iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27 released

On September 14, 2026, Apple announced a sweeping set of updates for iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, visionOS 27, and tvOS 27. The rollout introduces Siri AI, expanded parental controls, and performance gains that touch every major Apple device.

Siri AI and Apple Intelligence

Siri AI arrives as a beta in English, with French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish slated for October. Powered by the next‑generation Apple Intelligence, it can read personal context from messages, emails, and photos to answer on‑screen questions or fetch live web data. Integration into the Camera app adds a “Siri mode” that lets users split bills, send Apple Cash, or add custom passes to Wallet with a single voice command. Visual Intelligence extends this capability to iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Vision Pro, allowing users to ask about anything they see on the screen or in their surroundings.

The new Write with Siri feature lets users dictate drafts or refine existing text, while a dedicated Siri app syncs conversation history across iCloud, so a chat started on iPhone can continue on Mac, iPad, Apple Watch, or Apple Vision Pro. Siri AI is not available for users under 13 and will initially be absent from iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS in the EU, though EU Mac and Apple Vision Pro users can access it when set to a supported language.

New Child Safety and Screen Time Tools

Apple’s parental suite introduces a streamlined child‑account setup that lets parents pre‑select allowed apps and gradually expand access. The “Ask to Browse” toggle forces Safari approval before a new site loads, while Communication Safety now blocks gore or violent content in shared images and videos.

A redesigned Screen Time dashboard gives an at‑a‑glance view of average device usage and top apps, with expert‑guided daily allowances for Entertainment, Games, and Social Media. The new Schedules feature lets parents lock or unlock specific apps at different times of day. A dedicated website provides guidance on creating safer digital experiences for kids.

Performance, Connectivity, and Search Enhancements

Across iPhone, iPad, and Mac, everyday tasks feel noticeably snappier. Apps launch up to 30 percent faster, photos load up to 70 percent faster after capture, and AirDrop transfers are up to 80 percent faster. On iPad, file browsing and external‑USB transfers are up to 5x faster, and window‑dragging multitasking sees additional latency cuts. Apple Watch music playback also benefits from reduced start‑up time.

Network transitions between cellular and Wi‑Fi on iPhone and iPad are now seamless, and large media messages in Messages no longer block subsequent texts in low‑bandwidth scenarios. Mac users enjoy quicker network file browsing, while Apple Vision Pro connects to Wi‑Fi up to 3x faster.

Search unifies Spotlight, Photos, and Mail with a more stable ranking engine; Mail now surfaces top hits with a brand‑new relevance algorithm.

Design Refresh and Additional Platform Features

Apple refines its visual language with Liquid Glass, adding a Settings slider that lets users tint the glass from ultra‑clear to fully opaque. App icons receive sharper, more defined rendering.

iCloud Shared Albums now support full‑resolution photo and video sharing, and Android or Windows participants can join and contribute. The Health app adds perimenopause and menopause tracking in Cycle Tracking, complete with deviation alerts. AirPods gain a custom EQ for personalized sound, and Apple GymKit syncs heart‑rate data from AirPods Pro 3 via iPhone.

Apple Maps introduces an AI‑enhanced Flyover experience, while Apple Watch offers Smart Stack widget suggestions and a single‑handed tap to open widgets. Workout Buddy works offline and is now available in Spanish as well as English. Apple Vision Pro can turn panoramas into spatial scenes and features a new “Thórsmörk” environment with an Icelandic aurora. On Apple TV, Apple Music streams lossless high‑resolution audio, the Podcasts app receives a redesign, and text‑size accessibility options expand.

Availability and Device Compatibility

All new features roll out today on supported devices running iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, visionOS 27, and tvOS 27. Availability varies by region and language; some features are excluded from China pending regulatory clearance. Apple Intelligence supports English, Danish, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, Vietnamese, Chinese (simplified), Chinese (traditional), Japanese, and Korean.

Compatible hardware includes iPhone Duo, iPhone Air, iPhone 16 models or later, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPad mini (A17 Pro), iPad models with M1 or later, MacBook Neo (A18 Pro), Mac with M1 or later, Apple Vision Pro, Apple Watch Series 9 or later, Apple Watch Ultra 2 or later, and Apple Watch SE 3 when paired with an Apple Intelligence‑enabled iPhone. Certain server‑side features, such as Siri AI, intelligent photo editing, Image Playground, and AFM 3 cloud models in Shortcuts, are subject to daily usage limits that may later be expanded for a fee.

For full details on language support, system requirements, and regional availability, visit Apple’s official site.