Apple Releases iOS 26.1 and iPadOS 26.1 with accessibility enhancements, new language support for Live Translation, and more

By AppleVis, 3 November, 2025

Member of the AppleVis Editorial Team

Apple has today released iOS 26.1 and iPadOS 26.1 to the public, bringing several enhancements to VoiceOver and braille, various visual changes to interface elements throughout the operating systems, expanded language support for Live Translation, and more.

New features and changes for blind, deaf blind, and low vision users

iOS 26.1 and iPadOS 26.1 include the following new features and changes for blind, deaf blind, and low vision users:

  • When connecting your iPhone to power, VoiceOver should now speak the estimated charge time as it appears visually. This feature was introduced with iOS 26.0, but was not previously accessible with VoiceOver.
  • New commands to move to the next and previous checkbox, as well as to move to the next and previous rotor voice, have been introduced. These commands have no default touch or keyboard assignments, but can be mapped in Settings > Accessibility > VoiceOver > Commands.
  • It is now possible to hide the Back button in Braille Access, useful for those who use the "Escape" command and don't want extra buttons to be shown. To do this, go to Settings > Accessibility > VoiceOver > Braille > Braille Access, and toggle the "Show back button" switch off.
  • When viewing files under Braille Notes, folders are now clearly indicated by an "f" proceeding them.
  • When using Apple Pay, VoiceOver now provides additional spoken guidance.
  • There is a new "Tinted" option for Liquid Glass, which we believe may improve the legibility of visual elements that use that design language for some users. This setting can be found in Settings > Display & Brightness > Liquid Glass.

Resolved accessibility bugs

Our experience is that the following accessibility bugs have been resolved or meaningfully improved in iOS 26.1 and iPadOS 26.1:

New accessibility bugs

We are currently aware of two new accessibility bugs in these releases:

If you notice any further changes, improvements, or regressions in your use of these releases, please post a comment below with your findings.

Release Notes

iOS 26.1

This update adds new languages for Live Translation with AirPods, a new tinted option for Liquid Glass, along with other features, bug fixes, and security updates for your iPhone.

This update includes the following features and enhancements:

  • Liquid Glass setting gives you the option to choose between the default clear look or a new tinted look which increases opacity of the material in apps and notifications on the Lock Screen
  • Live Translation with AirPods support for Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Japanese, Korean and Italian
  • Apple Music MiniPlayer swipe gesture to go to the next or previous track
  • Apple Music AutoMix support over AirPlay
  • Gain control is available for external USB microphones when recording with local capture
  • Local capture files can be saved to a specific location
  • Manual workout logging is available directly from the Fitness app
  • New Camera setting to turn on or off Lock Screen swipe to open Camera
  • Improved FaceTime audio quality in low-bandwidth conditions
  • Communication Safety and Web content filters to limit adult websites are enabled by default for existing child accounts for ages 13-17 (Age varies by country or region)

For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit: https://support.apple.com/100100 Some features may not be available in all regions or on all iPhone models. To learn more, please visit: https://apple.com/ios/feature-availability Software updates, like this one, add new features and improvements that may affect performance and/or battery life. To learn more, please visit: https://support.apple.com/125039

iPadOS 26.1

This update adds Slide Over as a windowing option, a new tinted option for Liquid Glass, improvements to local capture, and includes other features, bug fixes, and security updates for your iPad.

Slide Over

  • Slide Over lets you keep a window on top of other windows, and easily hide off screen when not in use
  • Resizable windows in Slide Over let you choose your preferred size and aspect ratio

Local capture

  • Gain control is available for external USB microphones when recording with local capture
  • Option to let you choose where local capture files are saved

This update includes the following features and enhancements:

  • Liquid Glass setting gives you the option to choose between the default clear look or a new tinted look which increases opacity of the material in apps and notifications on the Lock Screen
  • Apple Music MiniPlayer swipe gesture to go to the next or previous track
  • Apple Music AutoMix support over AirPlay
  • New Camera setting to turn on or off Lock Screen swipe to open Camera
  • Improved FaceTime audio quality in low-bandwidth conditions
  • Communication Safety and Web content filters to limit adult websites are enabled by default for existing child accounts for ages 13-17 (Age varies by country or region)
  • Discover new content, spatial experiences, and quickly access information about your device using Apple Vision Pro app, now available on iPad

For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit: https://support.apple.com/100100 Some features may not be available in all regions or on all iPad models. To learn more, please visit: https://apple.com/ios/feature-availability Software updates, like this one, add new features and improvements that may affect performance and/or battery life. To learn more, please visit: https://support.apple.com/125039

How to update

iOS 26.1 and iPadOS 26.1 are available via Over-the-Air Update (Settings > General > Software Update), via Finder on a Mac with macOS Catalina or later, or via iTunes on a PC or Mac with macOS Mojave or earlier.

Before updating, we strongly recommend making a full and complete backup of your device (either locally or in iCloud, depending on personal preference). This will ensure that, in the unlikely event that something goes wrong during the update process, you will have a current backup on hand in case a device restore becomes necessary. Also, if using OTA update, we recommend plugging your device into a power source for the duration of the download/installation process, so as to prevent the unlikely event of your battery going dead during the update.

Options

Comments

By Austin Nix on Monday, November 3, 2025 - 23:16

I wanted to clarify something. when Voiceover says "replay" after a message in Messages, it could be because it was sent from Siri, or because it had been edited. the initial post said nothing about that.

By Brian on Monday, November 3, 2025 - 23:17

I am currently running iOS 18.7 on my iPhone. Is it worth it to upgrade to iOS 26.1, at this time?

By KE8UPE on Monday, November 3, 2025 - 23:34

Hello,
I put a comment in another thread, here on the site, indicating that I'd tested the issue & it did notb occur on my device.
In that comment, I also requested more info about the types of devices people were using, which exhibited this issue.

By Holger Fiallo on Monday, November 3, 2025 - 23:48

If you sent a message using Siri as recording, Siri ask you if you want to play it, now it does not. Love that and I missed it.

By Karok on Monday, November 3, 2025 - 23:50

for myself at least, when i plug in my cable to charge voiceover still just states how much battery is in the phone, not how long it has to charge does it not work on the 15 series or lower?

By Cooltapes on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 - 00:00

Hi,
I didn’t get the update for iOS 26.1 on my iPhone 16 Pro, but I did get it for my iPad. This is strange.

By Holger Fiallo on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 - 00:26

Same here. 16 pro max.

By Singer Girl on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 - 01:05

Hi everyone, I was able to update my iPhone SE third generation to iOS 26.1. However, it will not show up at all on my iPhone 15. He keeps saying that the software is up-to-date. Well, of course it says it now the iOS is up-to-date. I’m hoping in a few more hours it will show up, but right now it’s not showing up at all and I did restart my phone just to make sure that there wasn’t something like that. I called Apple and they just basically said that it’s because the software comes in waves and that everybody can get it all at the same time. I just find out that I was able to get it on my older device and not having it show up at all. I knew one is a little weird. I will update you guys when it does come to my phone to let you know if I find any new changes. One thing that’s positive that changed is that Karen premium is now functioning properly and my iPhone SE which I’m very happy about since she’s my favorite Voice. My iPhone 15 for now I’m using regular Karen so that I can update my phone. Hopefully, I can get premium on that device as well.

By Missy Hoppe on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 - 01:31

I think it's called the today screen. It's the 1 you get if you 3 finger swipe right from the home screen. Anyway, my battery wigits show up just fine, but the wigit for my bank is no longer accessible, at least not according to Voiceover. I tried removing and readding the wigit, but it didn't help. I even switched the position of the bank wigit and the battery wigit, but that didn't help either. The problem started out of nowhere about 2 weeks ago. Before that, I could very easily check my bank balance by going to that screen. Now, no matter how many times I flick right on the battery status wigits, the bank one never shows up. The bank and battery wigits are the only two I have active. Any ideas on how I might be able to get the banking wigit back would be extremely appreciated.

By Holger Fiallo on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 - 01:39

Check with your bank, it might not be accessible on their end.

By Singer Girl on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 - 02:49

Hi everyone, just wanted to come back on here and update you all to say that the update did show up on my iPhone 15 and I also did get premium care to work on there too so I’m really happy that Apple fixed that problem. Hopefully all the rest of the voices that people were having issues with in iOS 26.0 fixed now too. I didn’t see any other really major changes. And I’m really happy that my favorite voice is back on both of my devices.

By Jo Billard on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 - 03:17

I'm not getting anything either. All I can think of is that it only works if you're charging to 80% which I am not.

By TJT 2001 on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 - 03:27

I've found that disabling the back button in Braille Access results in the inability to use Space+dots 456 to move to the end of BRF files and the inability to delete BRF files. I'll inform Apple of these bugs.

On the topic of Braille Access, but not related to this iOS update, does anyone know what exactly the setting Hide BRF Page Indicators does? It doesn't suppress page numbers whether they're in the top or bottom right-hand corner, and it doesn't suppress form feed characters. I contacted Apple Accessibility, who weren't very helpful. I'm certainly going to escalate it, but maybe someone else has figured it out.

By Gerardo on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 - 05:11

I was so looking forward to the feature of the estimated charging time! I put the phone to charge (it was at 81%), but no go! What setting needs to be changed for this to work?

