Apple announced iOS 26 at its Worldwide Developers Conference in June, but it said at the time it would release the update to the general public this fall. So I looked at past Apple events in September and earlier iOS releases to predict when the company would release iOS 26.

And I was right. Apple announced online that iOS 26 will be released as a free update on Monday. Apple usually releases updates around 1 p.m. ET/ 10 a.m. PT, so that means everyone only has less than 72 hours until iPhones can get new features like a Liquid Glass design, call screening and new ringtones . The company announced the software update's release the same day it held its "awe-dropping" event on Tue where it showcased the new iPhone 17 , 17 Pro and

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