iOS 26.1 RC ― Bug Fixes, Changes, and Improvements

[Maxell]

I don't get the hand wringing over OTA vs ISPW. My install is solid, and I have none of the issues that y'all are reporting with 26.1 RC. And I could not tell you the last time I did an IPSW install - I'd guess it was back when it was the only way to install an iOS update.

My wife insists on doing all her software updates via ISPW method. I do all mine OTA. A while ago an Apple support tech told her to do updates and installs via ISPW method because it provides a cleaner version than OTA. This may have been the case a few years ago but not now

A lot of people with iPhones don’t have a Mac.

How can I persuade her to do OTA?

 

[BigDO]

Interested if anyone has done battery life comparisons with Apple Intelligence on and off?

 

[dwrufus53]

My wife insists on doing all her software updates via ISPW method. I do all mine OTA. A while ago an Apple support tech told her to do updates and installs via ISPW method because it provides a cleaner version than OTA. This may have been the case a few years ago but not now

A lot of people with iPhones don’t have a Mac.

How can I persuade her to do OTA?

Not sure you can convince her. But others have been told that OTA is just as solid/secure/clean.

I am absolutely convinced that if Apple offers OTA as an update option, that it’s not the cause of all of these reported issues.

How many who only do OTA have issues vs those who don’t? Maybe anecdotal, but definitely difficult to build a cause and effect connection.

 

[fergus2019]

Has the problem of missing notification sounds on iPhone 11 been fixed in this firmware?
(After rebooting, the sounds appear, but after a while they disappear until you reboot the phone again. The incoming call melody still works.)

 

[Reeneman]

Is there any way to force a complete re-download of the Apple Intelligence data?
Since the 26.1 it always blocks over 12 Gb of data on my phone for the files. It should be somewhere between 6-7 Gb.

Extra info: I’m currently in china, probably it’s some strange bug because some functions are blocked here if connected to WiFi without VPN. I will further investigate when I’m back home.

 

[joseterra]

In my humble opinion, nowadays the difference between loading the operating system with the IPSW file or updating via OTA is significant only if:
1) you want to do a clean install, meaning not updating but installing from scratch (which you can only do with the IPSW file). In the latter case, the process obviously erases the previous iOS and installs the new one, as if it were a pre-configuration boot;
2) if you don't have enough storage space on your iPhone (perhaps on the 128 GB or less version), and in this case, the bulk of the GB usage remains on your PC, not your iPhone during the updating (then it also disappears from the iPhone at the end of the process via OTA);
3) if the OTA file takes too long to download and you don't want your iPhone to be locked up by the process. So, it's easier to download the IPSW file and update when you can!
In all other cases, updating via OTA shouldn't be any different than updating via IPSW, since in both cases the iOS elements to be updated are overwritten, as well as the "new" elements, and the operating system isn't completely reloaded.
As a veteran macOS and iOS developer, I'd say the OTA file structure isn't significantly different from that of the IPSW...but, of course, I might not have all the information and be proven wrong by others

 

[GoofyCyborg]

I am absolutely convinced that if Apple offers OTA as an update option, that it’s not the cause of all of these reported issues

I’ve only ever installed OTA updates and I have an iPhone 17 Pro. I haven’t encountered any of the issues reported here. No respirings, not a single crash, apps update just fine. I’m happy with my iPhone 17 Pro and I’m happy with iOS 26.1RC.

 

[DeanCorp]

Has anyone messed with the WiFi 7 settings on 26.1? I find performance MUCH better when Wi-Fi 6E Mode is off. Hopefully I see an improvement on 26.1 from my 17 Pro Max with this feature turned on. I can be standing directly under my UniFi U7 Pro XGS with it turned on and get 1300Mbps with it turned off in same location 1850Mbps.

Can anyone check this for me please 🙏

 

[thatJohann]

It took 3 days but now it’s running mostly smooth on my Air. Still feels closer to 90Hz when scrolling thru messages app. But the rest is smooth.

Battery is also better than on 26.0.1.

Hope they fix the stutter glitch when swiping from widget page to Home Screen. Hoping that’s fixed on a new build on Monday.

 

[xxray]

I’ve had this bug twice this morning that I think is caused by resizing windows on iPadOS 26 (I think specifically using the globe + control keys to enter split screen). Once I do this, Safari becomes extremely laggy. I’ve had to restart my iPad both times as I didn’t want to close the app and lose my tabs.

 

[Redbeard916]

It took 3 days but now it’s running mostly smooth on my Air. Still feels closer to 90Hz when scrolling thru messages app. But the rest is smooth.

Battery is also better than on 26.0.1.