By Earle on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 - 06:03

If my phone is plugged in, I get the estimated charging time when I press the side button to unlock my screen. It says the time, and then says the estimated charging time. I have not found a way to repeat it. Even throughout the beta cycle, I could not find a way to repeat it. I'm using an iPhone 16 Pro Max.

By Daniel on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 - 08:24

The high and premium quality voices work again. They show up as downloaded and can be selected.

Best regards,
Daniel

By Singer Girl on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 - 09:46

I’m glad this is working for everybody now. This is an example to me of Apple. Definitely listening to us. Cause I called and I noticed the issue that’s why they got. Multiple reports of Voice is not working so this is great news. I’m glad they were able to fix this.

By Lee on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 - 09:54

So, notifications and the weather app are not fixed grrrrrrr.

By Dawn 👩🏻‍🦯 on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 - 10:13

Is anyone still getting bit by the bug with email in the Mail app, where characters typed after pessing the space bar are missed? I've been hobbding off updating because I do not want this bug to bite me, as I rely heavily on email for the volunteer and other work I do as an advocate.

By Gerardo on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 - 11:21

So in the previous release of iOS (26.0.1), either via the 3-finger down from the Status Bar, or with the 3-click downward gesture, sometimes it'd take about 5-6 tries before the Notification area opened up! I'm so relieved to see that in 26.1, this annoyance has apparently been fixed; so far, no more issues when going into the Notification area!

By Lee on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 - 11:36

The issue with going into the notification area is still there. What I think it does is fail if for example you have a notification on the screen that you haven't read or it hasn't disappeared automatically. Hard to describe what I mean but next time you have the phone unlocked and you hear the notification sound stating a notification has come in immediately try to go into the notification area. You should find it won't work. As soon as the current notification has disappeared either by itself or you dismissing it then all works again.

By Singer Girl on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 - 14:13

Does anybody know how to turn off the haptic for answering ending a phone call? I heard that there was a way to do it, but I couldn’t find it in the settings under the voiceover sounds and haptics? Is it a separate haptic to the ones that are found in the audio settings of voiceover? Thanks.

By Holger Fiallo on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 - 14:25

Go to setting, apps, select phone, and slide down until you see it. Long live cats.

By Ann Marie B on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 - 15:33

I updated my iPhone 15 yesterday. I love the camera swipe from the lock screen and turned that off. Now I won't have random pictures in my phone. :) lol.

By 1drew on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 - 15:55

There seems to be no way to stop the alarm. It says slide to stop, but tapping it does nothing with VO on. I just end up snoozing it and telling Siri to turn it off. It is annoying.

By Holger Fiallo on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 - 16:17

There is away to do so, setting, accessibility, touch. I think is there. Long live cats.

By Curtis Chong on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 - 16:37

Greetings: Settings, Accessibility, Prefer Single-Touch. I tested this, and it works. When the alarm goes off, there is now a Stop button on my iPhone.

By fatih on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 - 17:30

The lag when switching between voices by either using the voices rotor or assigned gesture is still present.
Btw, swiping up or down with three fingers in the control centre to move to previous or next page doesn't work either.
And to stop the alarm, you have to swipe up, i.e. perform the home button gesture when the alarm is ringing. And it still works, tested it.

By 1drew on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 - 18:41

There is other ways to stop it, but it seems like a bug that the button that is labeled slide to stop can't be invoked with Voiceover. It shouldn't require turning on another accessibility setting to use the button. If someone can tell me how to slide to stop, I'll agree its not a bug, but I haven't gotten that to work, even with a double taop and hold, then slide

By Saj on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 - 20:33

Hi there everyone, I’m loving the fact that I can find out what the estimation of charge is left to charge up my battery when I plug in the charger. I have the latest version of iOS and iOS 15 pro. I am very glad that it works. However, does anybody know how to get the call screening To Work when someone calls you and their number is not in your contacts for some reason, I’m still struggling in how to use it and actually reply when someone calls when I don’t know who they are.

By Singer Girl on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 - 21:34

Thanks for the person who gave me the answer of how to turn off the haptic setting for an incoming or ending call. You do have to go into the Phone app for that setting. Go to where it says it just says haptics and then you swipe to the right explanation that it’s called that will play a haptic when Nicole is injured or dropped so it’s a toggle switch button and you just turn it off will double tap. So I did that. Thanks I agree cats are amazing. They’re my favorite animal.

By Missy Hoppe on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 - 21:45

You could be right that it's somehow broken on my bank's end. I just know it worked great for years; had to reactivate it from time to time, but even then, the wigit was there, it just wouldn't show my balance. Now, it's gone completely. Perhaps my bank needs to update their app again to fix things. I'll call them when I have time/energy to report the issue.