to strive AutoMix, a brand new function that acts as a DJ to your playlists.

Basically, AutoMix makes use of synthetic intelligence to combine the transition from one track to a different, leading to a DJ-like expertise. The function adjusts the velocity and beats of songs to create distinctive transitions.

You may allow AutoMix by going to Settings > Apps > Music > Track Transitions. Take into account that this function solely works for playlists or songs taking part in in shuffle mode.

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5. Strive a brand new ringtone

It’s been some time since Apple final added new ringtones to the iPhone, however iOS 26 comes with a whopping seven new ringtones so that you can select from.

Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics and choose the Ringtone menu. There, faucet the Reflection choice to see a listing of a number of new ringtones, comparable to Mirrored, Pop, and Buoyant.

6. Change your chat backgrounds

iMessage simply received extra enjoyable with iOS 26 because of new animated backgrounds. You and your pals can add backgrounds to particular person or group chats, and everybody will see them. 

There are numerous choices to select from, comparable to shade, sky, water, and aurora. Should you favor, you may also use a customized picture because the background and even generate a brand new picture utilizing Picture Playground.

Simply open an iMessage chat and faucet on the dialog particulars. Then go to the Backgrounds menu and decide one of many obtainable choices.

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7. Filter undesirable calls

iOS 26 provides new filters for undesirable calls, so that you not need to reply unknown numbers to know who’s calling. The system will routinely reply these calls and wait till the caller shares their title and the explanation for the decision, so you’ll be able to select whether or not or to not reply.

You may allow the brand new function by going to Settings > Apps > Cellphone and on the lookout for the Name Filtering part.

Replace right now to iOS 26

As you’ll be able to see, there’s much more to check out in iOS 26 in addition to the brand new Liquid Glass interface. And right now’s the day to replace your system. Simply go to Settings > Common > Software program Replace later this afternoon (often round 10am PT).

Take into account that iOS 26 requires an iPhone 11 or later, and that some options are restricted to newer fashions. We additionally advocate that you simply again up your telephone to iCloud earlier than continuing with the replace.