In summary:
- Macworld reports that iOS 26.3 introduces user-centric features driven by EU mandates, including enhanced privacy controls and cross-platform compatibility improvements.
- The update enables easier switching between iPhone and Android devices through Google collaboration, plus notification forwarding to third-party smartwatches.
- Users gain privacy control by limiting precise location tracking for carriers, switching to coarse tracking instead of exact positioning data.
Following the release of iOS 16.2 on Friday, December 12, the first beta release of iOS 26.3 was made available to developers a few days later, on December 15. We expect a final release to the public sometime in late January or early February. This is reportedly the last minor refresh before iOS 26.4 brings the revamped Siri upgrade we’ve waited over a year to get.
Update February 11: iOS 26.3 has been released.
iOS 26.3 release notes
Apple’s release notes only mention “important bug fixes and security updates,” but there are a handful of other features added that were not mentioned.
There are dozens of security updates in this release. Apple has detailed them here.
iOS 26.3 feautres
Though the release notes do not mention specific new features, there were several added through the course of the iOS 26.3 beta:
Easier switching between Android and iPhone: iOS 26.3 brings support for easier iOS/Android switching made in collaboration with Google at the behest of the European Union. You can read more about that here.
Notification forwarding for third-party devices: Another EU-mandated change, Apple will allow for notifications to be forwarded to third-party devices, like smartwatches other than Apple Watch. There is a new Notification Forwarding section in Settings > Notifications
Limit precise location for carriers: A new option outlined in this support document will allow you to disable precise location finding for your carrier. It requires iOS 26.3 and a supporting carrier (EE or BT in the U.K., Boost Mobile in the U.S.). This has no impact on location for apps or the OS, it only applies to carrier location tracking, and changes it from precise (exact street address) to coarse (neighborhood).
iOS 26.3: How to install
Your iPhone will eventually prompt you to install iOS 26.3, but that can take a while, even if you have “Automatic Updates” turned on. To get it now, follow these steps:
- Open Settings.
- Tap General.
- Tap Software Update.
- Make sure you have the intended version of iOS selected if necessary, and follow the on-screen instructions.
Find out everything you need to know about iOS 26 in our iOS 26 superguide.
Author: Jason Cross, Senior Editor, Macworld
Jason has written about technology for more than 25 years - first in the gaming press, then focusing on enthusiast PCs and general technology. He enjoys learning how complicated technology works and explaining it in a way anyone can understand.