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Stuff / News / A quick update to iOS 26 is coming to your iPhone – here’s what’s in it

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A quick update to iOS 26 is coming to your iPhone – here’s what’s in it

Apple has released another update to the latest iOS 26 software for the iPhone - here's what's in it

Dan Grabham Dan Grabham
iOS 26.2.1

Apple has released another update to the latest iOS 26 software for the iPhone. This update has the version number iOS 26.2.1 and it’s now rolling out to compatible iPhones. At the same time, there’s an equivalent update to the iPad and Apple Watch with the same version number, so iPadOS 26.2.1 plus watchOS 26.2.1.

The next main update will be iOS 26.3, probably sometime in late February or early March. This is expected to enable notifications to be forwarded to non-Apple smartwatches and better device compatibility (a reaction to EU demands) as well as a new option to limit how precisely your location is shared with cellular networks. Developers already have this version as of a few days ago.

A subsequent iOS 26.4 update is expected to introduce the new Google Gemini-powered AI version of Siri, which may not be fully launched until the summer.

But for now, what are the features of iOS 26.2.1?

In addition to general bug fixes, the update also introduces support for the second-generation AirTag including the enhanced Precision Finding via the Find My app (this depends if you have a newer iPhone or not). Precision Finding means you get better directional guidance and information on remaining distance when locating items with the new tracker. The new updates for the iPad and Apple Watch also introduce these same features.

And…that’s it. So iOS 26.2.1 isn’t a feature update to the OS aside from the new AirTag features. And even though there are bug fixes, there are no specific security updates as per Apple’s security update page.

iOS 26.2.1 compatible iPhones

Here’s a full list of the devices compatible with iOS 26:

  • iPhone 17 Pro Max
  • iPhone 17 Pro
  • iPhone Air
  • iPhone 17
  • iPhone 16e
  • iPhone 16 Pro Max
  • iPhone 16 Pro
  • iPhone 16 Plus
  • iPhone 16
  • iPhone 15 Pro Max
  • iPhone 15 Pro
  • iPhone 15 Plus
  • iPhone 15
  • iPhone 14 Pro Max
  • iPhone 14 Pro
  • iPhone 14 Plus
  • iPhone 14
  • iPhone 13 mini
  • iPhone 13
  • iPhone 13 Pro
  • iPhone 13 Pro Max
  • iPhone 12
  • iPhone 12 mini
  • iPhone 12 Pro
  • iPhone 12 Pro Max
  • iPhone 11 Pro Max
  • iPhone 11 Pro
  • iPhone 11
  • iPhone SE (2020, 2nd generation)
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Profile image of Dan Grabham Dan Grabham Editor-in-Chief

About

Dan is Editor-in-chief of Stuff, working across the magazine and the Stuff.tv website.  Our Editor-in-Chief is a regular at tech shows such as CES in Las Vegas, IFA in Berlin and Mobile World Congress in Barcelona as well as at other launches and events. He has been a CES Innovation Awards judge. Dan is completely platform agnostic and very at home using and writing about Windows, macOS, Android and iOS/iPadOS plus lots and lots of gadgets including audio and smart home gear, laptops and smartphones. He's also been interviewed and quoted in a wide variety of places including The Sun, BBC World Service, BBC News Online, BBC Radio 5Live, BBC Radio 4, Sky News Radio and BBC Local Radio.

Areas of expertise

Computing, mobile, audio, smart home