If you’re confused about Apple jumping from iOS 18 straight to iOS 26 — you’re not alone. But no, you didn’t miss eight versions overnight. Apple’s just changing how it names its software. From now on, all its operating systems — iOS, iPadOS, macOS — will follow the year after release. Just like how car companies do it.
So the version announced at the recent Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in 2025? That’s iOS 26, because it’s dropping in the fall of 2025. The next one, coming in June 2026, will be called iOS 27, reflecting the last two digits of its anticipated year of arrival. This significant shift in branding, confirmed at WWDC 25, marks one of the most notable overhauls to Apple's OS naming conventions.
The move aims to bring much-needed consistency and clarity to Apple's expanding ecosystem of operating systems. Before this change, a user might encounter iOS 18, WatchOS 12, macOS 15, and VisionOS 2 — a disparate collection of numbers reflecting varied debut dates. Under the new system, updates for all of Apple's operating systems, including iPadOS 26, MacOS 26, WatchOS 26, TVOS 26, and VisionOS 26, will align with the last two digits of the upcoming year. This approach simplifies how users can keep track of the most up-to-date software, mirroring how new automobile models are introduced to the market. Software SVP Craig Federighi, speaking tongue-in-cheek at the conference, attributed the change to the marketing team's keen observation that "years end with two digits, so why not go with that?"
While embracing the new year-based numbering, Apple's Mac operating system will continue to incorporate its popular California nature-themed names. The next Mac operating system, for instance, has been officially christened "Tahoe," as in Lake Tahoe. Tourism representatives for the renowned California-Nevada lake expressed their delight, anticipating the name choice as a "beautiful boost for our year-round destination." This dual naming scheme — MacOS Tahoe 26 — is intentional, with Federighi explaining that "macOS demands more" than just a two-digit year name, suggesting a continued commitment to its unique brand identity.
Interestingly, despite the comprehensive overhaul for its operating systems, Apple's iPhone models will retain their current numbering system. The current iPhone model is the iPhone 16, released in September 2024, and the iPhone 17 lineup is expected to be announced in September 2025. This stands in contrast to competitors like Samsung, which switched its Galaxy S phone naming system to a year-based approach after the Galaxy S10 in 2020. For now, it seems the iPhone will not be joining the iOS 26 naming convention.
Alongside the name change, Apple also teased some seriously big updates for iOS 26, including a complete design overhaul with something called Liquid Glass, dynamic lock screens, smarter call screening, polls in Messages, and even real-time translation during calls. So yeah, the number might be confusing initially — but iOS 26 is undeniably a real leap forward in Apple's software evolution.
