iOS 26 Setup Guide: 10 Things You Should Do First

[netsped]

The one feature that made me update (and probably keep me using the iPhone) isn't available for me. Call screening appears to be region locked, like many other features. I have Apple Intelligence on, the language of my phone is one of the supported ones and the option to enable it doesn't even appears.

F you Apple.

 

[bmark]

The liquid glass icons are pathetic! Not sure what drugs Apple was on when they designed this POS.

 

[bookcase]

This article was extremely helpful!

 

[BelgianChoklit]

how can I enable the iJustine Theme?

This is Liquid Glass, not Liquid Plastic

 

[EmptyJay]

Can anyone explain how to use Live Translation for an in-person conversation? I've seen "squeeze and hold both AirPods", but currently that just toggles transparency/noise isolation.

 

[dillacom]

Can anyone explain how to use Live Translation for an in-person conversation? I've seen "squeeze and hold both AirPods", but currently that just toggles transparency/noise isolation.

need the latest AirPods firmware update

 

[code-m]

I hope this glass thingy grows on me.

Change is difficult, first time using it here and it seems fine and not sure what all the positive or negative fuss was all about.

 

[code-m]

Can anyone explain how to use Live Translation for an in-person conversation? I've seen "squeeze and hold both AirPods", but currently that just toggles transparency/noise isolation.

If you have the language packs downloaded then it should work give it a try with messages.

 

[code-m]

I just can't get into the design of this OS release, I don't think I'll do it just yet, holding off in our household on this one.

Seems fine but I get it, not for everyone but eventually it will go through more refinements.

 

[EmptyJay]

need the latest AirPods firmware update

I'd been trying for a week to get it installed from the Beta. It took an unpair/reset/re-pair to get it updated.

 

[mrgraff]

Per Live Translation: I'm beginning to think that it doesn't actually work, or people are posting the same instructions that I've found but haven't actually tried it.
iOS 26, iPhone 16, APP2 latest firmware

 

[EmptyJay]

Per Live Translation: I'm beginning to think that it doesn't actually work, or people are posting the same instructions that I've found but haven't actually tried it.
iOS 26, iPhone 16, APP2 latest firmware

I was on APP2 FW 8A343a. After an unpair/reset/re-pair it's at 8A356

 

[Alan Killenbeck]

These articles are nice but never seem to say which features will only work on newer phones versus older ones without apple intelligence, for instance. They should specify iPhone nn or newer only for some things.

 

[hagar]

I’m surprised the glass design is so distracting. And slow.
Also: safari is unusable on my M1 iPad Pro. Scrolling is extremely shoppy.

 

[freezelighter]

I thought iOS 7 was bad at everything, especially the redesign.
It was nothing compared to iOS 26.
How a product like this can even be released at such a company?
No words to describe this disgusting UI.

 

[Kwstas]

Change is difficult, first time using it here and it seems fine and not sure what all the positive or negative fuss was all about.

Phones are small devices. Adopting effects, bells and whistles in small devices is an extremely bad idea.

 

[Warped9]

Part of me doesn’t want this.

 

[TVreporter]

Just awesome how half the new features require Apple Intelligence … at least my battery won’t instantly die!!

Regards,

The barely 2-year-old iPhone 15

 

[mrgraff]

This looks promising: https://macdailynews.com/2025/09/15/apple-releases-new-firmware-for-airpods-pro-2-and-airpods-4-4/#:~:text=AirPods 4 with ANC and AirPods Pro 2 also support Live Translation. These features will also be available on the upcoming AirPods Pro 3, launching September 19th.

Maybe Apple is waiting a few more days so that APP3 owners can take advantage of Live Translation too? Makes sense I guess since the two-way translation requires two sets of APP3 and only that model.

 

[richinaus]

This is the single most absolute junk update I have experienced with Apple in 25 years. I now agree with all those who said Cook must go.

 

[code-m]

This is the single most absolute junk update I have experienced with Apple in 25 years. I now agree with all those who said Cook must go.

Will someone please think about the children 😝

 

[Lukomaldini]

I am not seeing the lockscreen clock resize button when customizing the wallpaper.

Try changing the font. I saw that but it appeared after changing it.

 

[baryon]

Seems like there's no visual intelligence on the iPad? Oh well, maybe in 2027?
On the bright side, there's a giant slider that makes the entire image pure white if you slide it to the right. Not sure what the purpose of that is...
Oh and the "Full page" button doesn't fit on the screen and is obscured by the text icon.
I mean it's a first beta so it's forgivable right? Oh wait...

 

[richinaus]

Safari is the biggest mess of all in this. I am trying to understand the logic behind it, but there doesn't seem to be any. I seem to have to tap all over the screen to actually get to my tab - not exactly great UX.

 

[usmaak]

Backgrounds on text messages only seems to work for Apple recipients and not Android/RCS. At least I couldn’t make it work on my iPad Pro.