Apple has rolled out iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3, and this update carries real weight. The release includes dozens of security fixes. One of those patches closes a flaw that attackers were already exploiting. That alone makes this update urgent for iPhone and iPad users.
Security leads the headline here. Apple says iOS 26.3 fixes multiple vulnerabilities across the system. One bug was under active attack before the patch arrived. As a result, users should install the update as soon as possible to protect their data and devices.
At the same time, Apple introduced a feature that may surprise some loyalists. iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3 now support easier switching to Android. The new tool allows users to move their data without relying on third-party apps. In other words, leaving the Apple ecosystem has become far more straightforward.
The transfer process supports photos, messages, notes, apps, passwords, phone numbers, and more. That covers most of the data people care about. The European Union has taken credit for pushing Apple and Google to work on smoother switching between mobile operating systems. Regulators required both companies to support this functionality within the EU. However, Apple and Google decided to make it available worldwide.
Apple also added a new privacy control in iOS 26.3. The update includes a setting that limits carrier location tracking for devices powered by Apple’s C1 or C1X modems. Still, support remains limited. The feature currently works with Boost Mobile in the US, EE and BT in the UK, and Telekom in Germany.