Apple released the stable version of iOS 26.1 this Monday (3) to the general public, bringing a series of interface refinements and new features. The update, also released for iPad, Mac and Apple Watch, is the first major revision of the mobile operating system and focuses on optimizing the user experience, meeting demands that arose after the initial release of iOS 26 in September.
The package of new features includes the long-awaited customization option for the Liquid Glass design, the recently launched look that divided opinions among users. Now, it is possible to define the degree of opacity of the interface, varying between a clearer and more transparent look or a more colorful and higher contrast mode, impacting elements such as tab bars and application backgrounds.
Users gain control over the interface and essential new commands
One of the most notable changes lies in daily usability, especially in relation to alarms and the camera. The operating system introduced a new way to disable the alarm, requiring the user to swipe the screen to the right instead of just pressing a button, an action intended to reduce accidental shutdown.
Another important addition is the possibility of disabling the swipe gesture to open the camera directly from the lock screen. This feature was often activated unintentionally, such as when taking the cell phone out of one’s pocket, which resulted in unnecessary battery consumption and unwanted opening of the application.
Apple Intelligence Refinement with New Languages
Advancement in intelligenceArtificial intelligence (AI) is also a highlight in iOS 26.1, with Apple Intelligence receiving support for new languages.
- Portuguese is one of the languages included, making AI tools more accessible to Portuguese speakers.
- The live translation function on iPhone and AirPods also now supports new languages.
- Mandarin, Japanese, Korean and Italian are among the additions for real-time translation.
This linguistic expansion signals the company’s commitment to globalizing its artificial intelligence resources, integrating them more deeply into the daily communication and productivity of users around the world.
Security improvements and native app tweaks
Security is another pillar of this update, with a significant change in the updates process. Starting with iOS 26.1, security updates will automatically download and install in the background as they become available. The company emphasizes that this option must be activated manually in the settings, but aims to offer a layer of continuous protection.
In Apple Music, track playback has been simplified. The miniplayer, which appears at the bottom of the screen, now allows the user to skip back or skip to the next song just by swiping left or right, providing more fluid control. Other visual adjustments were made to the Photos app, where the video playback bar is more compact, and to the Calendar, which had a small change to the list view to improve readability.
iOS 26.1 compatibility and installation recommendations
iOS version 26.1 is compatible with the iPhone 11 and all models released later, which includes the second and third generations of iPhone SE. Although the update is broad, Apple warns that some features may have model or region restrictions.
To perform the installation, users can check availability in the “Settings” menu, selecting “General” and then “Software update”. The recommendation is that the update be done with the device connected to a stable Wi-Fi network and with the battery recharged to avoid interruptions in the process. In addition, updates for other systems, such as iPadOS, macOS and watchOS, were also released simultaneously.
