iOS 26 Features: The Ultimate Mega Guide

For the last several months, MacRumors has been working on a series of in-depth feature guides and how tos that walk you through the design changes and updates in Apple's new software.

Our ultimate guide includes all of our iOS 26 coverage, and it is a useful resource for iPhone and iPad users who haven't had a chance to test out ‌iOS 26‌, or those who might want a recap on what's new. We've organized it by app or feature to make it easy to find what you're looking for.

Liquid Glass

Apple's Liquid Glass design brings a big visual change to ‌iOS 26‌. Icons, apps, menu bars, navigation bars, and all other interface elements feature a Liquid Glass aesthetic. It's not just translucency that you have to deal with. There are pop out menus, collapsing navigation bars, and a much more rounded aesthetic.

iOS 26: Everything You Need to Know About the Liquid Glass Redesign

How to Reduce Transparency of Apple's Liquid Glass

Lock Screen

The Lock Screen clock has embraced Liquid Glass in a big way, and there are also new options for wallpaper and widgets.

iOS 26: New Lock Screen Features

How to Change iPhone Clock to Liquid Glass

Turn Lock Screen Photos Into 3D Spatial Scenes

Home Screen

A new design means a new Home Screen, and there are new features for icons, widgets, and wallpapers.

iOS 26: What's Changed With the iPhone's Home Screen

Make App Icons Clear on Your iPhone Home Screen

How to Add Web Apps or Bookmarks to iPhone Home Screen

Apple Intelligence

Apple is still recovering from the Apple Intelligence Siri delay and the company didn't make a major deal about ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features in ‌iOS 26‌, but there are quite a few additions.

Live Translation auto translates messages and calls, Visual Intelligence now works with what's on your screen, the Wallet app can track all of your purchases, and there are other small additions to be aware of.

All of the New Apple Intelligence Features in iOS 26

Here's What's New With Visual Intelligence in iOS 26

iOS 26 Brings Major Changes to Image Playground

All of the ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features require a device that supports ‌Apple Intelligence‌, which includes the iPhone 15 Pro, ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro Max, all iPhone 16 models, and all iPhone 17 models.

Messages

There are a bunch of new features in the Messages app, including the option to set custom backgrounds for each chat. Be warned, other people see the background that you set. Group chats support typing indicators and other features, and you can add polls to chats.

iOS 26: Every Change to the Messages App

How to Create Polls in Messages

How to Selectively Copy Text Within a Message

Add Custom Backgrounds to Messages Conversations

Remove Custom Backgrounds in Messages Conversations

Phone

Some of the biggest changes in ‌iOS 26‌ are to the Phone app. There's a whole Call Screening feature that can screen calls from unknown numbers, and a tool that'll wait for you when you're on hold.

iOS 26: 10+ Features Coming to the Phone App

How to Get a Callback Reminder for a Missed Call

Set a Custom iPhone Ringtone in Seconds

iOS 26: Here's What You Can Do With Apple's New Games App

AirPods

With an accompanying firmware update, the AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, and AirPods 4 support Live Translation for in-person conversations, plus there are options like pausing audio when you fall asleep and using the AirPods as a remote for the ‌iPhone‌'s Camera app.

All the new AirPods Features in iOS 26

Auto-Pause AirPods Audio When You Fall Asleep

Remotely Control iPhone Camera With Your AirPods

Safari

Safari has an updated layout, a Liquid Glass design, tab bar changes, new privacy features, and more.

Safari in iOS 26: Everything New From Design to Privacy

Restore Safari's Old Layout From iOS 18

How to Add Web Apps or Bookmarks to iPhone Home Screen

Apple Maps

The Maps app can learn your preferred route for your commute and alert you if there's anything that's going to make you late. It's also able to save your location history so you can remember your favorite locations when you travel.

Apple Maps in iOS 26: Track Your Location History and Get Smarter Route Alerts

Notes and Reminders

The Reminders app has some hidden ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features included, while the Notes app supports 3D graphics with three-variable equations and more.

iOS 26: What's New With Notes and Reminders

How to Import and Export Markdown Files in Apple Notes

Add New Reminders Faster Than Ever

Camera

The Camera app received some of the most notable UI changes, with updates to the menu for switching between modes and for accessing different settings.

iOS 26 Camera App: New Features and Design Changes

Remotely Control iPhone Camera With Your AirPods

Keep iPhone Camera Lens Clean With This Smart Setting

FaceTime

In FaceTime, there's an updated interface with a card-style layout, call screening, an option to block nudity, and support for Live Translation captions.

iOS 26: Everything New With FaceTime

Apple Music

Apple Music has an AutoMix feature that provides DJ-like transitions for songs, along with Lyric Translation and Pronunciation features.

iOS 26: Eight New Features in Apple Music

Use Folders to Manage Playlists in Apple Music

How to Use the New Music Pins Feature

Photos

If you hated the unified Photos app in iOS 18, there's good news! Collections and the ‌Photos‌ Library are once again split into two separate tabs. Apple also added support for Spatial Scenes, a feature that gives a 3D look to 2D photos.

iOS 26 Photos App: Everything That's Changed

Turn Photos Into 3D Spatial Scenes

Podcasts

The Podcasts app has a Liquid Glass design, new speed controls, and dialogue improvements.

iOS 26: What's New With the Podcasts App

Make Your Favorite Podcasts Easier to Hear

Fine-Tune Podcast Playback Speeds

Wallet

There are big changes in the Wallet app, including support for digital passports and major improvements to boarding passes.

iOS 26: 5 New Features in the Wallet App

Save Physical Card Details in Wallet App

Silence Wallet App Promo and Offer Notifications

Other New Features and Options

Screen Capture Content in HDR

Turn Off Full-Screen Screenshot Previews

Extend iPhone Battery Life With Adaptive Power Mode

See How Long Your iPhone Will Take to Fully Charge

How to Customize iPhone Alarm Snooze Duration

Read More

We have a complete overview of all of the new features in ‌iOS 26‌ in one place in our iOS 26 roundup, which is also well worth checking out for all of the smaller details that didn't make it into our guides and how tos.Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26Related Forum: iOS 26This article, "iOS 26 Features: The Ultimate Mega Guide" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums