Here’s Everything New in iOS 26.5
Three weeks after the major iOS 26.5 release on Monday, May 11, the new iPhone update is here. This big update is designed to fix issues rather than introduce major new features, including one affecting charging of the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air when the battery is almost dead. Here’s everything you need to know.
Here is everything you need to know about the new iOS 26.5 updates, release dates, new features, jailbreak, and sideloading availability.
iOS 26.5.1 — What’s in the Release
Although they’re usually much larger than they are, this is what’s known as a minor-point update. While there have been a few new features and security fixes in recent months, this one is all about fixes.
“This update resolves an issue for a small number of users that could prevent wired charging when the battery was low on iPhone Air and iPhone 17 models,” Apple said in its release notes.
As mentioned above, this means the iPhone 17, iPhone 17e, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air. And while that doesn’t preclude other fixes from being here, the fact that it’s only for these five phones seems to confirm there’s a very specific purpose.
If you have an iPhone 17 model, iOS 26.5.1 is now available for download. You can find it in Settings ