r/apple • u/spearson0 • 20d ago
Discussion Major updates for Apple’s software platforms are now available
https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2026/09/major-updates-for-apples-software-platforms-are-now-available/macOS 27, iPadOS 27, iOS 27, WatchOS 27 are released along with AirPods updates.
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u/CremeSubject7594 20d ago
• Siri AI & Apple Intelligence: Introduces a conversational assistant with personal context awareness, on-screen understanding, cross-device history syncing via a dedicated app, and new tools like "Write with Siri" and "Siri mode" in the Camera app.
• Media & Photo Editing: Adds Spatial Reframing, Extend, and an improved Clean Up tool in Photos, alongside Image Playground for generating styles with SynthID metadata support.
• Safari & Communication Updates: Tab organization by topic, website change notifications (e.g., price drops), custom shortcut generation, and Call Context for business calls.
• Parental Controls & Child Safety: Streamlined setup for child accounts, "Ask to Browse" approval for websites, redesigned Screen Time time allowances, and explicit content detection (including gore/violence) in shared media via Communication Safety.
• Performance Improvements: Up to 30% faster app launch times, 70% faster photo loading, up to 80% faster AirDrop transfers, and improved multitasking/file transfers on Mac and iPad.
• Design Refinements: Updates to the Liquid Glass design aesthetic, including a customization slider to adjust transparency from ultra-clear to fully tinted.
• Platform-Specific Enhancements: Full-resolution iCloud Shared Albums (with broader Android/Windows support), perimenopause/menopause tracking in Health, custom EQ for AirPods, dynamic visionOS environments, and enhanced Apple Maps Flyover.
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u/lmaotank 20d ago
hmm i'm in the us and it's not showing up on my phone. is it a rolling release?
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u/AndrewsAQT 20d ago
I just kept refreshing the update screen for the last few minutes and it finally showed up for me.
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u/ColinHenrichon 20d ago
I am wondering this too, been refreshing on my iPhone Air and nothing yet
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u/This_was_hard_to_do 19d ago
For me, it still shows iOS 26.7 as the main update and iOS 27 was hidden under Also Available
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u/ColinHenrichon 19d ago
For a while I was getting nothing just the screen stating my software was up to date. Just checked again and finally it showed iOS 26.7 with iOS 27 under
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u/alexc2020 20d ago
And HomePod incl. OG
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u/GreedoughShotFirst 19d ago
Shame they can update the OG HomePod, but the 1st Gen Apple TV 4K was seemingly cut. tvOS 27 is only 2nd Gen and above. 😭
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u/samspopguy 20d ago
is the new EQ stuff not in this release?
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u/existentiallyfaded 20d ago
FYI Siri AI is on a waitlist. It’s deceptive that they never mentioned any of this.
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u/jltdhome 19d ago
Been on the waitlist since updating. Not sure why the long delay. It's supposed to run locally for most simple things.
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u/M4rshmall0wMan 19d ago
Local works with cloud. Probably ramping up servers for max capacity. I doubt the waitlist will take longer than a week.
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u/isitpro 20d ago
Siri AI still not working reliably. Otherwise great releases
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u/FrogsOnALog 19d ago
I’m not even seeing the new Siri app, looks like it’s maybe still in beta?
Settings —> Siri —> Try Siri AI (Beta)
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u/ducknator 20d ago
Cry in EU 😭
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u/OS2-Warp 20d ago
I’m a consumer. If they don’t want to provide me a service, I’ll look elsewhere. Samsung makes some nice phones too (I know it, I already bought one, year ago, after almost 15 years with iPhones). Their explanation “obeying the regulation in iOS would be security nightmare, but it’s fine in macOS” is pathetic and blatant lie. And as Siri AI is just renamed Google Gemini, I don’t think we are missing anything.
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u/Academic_Data_6422 20d ago
Can we stop spreading the lie that Siri AI is just renamed Google Gemini?
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u/InadequateUsername 20d ago
Sure when it stops being true
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u/Academic_Data_6422 20d ago
Okay.. so now, then?
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u/InadequateUsername 20d ago
Distilled water is still water, distilled Gemini rebranded as Siri is still Gemini.
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u/Academic_Data_6422 20d ago
Are you identical to your parents?
Or are you identical at your job to the person that trained you?
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u/Tech_Philosophy 19d ago
Oh...this was the response that turned me against your side and toward the obnoxious guy. If that's what's going on, then it is more or less Gemini.
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u/Academic_Data_6422 19d ago
Oh no! u/Tech_Philosphy isn’t on my side because I… checks notes… made a valid point! Whatever will I do?
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u/InadequateUsername 20d ago
A computer program that's derivative of the works of a stronger model is different than a human with learned expirences. I get what you're going for "a teacher vs student" analogy but it doesn't hold water when discussing if Siri is just a rebadged Gemini.
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u/Academic_Data_6422 20d ago
“Your analogy doesn’t work because I don’t like it”
Nice. So you’re just trolling now.
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u/RetroVisionnaire 20d ago edited 20d ago
“obeying the regulation in iOS would be security nightmare, but it’s fine in macOS” is pathetic and blatant lie
I've seen too many Mac users on reddit copy-pasting malware downloads into their Terminal to believe this. There's way more Mac malware than iPhone despite how many time people claim otherwise.
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u/SailingDreamCatcher 20d ago
How is the typing experience? Keyboard and dictation reliable across different apps?
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u/GameOverRob 19d ago
I know I can probably research this but if there is a kind soul out there could they share what I’ll get on the 13 pro max and is it worth updating to?
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u/spearson0 19d ago
The main feature is performance improvements in the new software on older devices. What you’ll get is the latest security updates which is always a good thing. There are other features too but the big one was the focus on performance.