Hope they fix the stutter glitch when swiping from widget page to Home Screen. Hoping that’s fixed on a new build on Monday.

What makes you think final release will be a different build number than RC and actually fix that ?

 

[Maloney~888]

What makes you think final release will be a different build number than RC and actually fix that ?

Hopium!

 

[slomtbr]

In my humble opinion, nowadays the difference between loading the operating system with the IPSW file or updating via OTA is significant only if:

…

In all other cases, updating via OTA shouldn't be any different than updating via IPSW, since in both cases the iOS elements to be updated are overwritten, as well as the "new" elements, and the operating system isn't completely reloaded.
As a veteran macOS and iOS developer, I'd say the OTA file structure isn't significantly different from that of the IPSW...but, of course, I might not have all the information and be proven wrong by others

In theory, theory and practice are the same.
In practice…
As with everything, YMMV.
I've had better results using the IPSW for iOS and a full installer for MacOS, so I don't have issue with the extra time and steps involved.

 

[xpxp2002]

I wonder what causes these regressions. I hear about them a lot more than I’d expect

I've had this issue for years on my 13 mini. I didn't try the 26.1 beta, but it's been an issue with every GA release since at least iOS 17 on that device. First boot up after every update has blank wallpaper. Rebooting the phone fixes it. My 15 Pro never had this issue even though it was set up using a backup from the 13 mini.

 

[thatJohann]

What makes you think final release will be a different build number than RC and actually fix that ?

One can hope lol

 

[xpxp2002]

imazing seems like excellent software and I’ve considered buying a subscription (shame they no longer have perpetual licenses) but does it actually do IPSW installs? Is there any benefit to this over 3Utools which is free?

That's disappointing. I bought a perpetual license (upgrade) for version 3. It's beyond worth it IMO. I didn't look to see what their subscription prices are now, but with several iOS devices it's probably one of the few products I'd be willing to pay to continue to use.

 

[dannyyankou]

Still lots of visual glitches

 

[drak22]

I bought an iPad Air M3 and installed iPadOS 26.1 directly to transfer my data from my iPhone, but it's working very poorly and overheats quickly. iPadOS 26.1 doesn't seem very polished.

 

[sbailey4]

I said “new suite of windows programs” so you missed an important word there. That refers to the 3 new programs for windows that Apple replaced iTunes with at the same time.

Oh ok, then uninstall the "suite" (all three of them) and install iTunes. You could probably just install iTunes and leave the others but not sure why you would since they are most likely all 3 garbage. But potentially just use iTunes for your updating if you REALLY want to keep those other crappy applications for whatever it is you use them for.

 

[sbailey4]

Yes but is this already AFTER you’ve migrated all data to the new programs? What was your procedure to migrating everything back?

Hmm, again not sure what you are referring to by migrating all your data back but I did try Apple devices way back when it first came out and when in didn't work I simply uninstalled it and went back to iTunes. Never noticed any data being missing and had no issues. Anyway just use what you would like and I wish you the best of luck if you choose to stick with the broken "suite" of apps. Hope you can recover and get through any bricking they seem to constantly cause you. My work here is done

 

[Inland-Empire]

Can anyone on a 14 Pro running the 26.1 RC comment on battery life over 26.0.1?

 

[BriceApp]

I bought an iPad Air M3 and installed iPadOS 26.1 directly to transfer my data from my iPhone, but it's working very poorly and overheats quickly. iPadOS 26.1 doesn't seem very polished.

You’re restoring and setting up a new device, that is asking it to process a lot of information. It will take it a few hours to a day or two to settle all the processes it needs to complete. No real issues on my M3 Air on 26.1RC.

 

[BrightCanon]

Interested if anyone has done battery life comparisons with Apple Intelligence on and off?

Zollotech on YouTube mentioned he tried this on twitter. He said he actually had worse battery life with Apple Intelligence turned off.

 

[gwang73]

Zollotech on YouTube mentioned he tried this on twitter. He said he actually had worse battery life with Apple Intelligence turned off.

He tweeted it was better the first full day and worse the second day by just looking at the battery stats but he also said his usage was completely different on each day so I don't know how the FK he came to his conclusion.

 

[FILIPSN007]

You’re restoring and setting up a new device, that is asking it to process a lot of information. It will take it a few hours to a day or two to settle all the processes it needs to complete. No real issues on my M3 Air on 26.1RC.

Do you even have any idea how much power these devices have? Indexing is a matter of minutes. I don't know what this new excuse about indexing running is. If a new device is being set up, indexing happens gradually during the installation of apps, downloading photos, contacts, and other files searchable through Spotlight.