Apple has changed the naming convention for its software. From now on, all Apple operating systems will use the same year-based number, starting with 26, for the year 2026.
This means iPhones will get iOS 26, Macs will run macOS Tahoe 26, and iPads, Apple Watches, Apple TVs, and Vision Pro devices will get iPadOS 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26.
Before this change, Apple used different numbers for each platform. For example, last year’s updates included iOS 18, watchOS 11, and visionOS 2. This often confuses users. Now, Apple says the new system will make it easier to know if your device is up to date.
Apple announced the change during its WWDC 2025 keynote. The update was expected, as Bloomberg had reported on it in May.
If this article helped you, please consider supporting our work. Every small contribution keeps Abijita.com independent and running.
