Apple just dropped iOS 26. If you've got your hands on one of the shiny new iPhone 17 models, you need this update, no way around it. iOS 26 is out now and ready to download, bringing what Apple calls the biggest update to the software since iOS 7 in 2013. Here's what to know to get your iPhone 17 up and running with the latest from Cupertino.
To upgrade, go to Settings > General > Software Update, then tap Download and Install. You'll enter your passcode and connect to Wi-Fi. There is an option to install iOS while you sleep, as long as the device is charging, which makes overnight updates painless.
One more note for iPhone 17 buyers. While any iPhone 11 or newer is compatible with the new operating system, including the iPhone SE, iOS 26 dropped support for the iPhone XR and XS lines that received iOS 25. If you are moving from one of those to an iPhone 17, you are jumping from a traditional interface straight into the Liquid Glass era.
What's coming next for iOS 26?
What you get at launch is only the opening act. iOS 26 has already launched for general availability, but many feature updates will continue to roll out through 2026. Your iPhone 17 should keep picking up new tricks over the year.
The AI upgrades are the eye-catcher. ChatGPT integration in Shortcuts now uses the GPT-5 model, bringing stronger reasoning and coding features that lean on your A19 or A19 Pro. Meanwhile, Image Playground now supports ChatGPT image generation styles like Anime, Oil Painting, Watercolor, Vector, and Print, a nice showcase for the new chips.
The design shift spans the whole ecosystem. The Liquid Glass design overhaul extends to iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe, visionOS 26, tvOS 26, and watchOS 26, so every Apple screen in your life lines up with the same translucent, dynamic aesthetic. Even better, developers are provided with tools to incorporate Liquid Glass into their apps for a cohesive look, so expect third-party apps to adopt it over the coming months. I am curious to see which indie apps nail it first.
The bottom line. If you're picking up any iPhone 17 model, iOS 26 is not optional, it is essential. This update changes how your phone looks and how it responds to you. From the Liquid Glass interface that taps into your device's processing power to the Apple Intelligence features tuned for the latest chips, the software finally matches the hardware in the iPhone 17 series. Whether you go with the ultra-thin iPhone Air or the powerhouse iPhone 17 Pro Max, iOS 26 is what makes these devices shine in ways earlier generations could not.
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