PSA: iOS 26.2 Turns on Automatic Software Updates for Some Users

[MacRumors]

After installing iOS 26.2, if you're just tapping through screens, you could miss the update turning on automatic software updates.

At the "Software Update Complete" stage where you normally tap on continue to get to the Home Screen, there might be an extra little bit of information. Some users are seeing a warning that future updates will be automatically downloaded and installed, with the option toggled on automatically if the Continue button is tapped. There's a subtle "Only Download Automatically" option that does not opt you into automatic updates if you're paying attention, but it's easy to miss.

You won't see iOS 26.2 turn on automatic software updates if you already have them on, and it doesn't even seem to be showing up for all users that have automatic update installation turned off. You might want to double check your settings just in case, and even if iOS 26.2 didn't turn on automatic software updates, it's worth knowing about the possibility because it's an option that Apple can sneak into any update. If you've ever had an update mysteriously install on your device when you didn't manually do it, it's probably because automatic software updates was quietly turned back on.

If you did install iOS 26.2 and accidentally turned on automatic updates, you can undo it by going to General > Software Update > Automatic Updates and toggling the option off. From there, you can choose to allow updates to automatically download, and toggle off the automatic installation of system files.

Article Link: PSA: iOS 26.2 Turns on Automatic Software Updates for Some Users

 

[MacUserFella]

Not a bug, Apple’s just tired of us staying on older versions of iOS

 

[MacMediaNet]

Apple is successfully learning from Microsoft.

 

[bmark]

Don't upgrade to iOS 26, we will do it for you! - Tim Cook

 

[coolfactor]

Don't upgrade to iOS 26, we will do it for you! - Tim Cook

Migrating to major new releases (iOS 26 to iOS 27) is still a user decision. These automatic updates are just for the minor releases in between major releases.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[rrm74001]

Eh? You guys got prompts after the reboot? I didn't on either my iPhone 15 and iPad Air M3.

Is this by chance only happening to people that upgraded finally from iOS 18? Because that would make more sense.

 

[bmark]

Migrating to major new releases (iOS 26 to iOS 27) is still a user decision. These automatic updates are just for the minor releases in between major releases.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

For the moment until Apple pulls the plug on that!

 

[kenta_]

I want neither automatic updates nor automatic downloads.

 

[Genelec8341]

Apple OSes already turns radio buttons on without my consent. Why would this be any different?

 

[boswald]

I didn't notice any new prompts when I rebooted, but I had Automatic Updates on anyway. By the way, isn't that a good thing (excluding the LG hate)?

 

[sleeptodream]

Hasn’t it been doing this for a long time? I remember having several updates where I got that screen, I don’t think this is new

 

[DocMultimedia]

Hasn’t it been doing this for a long time? I remember having several updates where I got that screen, I don’t think this is new

It seems to happen randomly. Mine did it on the 26.1 update, but 26.2 kept my settings.

 

[DocMultimedia]

I didn't notice any new prompts when I rebooted, but I had Automatic Updates on anyway. By the way, isn't that a good thing (excluding the LG hate)?

Some people, such as myself, prefer to wait a bit before doing an update. Lots of businesses don’t want to jump on day one for obvious reasons.

 

[Wags]

Already on my list of things to check after updates that might have ‘mysteriously’ changed.

 

[jz0309]

didn't notice any prompts, and just now checking in Settings and automatic install is still turned off

 

[Boeingfan]

What does PSA mean in the title?

 

[rufwork]

26.1 the marathon release did it for my iPad mini 6th gen. Finally lost my Twitter app with the bird (still worked up to then).

 

[rufwork]

What does PSA mean in the title?

Public Service Announcement.

 

[Justin Cymbal]

Apple pushes this way too much in my opinion

Whenever you switch devices, we all know, everything (& every setting) carries over

But THIS is the ONE setting that seems to be exempt from that rule

I personally hate auto-anything. I actually JUST updated my iOS 2 weeks ago because I typically wait at least 3 weeks AFTER any iOS is released to update (and then updat all devices simultaneously) so as to NOT become subjected to any potential iOS that causes unwanted software problems

I figure, if it hasn’t been pulled within that timeframe (3 weeks) then it’s probably pretty stable of an OS

So basically each time you buy a new iPhone, even if you had it set to both NOT download AND NOT install the iOS, THOSE 2 settings become deleted and re-vert to ‘Apple’s choice’ settings of auto-download & auto-install, how convenient
How nice of them to fix that for me 😅🙃

 

[Justin Cymbal]

Some people, such as myself, prefer to wait a bit before doing an update. Lots of businesses don’t want to jump on day one for obvious reasons.

One business that I can think of that learned their lesson on this fundamental rule the hard way actually happened just last year - CrowdStrike at a mere cost of $5.4B

CrowdStrike global outage to cost US Fortune 500 companies $5.4bn

Banking and healthcare firms, major airlines expected to suffer most losses, according to insurer Parametrix

www.theguardian.com

 

[Flamingdeathbolts]

I thought it always tried to force you after an iOS update to make it automatic updates. Even with my new phone after setting up iOS 26.1 I had to go into settings and toggle off automatic updates and automatic software download

 

[DocMultimedia]

I thought it always tried to force you after an iOS update to make it automatic updates. Even with my new phone after setting up iOS 26.1 I had to go into settings and toggle off automatic updates and automatic software download

Not always. It shouldn't, but it seems to randomly happen to people.

 

[Astuces iOS]

Changing the settings of a user should be illegal!!!!

 

[Boeingfan]

Public Service Announcement.

Ah, thank you!

 

[Siliconguy]

I didn't notice any new prompts when I rebooted, but I had Automatic Updates on anyway. By the way, isn't that a good thing (excluding the LG hate)?

Not if you have a just barely good enough 9th generation iPad and Apple pushes it up to 26 and there is no way back.

They may get 26 optimized enough to run well on the A13 iPads, but I have not heard that yet. It does work pretty well on the A16 model.