Apple is preparing to overhaul the naming of its software platforms by shifting to a year-based numbering system, with sources indicating that the next iOS update will be branded "iOS 26" instead of iOS 19. The change, reported by Bloomberg, would align iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS under a unified naming convention beginning in 2025.
The move would mark Apple's first major revision to software version branding since 2020, when it dropped "macOS X" in favor of macOS 11. The new system will reportedly reflect the year following the software's release, a strategy that mirrors historical practices from companies like Microsoft, which used names like Windows 95 and Windows 2000.
Unnamed sources cited by Bloomberg stated that the branding update aims to "remove confusion" by aligning version numbers across Apple's platforms. Currently, operating systems vary widely: iOS is at version 18, macOS is at 15, watchOS is at 12, and visionOS at 2. Under the revised system, all will shift to version 26, referencing 2026, even though the updates will arrive in fall 2025.
Apple is expected to announce the change at its Worldwide Developers Conference on June 9, alongside new user interface updates. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the software overhaul will incorporate design elements from visionOS, including improved multitasking for iPads and more consistent cross-device visual styles.
Apple has not commented on whether the renaming will extend to hardware. The company's latest phone, iPhone 16, was released in February, and the iPhone 17 lineup is expected later this year. There is no indication it will be renamed iPhone 26.
