iOS 26.5 may be small, but it hides some incredible new features

Apple hasn’t made a big deal about this in its release notes, but it represents a notable shift for the platform.

Easier accessory pairing via USB-C

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Another small but very practical improvement is a new way to pair Apple accessories such as the Magic Mouse and Magic Keyboard.

With iOS 26.5, you can simply connect these devices to your iPhone or iPad using a USB-C cable, and they’ll automatically pair. After that, you can disconnect the cable, and they continue working wirelessly over Bluetooth.

It’s a simple change, but one that removes friction, especially for users who rely on these accessories with multiple devices.

Improvements for switching from iPhone to Android

Following the introduction of a new tool that makes it easier to transfer data from an iPhone to an Android device with iOS 26.3, Apple is now giving users a little more choice.

With iOS 26.5, the iPhone-to-Android transfer process now lets users choose which message attachments they want to keep for more control over what gets moved, instead of forcing a full transfer of all media.

EU-exclusive features continue to expand

As expected, iOS 26.5 includes additional region-specific changes for the European Union.

With this update, users can mirror not only notifications but also Live Activities to non-Apple devices. iOS 26.5 also extends the same AirPods quick-pairing experience to third-party accessories.

Unfortunately, since this is a requirement under EU law, these features aren’t available to iPhone users in the rest of the world.

App marketplaces are coming to Brazil

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Following similar changes in the EU and Japan, iOS 26.5 lays the groundwork for alternative app marketplaces in Brazil.

While the feature isn’t live for users yet, the update includes the necessary system support for third-party app distribution outside the App Store. That means iPhone users in Brazil will soon be able to download apps from alternative app stores, another international change driven by local regulatory changes.

Update your iPhone right now

In addition to these features, iOS 26.5 also includes bug fixes, performance improvements, and security updates. That’s why it’s always important to keep your devices updated with the latest software.

That said, this is likely the last iOS 26 update ahead of WWDC 2026, where Apple is expected to give a sneak peek at what’s coming in iOS 27.

You can install iOS 26.5 by going to Settings >General>Software Update. The update is available for iPhone 11 and later.