iOS 26.3 is here with a focus on switches and stalking – see what’s new

Apple just released iOS 26.3 for iPhones everywhere, and as expected, it’s a relatively minor update. With iOS 26.4 already on the horizon and rumored to introduce major changes, including a Gemini-powered Siri, this release is more about incremental improvements to set the stage for big changes to come.

That said, iOS 26.3 still brings some notable additions, especially when it comes to device switching, privacy, and new options for EU users. Read on as we break down everything new in iOS 26.3.

For the first time, Apple is making the transition easier from iPhone to Android. While iOS already allows users to quickly transfer data from an Android phone to an iPhone, the reverse was not possible. At least until now.

iOS 26.3 introduces a new tool built right into the Settings app that helps users transfer data from an iPhone to an Android phone. This new tool works wirelessly to transfer data such as photos, messages, notes and apps to a supported Android device.

If you have the right device and carrier, you can even transfer your eSIM from iPhone to Android.

You can find the new transfer tool in Settings > General > Transfer or reset your iPhone > Transfer to Android.

Restrict exact location for mobile networks

Devices equipped with Apple-made C1 and C1X modems (iPhone 16e, iPhone Air and M5 iPad Pro with 5G) now have an additional layer of privacy protection with iOS 26.3.

Users will find a new switch on supported hardware that limits how accurately mobile networks can determine their location. Apps and websites will still have access to the approximate location, but it will be much more difficult to find out exactly where the device is.

According to Apple, enabling this option will not affect location accuracy for emergency services during emergency calls.

Apple

At launch, the feature is only available on select carriers, so availability may vary by region and network. So far, the only devices with Apple’s 5G modem are the iPhone 16e, iPhone Air and the mobile version of the M5 iPad Pro.

New weather wallpaper section

iOS 26.3 adds a small but welcome visual tweak for fans of personalization.

Weather wallpapers now have their own dedicated section with three preset options. Although this is a small change, it makes it easier to discover and manage weather wallpapers in the system.

Encrypted RCS messages

It’s been a while since Apple added RCS support to the iPhone, which allows users to communicate with Android phone owners as if they were using iMessage. However, one important feature is still missing from Apple’s implementation, which is end-to-end encryption for RCS messages.

Based on iOS 26.3 code, the system is now ready to support encrypted RCS messages. However, it’s still up to careers to support this feature, and none of them have yet. That may change soon when the update is available to the public.

Forwarding notifications to accessories

In the European Union, iOS 26.3 introduces a new API that allows third-party accessories to display notifications from your iPhone.

The feature works similar to notification mirroring on the Apple Watch and will enable features on smartwatches, bands, and even accessories like Meta’s smart glasses.

Unfortunately, this feature is only available to iPhone users in the EU. There are no details on whether Apple will expand this option to other regions in the future.

Foundry

AirPods-style pairing for third-party accessories

Another EU-only change allows faster and more intuitive pairing of non-Apple accessories.

With iOS 26.3, third-party accessories can now support quick pairing similar to AirPods. In other words, users can simply attach the accessory to their iPhone or iPad and start the pairing process. This removes one of Apple’s long-standing advantages for proprietary hardware, at least within the European Union.

For users in the rest of the world, this new feature remains unavailable.

Bug fixes and security patches

As always, new iOS versions come with several bug fixes, stability improvements and security patches. Therefore, it is always important that your devices are updated with the latest version of the operating system as soon as it arrives.

What to expect from iOS 26.4

With iOS 26.3 now available to the public, Apple will turn its attention to iOS 26.4, which has been highly anticipated for over a year. According to multiple sources, including an exclusive report from Macworld, the company is planning some major new features for the next iOS update.

The most anticipated change is the new version of Siri powered by Gemini. This comes nearly two years after Apple announced that Siri would be powered by Apple Intelligence and gain the ability to not only answer more questions, but also interact with apps. The new Siri was delayed to early 2025 and we’ve been waiting for its release ever since.

In addition, Apple is also working on a redesigned Health app, autofill for credit cards in third-party apps, folders in Freeform, and improvements to Find My when it comes to searching for AirPods and AirTags. These features are also expected to appear in iOS 26.4, likely the last feature-packed release before iOS 27 debuts.

It’s unclear when iOS 26.4 will be released to the public, but we expect the first beta to arrive later this month.

Update your iPhone and iPad now

Again, iOS 26.3 isn’t a major update, but it does bring some nice improvements, especially if you live in the EU. You can update your iPhone or iPad in Settings > General > Software update.