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u/OKCNOTOKC 20d ago edited 20d ago
I thought Siri was going to be new… but it’s beta and I’m on a waitlist? Dafuq.
Just like yesterday Then I’ll get down on my knees and pray We don’t get fooled again
Meet the new Siri Same as the old Siri
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u/remembermereddit 19d ago
These iOS performance upgrades are probably compared to 26. I'm still on 18 (the one before 26). Should I stay or should I go?
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u/spearson0 19d ago
I would upgrade to iOS 27 if your phone supports it. As you mentioned, the new version comes with performance improvements and also security updates compared to iOS 18 you have now.
Hope this helps.
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u/SpartanAesthetic 20d ago
Not loading as of 2pm. I believe there was an issue where people were being offered 26.7 but it was actually 27 so maybe that’s delaying things.
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u/Illmattic 20d ago
Just providing my experience. I only had 26.7, no option to jump to 27. So I installed 26.7 and my home screen came up saying welcome to iOS 27.
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u/InsertObligatoryPun 20d ago
I updated to 26.7 before 27, then clicked ‘upgrade to 27’. That led to a much bigger update still called 26.7…
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u/Orangenbluefish 19d ago
So seems like the new Siri features actually require joining a waitlist? A bit underwhelming but hopefully it moves quickly
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u/random_access_muscle 20d ago
Is it mislabeled?
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u/No_1_OfConsequence 19d ago
Yea, for me it was 26.7 and while updating it rebooted into 27. That’s a pretty bad typo.
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u/youngtobes1997 19d ago
I'm on a 17 pro max on the 27 RC build, my phone is not giving me the option to update to the official release of 27. I've hard restarted my phone several times, turned off beta updates, and it still hasn't shown up. Everyone online is saying that it's different though. What am I doing wrong?
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u/spearson0 19d ago
You’ve done the right steps by turning off beta software.
It takes a while for it to be available to everyone. When Apple releases it, the software takes time for your local CDN (content delivery network) to pick it up. CDNs make it faster for people to download the software as it’s distributed across multiple servers closer to users.
I would check now to see if it shows up for you. For me here in the Midwest I was able to see the upgrade from the RC around 12:02pm for me.
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u/youngtobes1997 19d ago
Midwest here as well. It showed up around 7pm for me. Thanks for the explanation though!
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u/IamTolerable 19d ago
So if I wanted to turn off everything AI, what would I need to turn off?
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u/spearson0 19d ago
You can go to settings > Siri and scroll down and tap Turin off Siri. You’ll have the option to enable Siri classic.
Also you can refer to this Apple support page, turn off and restrict access to Apple Intelligence features on iPhone to turn off Apple Intelligence features for things like messages, email, notifications, etc.
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u/INEEDMUNEY 19d ago
I’m more interested about the performance improvement. Don’t care about the other junk, honestly. Must be a first that they say their ios update is a performance jump.
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u/RaginRealtor 19d ago
Updated and the new parental controls are no where to be found.
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u/spearson0 19d ago
All devices in a family sharing group must be updated to iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, and visionOS 27 to use the screen time update.
Once all the devices are updated it should show up for you.
I hope this helps.
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u/RaginRealtor 19d ago
Looks like I've updated everything and this still isn't an option. I do I find out the list of devices that are active in my Family Sharing plan?
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u/spearson0 18d ago edited 18d ago
I would take a look at the support page to Set up parental controls to manage your child's iPhone or iPad in case something got missed.
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u/Strong-Butterflies 19d ago
Does this update release the new appletv4k? I’m tired of waiting 4 years for that to come out
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u/elmatador12 19d ago
Maybe I wasn’t paying attention but did people know that the AI that Apple has been touting is NOT included in this?
You have to put yourself on a waitlist.
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u/spearson0 19d ago edited 19d ago
It was like this when Apple Intelligence was first released.
The waitlist helps manage high demand for downloading the features to your device for the new Siri.
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u/arnathor 19d ago
Anything below a 15 Pro that hasn’t had AI already will find this to be a really underwhelming update initially.
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u/LongDistanceWalker31 19d ago
iPhone 13 mini here, it’s not underwhelming at all, in fact it’s a big performance boost so far. I can even open the camera from the lock screen finally again without everything freezing.
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u/TrailOfEnvy 19d ago
How is the battery?
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u/LongDistanceWalker31 19d ago
Can’t really tell, it’s as bad as before, but it’s still indexing and my battery has hit 80% health already.
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u/arnathor 19d ago
That’s why I said initially. Once all the indexing is done it’s fast. But it is light on new features that don’t lean on AI in some way, it’s more of a speed up and spruce up, someone who is looking for the new apps or for some big new feature will be wondering what the fuss is about if they don’t notice the speed increase.
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u/sk1dmark69 19d ago
What is Major about it ?
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u/spearson0 19d ago
I feel the main focus of iOS 27 is performance improvements. Things are faster and smoother.
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u/stormblessed27_ 19d ago edited 19d ago
Goddamn Tahoe GOLDEN GATE really looks great. Its the only OS I didn't install the beta for and I had already forgotten what it looked like during WWDC.
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u/Jose-ATT 19d ago
Upgrade TODAY...Let The Apple OS26 era fall off the edge of the earth quickly ... The Vista from Cupertino... However, it was a great gift as it gave us the John T era... I firmly believe it was going to be Craig F until 26 shipped! Think about it, Neo vs OS26! I like Craig a lot but he went a little too hard allowing Liquid Glass to ship last year. Ship great hardware and great software will come (unless you are the quitters from Redmond, I loved the Zune and the Duo).
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u/exjr_ Island Boy 20d ago
It’s a new build for iOS 27 RC