Apple to soon roll out iOS 26.1 update: Expected release date, new features and more

Apple is reportedly planning to roll out the iOS 26.1 update soon. While the official release date is not known yet, online rumours suggest that the upcoming iOS update may be introduced in early November.

With the iOS 26.1 update, Apple is expected to bring a host of new features that may include an all-new Liquid Glass toggle, lock screen toggle, sony swipes in Apple Music and more. Here’s what we know about the iOS 26.1 so far – expected release date and features as rumoured online.

iOS 26.1 expected release date

Apple is yet to announce an iOS 26.1 Release Candidate – considered to be the final beta version before the wider rollout. Previous rumours hinted that the final beta of iOS 26.1 may be released in October.

But it is now expected to come next month. In this case, iOS 26.1 is likely to be released next week with November 3 or November 4 as the expected dates.

New features expected in iOS 26.1

Liquid Glass ToggleApple has added a new customization option for the Liquid Glass interface in iOS 26.1.Users can now choose between two display styles under Settings → Display and Brightness → Liquid Glass — a more transparent Clear look or a slightly opaque Tinted one.

Lock Screen Camera ToggleA new setting under Settings → Lock Screen introduces the option to disable the quick swipe gesture that opens the Camera app. The toggle, labeled “Lock Screen Swipe to Open Camera,” prevents accidental camera launches when swiping left on the Lock Screen.Slide to Stop AlarmsThe Clock app has received a small but meaningful usability tweak. Instead of a single Stop button, iOS 26.1 introduces a new “slide to stop” gesture for turning off alarms and timers.This reduces the chance of accidentally dismissing alarms — an issue that emerged after Apple enlarged the stop button in earlier iOS 26 builds.Song Swiping in Apple MusiciOS 26.1 brings a smoother music experience with song swiping in the Apple Music player. Users can now swipe left or right to skip tracks directly from the player interface.Apple TV+ Rebrand to Apple TVFollowing Apple’s recent announcement, iOS 26.1 incorporates the company’s new branding for its streaming service.

Apple TV+ is now renamed Apple TV, featuring a more colorful app icon that reflects its “vibrant new identity.”More Apple Intelligence LanguagesApple Intelligence expands its multilingual support with the addition of Danish, Dutch, Norwegian, Portuguese (Portugal), Swedish, Turkish, Chinese (Traditional), and Vietnamese.This update makes Apple’s AI-driven features accessible to a wider global audience.More AirPods Live Translation LanguagesThe AirPods Live Translation feature now supports additional languages including Japanese, Korean, Italian, and both Traditional and Simplified Chinese.The feature is available on AirPods 4 with ANC, AirPods Pro 2, and AirPods Pro 3.Background Security ImprovementsApple has introduced a new security feature under Settings → Privacy & Security → Security Improvements that automatically downloads and installs Background Security Improvements.These patches act as interim updates between major iOS releases, replacing the earlier Rapid Security Response mechanism to ensure faster protection against emerging threats.