On Monday, Apple will launch the iPhone’s next operating system, iOS 26, to most of the people. The brand new working system options essentially the most radical redesign of the iPhone’s software program in over a decade. Gone are iOS’s flat, minimalist interface parts, changed by a brand new clear design language referred to as Liquid Glass.
However iOS 26 is providing iPhones greater than a facelift. The brand new working system is also packed with new features, together with extra superior AI instruments, a revamped calling experience, an all-new Video games app, and dozens of enhancements to main apps, together with Maps, Images, Messages, and extra.
If you happen to plan on upgrading to iOS 26, nonetheless, there are a couple of steps you need to take earlier than putting in the iPhone’s new working system. Right here’s the right way to get your iPhone prepared for iOS 26.
Be sure your iPhone will run iOS 26
First, be certain your iPhone can truly run iOS 26. The nice information is that the brand new OS helps a ton of older iPhone fashions—greater than two dozen. The dangerous information is that in case your iPhone was launched earlier than 2019, it gained’t be able to operating iOS 26.
With the discharge of iOS 26, Apple is dropping help for 3 iPhone fashions that may at present run iOS 18: the iPhone XS, the iPhone XS Max, and the iPhone XR. All three fashions have been launched in 2018, and none will help iOS 26, doubtless as a result of they don’t possess the graphics or processing energy to run the brand new Liquid Glass design adequately.
But Apple has nonetheless managed to supply iOS 26 help on iPhones that first got here out six years in the past—and each mannequin since. Listed here are all 30 fashions of iPhone that may run iOS 26:
- iPhone 17
- iPhone Air
- iPhone 17 Professional
- iPhone 17 Professional Max
- iPhone 16e
- iPhone 16
- iPhone 16 Plus
- iPhone 16 Professional
- iPhone 16 Professional Max
- iPhone 15
- iPhone 15 Plus
- iPhone 15 Professional
- iPhone 15 Professional Max
- iPhone 14
- iPhone 14 Plus
- iPhone 14 Professional
- iPhone 14 Professional Max
- iPhone 13
- iPhone 13 mini
- iPhone 13 Professional
- iPhone 13 Professional Max
- iPhone 12
- iPhone 12 mini
- iPhone 12 Professional
- iPhone 12 Professional Max
- iPhone 11
- iPhone 11 Professional
- iPhone 11 Professional Max
- iPhone SE (third technology)
- iPhone SE (2nd technology)
You probably have any of those iPhones, you’ll be capable to set up iOS 26 onto them. Nonetheless, observe that some options, reminiscent of those powered by Apple Intelligence, would require newer iPhone fashions, together with the iPhone 15 Professional and above.
Be sure your iPhone is already operating the most recent iOS
When upgrading to a brand new OS, the set up course of—together with carrying over all of your information and not using a hitch—tends to run extra easily, some consider, if the iPhone you’re upgrading is at present operating the most recent iOS.
Whether or not this benefit is definitely true is a matter of debate. Nonetheless, it doesn’t harm to make sure that your iPhone is operating the most recent working system earlier than upgrading to iOS 26. As of the time of this writing, the most recent working system for the iPhone is eighteen.6.2.
To improve to the most recent iOS (earlier than iOS 26 is launched), do the next in your iPhone:
- Open the Settings app.
- Faucet Common.
- Faucet Software program Replace.
Your iPhone will then verify to ensure it’s operating the most recent working system, and if it’s not, it should immediate you to improve by tapping the “Replace Now” button.
Unencumber your iPhone’s space for storing
Our iPhones usually get cluttered with apps we don’t use, video games we don’t play, and paperwork and photographs we not want. All this results in extra information on our telephones, which takes up helpful storage. And when putting in a serious new working system, essentially the most important factor you want for the set up course of is sufficient space for storing.
Relying on which iPhone mannequin you’re upgrading, chances are you’ll want 10GB or extra of free space for storing in your gadget. If you happen to don’t have it, then your iPhone gained’t be capable to obtain the brand new OS’s installer recordsdata.
Often, the largest storage hogs on iPhones are video games and media recordsdata. If you have to unencumber numerous space for storing shortly, think about deleting any pointless sorts of this type of information, with the caveat that you need to all the time maintain a backup of the recordsdata you’ll be deleting, so you possibly can recuperate them later if wanted.
If you happen to need assistance discovering what could also be hogging essentially the most house in your iPhone, you are able to do so by doing the next:
- Open the Settings app.
- Faucet Common.
- Faucet iPhone Storage.
From this display screen, your iPhone will even suggest which recordsdata and apps could possibly be deleted, permitting you to unencumber space for storing.
Again up your iPhone
There’s yet another essential factor you need to do earlier than upgrading your iPhone to iOS 26: again up your gadget. By backing up your iPhone first, you’ll guarantee that you’ve a duplicate of your iPhone information within the uncommon occasion that the iOS 26 set up course of goes horribly mistaken and also you lose all of your information.
Apple lets you again up your iPhone by way of a number of strategies, together with making a backup in your Mac or PC. Nonetheless, the simplest solution to again up your iPhone is to make use of the iCloud Backup function. iCloud Backup shops your iPhone information within the cloud, the place Apple retains it protected. You need to use this information to revive an older iPhone—or a model new one—with all of your information.
To again up your iPhone utilizing iCloud Backup earlier than putting in iOS 26, do the next:
- Open the Settings app.
- Faucet your Apple Account ID.
- Faucet iCloud.
- Faucet iCloud Backup.
- Faucet Again Up Now.
You possibly can view Apple’s directions for all obtainable iPhone backup choices here.
Apple will make iOS 26 obtainable to most of the people on Monday, September 15.
