iOS 26 lands today – here’s exactly when it’s coming to your iPhone, and which models are compatible

Time to update

· TechRadar

News By Alex Blake published 15 September 2025

(Image credit: Apple)


  • Apple’s iOS 26 update becomes available to download today
  • It will launch at various times around the world
  • We'll tell you when you can expect to get the update where you are

The iOS 26 update is the biggest change to Apple’s iPhone operating system in years, brining with it a new Liquid Glass design and tons of new features. If you've been waiting to get the iOS 26 update on your phone, now’s the time, as it will be rolling out to users around the world as the day progresses.

Apple usually opens the floodgates and makes its annual iOS upgrades available at around 10am Pacific Time. The company hasn’t officially stated that that will be the case with iOS 26, but some careful sleuthing suggests that it could be.

As MacRumors has noticed, Apple’s Indian website says iOS 26 is coming on September 15, while its Indonesian page lists September 16 as the launch date. The 10am PT launch time straddles the two dates in those locations – in India it falls on September 15, while it comes on September 16 in Singapore – suggesting that this predicted launch time could be accurate.

Want to know when you’ll be able to download iOS 26 where you live? We’ve put together the following table to help you quickly see when the update should be available where you are.

Swipe to scroll horizontally

LocationLaunch time
Australia West1:00am AWST (Tuesday, September 16)
Australia East3:00am AEST (Tuesday, September 16)
New Zealand5:00am NZST (Tuesday, September 16)
United Kingdom6:00pm BST
United States West10:00am PDT
United States Mountain11:00am MDT
United States Central12:00pm CDT
United States East1:00pm EDT

Which iPhones are compatible with iOS 26?

(Image credit: Future / Apple)

If you own an iPhone that came out in the last five or six years, you should be fine to install iOS 26.

Apple's latest software upgrade is compatible with the following models: iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone 16iPhone 16 PlusiPhone 16 ProiPhone 16 Pro MaxiPhone 16eiPhone 15iPhone 15 PlusiPhone 15 ProiPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone SE (2020), and iPhone SE (2022).

The main models missing out this year are the iPhone XS, the iPhone XS Max, and the iPhone XR – which will be left on iOS 18. Got one of the compatible models? The install process will be pretty straightforward, when iOS 26 does land in your region...

Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox

Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more.

Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors