How to Prepare Your iPhone for iOS 26: A Quick Checklist ⚡
Many of us took advantage of Sunday to rest before the big update: tomorrow, Monday, September 15, the final version of iOS 26 arrives. After a summer of public and private betas, anticipation is high; testing has been massive, so it's best to prepare slowly to avoid rushing, errors, or unexpected data loss. ✨
This practical guide covers key steps to prepare your iPhone, minimize risks, and learn about compatible models, deployment schedules, and key features. Read each section carefully and follow the step-by-step recommendations for a safe and quick installation. ✅📌
How to prepare your iPhone for iOS 26 ⚙️🚀
Before updating, do your homework to ensure a smooth process: patience and organization will be your best allies. Millions of users will update at once, and servers can become overloaded. If the download takes longer than usual, don't panic. A little foresight greatly reduces the margin of error. ⚡
Recommended steps before updating ✅
Make one iCloud backup or on your computer: it's the most reliable protection against any temporary installation failures. A backup will keep your photos, conversations, and important files safe; you won't often need it, but it's the best security measure. 💡
- ✅ Make a backup: Save your data to iCloud or your computer for recovery if needed.
- 📌 Release space (and a lot of it): iOS 26GB can take up around 20GB on some models; delete apps and files you don't need.
- 🔧 If there is not enough space: Update from a wired Mac or PC; the download is managed on your computer, saving space on your iPhone.
- ⚡ Charging and stable Wi-Fi: Make sure you have more than 50% battery or have your iPhone plugged in and a reliable Wi‑Fi connection.
- 📈 Update to the latest version of iOS 18: : having the system up to date can reduce the size of the final download.
All iPhones compatible with iOS 26 📱✨
Apple has expanded compatibility this year, but as always, some models are left out. Below is the list of devices that, according to available information, will be eligible for iOS 26. Check your model in Settings > General > About if you're unsure of the exact device name.
- 🌟 iPhone 11 and 11 Pro
- 🌟 iPhone SE (2nd generation or later)
- 🌟 iPhone 12 and 12 Pro
- 🌟 iPhone 13 and 13 Pro
- 🌟 iPhone 14 and 14 Pro
- 🌟 iPhone 15 and 15 Pro
- 🌟 iPhone 16 and 16 Pro
- 🌟 iPhone 16e
- 🌟 iPhone 17 and 17 Pro
- 🌟 iPhone Air
At what time can I install iOS 26?
The iOS 26 update arrives on Monday, September 15. The rollout schedule varies by region, following the same pattern as in previous years; for reference, it's typically available around 7:00 PM in mainland Spain. If it doesn't appear immediately, refresh Settings > General > Software Update by swiping down. Be patient: downloads may be slow in the first few hours.
| iOS 26 release time ⏱️ | Countries |
|---|---|
| 10:00 a.m. | United States (California) |
| 11:00 a.m. | Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and Nicaragua |
| 12:00 hours | Colombia, Ecuador, Panama and Peru |
| 1:00 p.m. | Bolivia, Chile, Cuba, Paraguay, the Dominican Republic, and Venezuela |
| 2:00 p.m. | Argentina and Uruguay |
| 6:00 p.m. | Canary Islands (Spain) |
| 7:00 p.m. | Spain (mainland, Balearic Islands, Ceuta and Melilla) |
The main new features of iOS 26 ✨💡
Once you've updated, discover the features worth trying right away. This section summarizes the most visible and useful additions: visual changes, privacy improvements, new options in Camera and Photos, and Apple Intelligence features for supported devices. Read the descriptions and try each new feature with practical examples. 🌟
Liquid Glass in every corner ✨: iOS 26 introduces a visual redesign with more curved icons and dynamic reflections that create a polished glass-like finish. The new transparent mode unifies the aesthetics of apps and reinforces the sense of continuity between interfaces.
More customizable lock screen 🆕: The clock supports multiple sizes, there are new 3D-effect backgrounds, and you can now move widgets to the bottom of the screen. These options make quick customization easier and make the lock screen more useful without the hassle.
Call screening with Siri 📞🛡️: Siri can answer unknown callers, ask who's calling, and display a transcript onscreen so you can decide whether to answer. This is a practical improvement against spam calls and provides more control over incoming calls.
Simpler and more organized photos 📷: The Photo Library returns to a clear chronological roll, while collections and memories are relocated to separate tabs. The goal is to reduce confusion and make it easier to access your images quickly and logically.
Simplest camera 🎯: The Camera app focuses on two main modes—Photo and Video—with quick access to Portrait and Night modes via swipe. Controls are more easily accessible to speed up capture and real-time adjustments.
Apple Intelligence Expanded 🤖: On supported devices (iPhone 15 Pro and later), we've improved real-time translations in Messages and Calls, plus Visual Intelligence for identifying objects from screenshots. These features boost productivity and visual search. 🎯
Messages with surveys and animated backgrounds 💬: Create polls in group chats to help you decide on plans and apply animated backgrounds to personalize conversations. Small tools that make it easier to coordinate between contacts and bring chats to life.
Esto es solo un aperitivo: iOS 26 incluye más cambios como AutoMix en Apple Music, rediseño de la barra de búsqueda en Safari y una nueva app Vista Previa para PDFs. Iremos detallando cada función en próximos artículos; por ahora, limpia, haz copia y prepara tu iPhone para actualizar con tranquilidad. 🚀
