Apple releases iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1, macOS Tahoe 26.1, watchOS 26.1, and other OS updates

Apple released its first major updates to its version 26 operating system lineup on November 3, bringing iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1, macOS Tahoe 26.1, watchOS 26.1, tvOS 26.1, visionOS 26.1, and HomePod Software 26.1 to users worldwide.

The updates arrive two months after the initial iOS 26 family release in September, introducing refinements to the controversial Liquid Glass interface, expanded Apple Intelligence language support, and the return of a beloved iPad multitasking feature.The most significant user-facing change across platforms is a new transparency toggle for Liquid Glass, Apple's redesigned interface material that drew mixed reactions at launch.

Users can now choose between the default "Clear" appearance or a new "Tinted" mode that increases opacity and improves contrast throughout the system. Additional updates include expanded language support for Apple Intelligence and Live Translation, new toggles for camera access, improvements to Local Capture audio recording, and numerous security patches addressing vulnerabilities in WebKit, Safari, Photos, and other core system components.

iOS 26.1 brings Liquid Glass control and enhanced Apple Intelligence

iOS 26.1 introduces a Liquid Glass transparency toggle, offering users a choice between Clear and Tinted appearances. The Tinted option makes user interface elements more opaque and visible throughout the operating system, affecting the Control Center, Notification Center, Dock, and more.Apple Intelligence now supports nine additional languages including Chinese (Traditional), Danish, Dutch, Norwegian, Portuguese (Portugal), Swedish, Turkish, and Vietnamese.

Live Translation receives support for Chinese (Traditional and Simplified), Japanese, and Korean, enabling real-time translation across Messages, FaceTime, and other apps. The update also adds a Camera Swipe toggle to disable the Lock Screen gesture for opening the Camera app, and alarms now require a "slide to stop" action instead of a simple tap.The update addresses numerous security vulnerabilities, including an issue that allowed Stolen Device Protection to be disabled and a WebKit bug enabling unauthorized keystroke monitoring.

Apple also changed the Clock app's alarm interface and introduced minor tweaks to Apple Music's playback controls.

With iPadOS 26.1 Slide Over returns to iPad

iPadOS 26.1 reintroduces Slide Over, a multitasking feature removed in iPadOS 26's multitasking overhaul. Users can tap the green window resizing button and select "Enter Slide Over," though only one Slide Over app is supported at a time. The feature works alongside the window-based multitasking functionality introduced in iPadOS 26.Like iOS, iPadOS 26.1 includes the Liquid Glass transparency toggle and expanded Apple Intelligence language support. The update also brings interface tweaks including a slightly larger font in the Settings app, left-aligned descriptions, and the addition of default iOS 26 wallpaper. The Apple Vision Pro app has also been added to iPad, allowing users to view spatial experiences via AirPlay.

macOS Tahoe 26.1 refines interface and lays the AI groundwork on Macs

macOS Tahoe 26.1 adds the Liquid Glass toggle under System Settings > Appearance, offering Clear or Tinted options to adjust interface opacity.

The update also includes improvements to Apple Music AutoMix over AirPlay and enhanced FaceTime audio quality in low-bandwidth conditions.Behind the scenes, Apple has laid groundwork for future AI enhancements, including MCP (Model Context Protocol) support developed by Anthropic, which allows AI models to interact with user-facing platforms. The update also prepares Image Playground for third-party image generation models beyond ChatGPT, though Apple hasn't publicly announced when these features will become available.

Additionally, the update introduces a redesigned Macintosh HD icon and updates the Apple TV app icon with more vibrant colors.

watchOS 26.1 fixes bugs on Apple Watches

watchOS 26.1 arrives as a maintenance update approximately six weeks after watchOS 26's major overhaul. Apple's release notes indicate the update includes unspecified improvements and bug fixes focused on stability and refinement, with no major new features discovered during beta testing.

visionOS 26.1 expands Vision Pro app to iPad

visionOS 26.1 expands the Apple Vision Pro app to iPad with iPadOS 26.1, enabling users to discover Vision Pro content and spatial experiences from their tablets. The app now supports AirPlay, allowing users to view Vision Pro experiences on both iPhone and iPad. The update also adds playback controls and video length information to videos in Spatial Gallery while in immersive view.All updates are available now through each device's Software Update settings and include various security patches and performance improvements across the ecosystem.

TvOS 26.1, HomePod Software 26.1 also released

tvOS 26.1 brings standard quality-of-life upgrades to Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD models. No significant new features were identified during the beta process, though Liquid Glass enhancements are available on second-generation Apple TV 4K or later. HomePod Software 26.1 delivers performance and stability improvements for both HomePod and HomePod mini models.