Apple has officially released iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 for iPhone and iPad users. The build number is 23F77, and the update arrives 19 days after the previous public release.
For users on older hardware, Apple also pushed matching security-focused updates including iOS 15.8.8, iOS 16.7.16, iOS 18.7.9, and iPadOS 17.7.11 for devices that can’t move to the current generation.
The headline change in this release is support for encrypted RCS messaging between iPhone and Android devices. Apple says end-to-end encryption now applies to RCS chats when the Android side is using the latest Google Messages app. Encrypted conversations show a lock icon, and the feature is enabled by default, though users can still manage it in the Messages section of Settings.
Apple also says it worked with Google to help bring end-to-end encryption into the RCS Universal Profile 3.0 standard. That same version of the standard also covers message editing and deletion, cross-platform Tapback support, and the ability to reply to a specific message inside a conversation.
Another notable addition is in Apple Maps. The app now includes a Suggested Places feature that uses a person’s location and recent searches to surface relevant recommendations. According to the source article, this is also part of the underlying framework Apple is preparing for promoted placements in Maps search results later this summer.
Security is another big part of the update. Apple says iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 together fix more than 50 security issues, including image-related flaws, kernel bugs, and problems tied to Shortcuts, Spotlight, screenshots, and WebKit. The WebKit fixes alone address ten vulnerabilities that could lead to sensitive data exposure or system crashes.
To comply with the EU Digital Markets Act, Apple is also adding new interoperability features for third-party wearables in European Union markets. Compatible headphones can trigger an AirPods-style proximity pairing flow when brought near an iPhone. Third-party accessories can also receive and interact with forwarded iPhone notifications, and Live Activities can appear on supported wearables in a way that mirrors the Apple Watch experience.
Apple notes that these wearable features depend on accessory makers adding support, so they may not become available everywhere right away. The source also notes that notification forwarding can only target one device at a time, which means enabling it for a third-party wearable will automatically disable the same forwarding behavior on Apple Watch.
On the subscription side, U.S. users now get a 12-month installment option for annual App Store subscriptions. Apple had already introduced that structure more broadly with iOS 26.4, but this release extends the option for the U.S. market as well.
iOS 26.5 also adds a wallpaper that matches Apple’s new Pride Luminance watch face and band design. The Reminders app gets a smaller quality-of-life tweak too, replacing vague afternoon or evening reminder labels with more precise times. Apple’s Magic Mouse, Magic Keyboard, and Magic Trackpad can now complete Bluetooth pairing automatically after being connected over USB-C.
In Brazil, the update also lays technical groundwork for sideloading support outside the App Store, according to the source article. Other regions already supporting sideloading include Japan and the EU.
With WWDC 2026 now less than a month away, this release looks like one of the last substantial feature updates before Apple shifts attention to the next major cycle. Taken as a whole, iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 combine security work, messaging upgrades, regulatory compliance changes, and a few smaller quality-of-life improvements into one fairly broad refresh.
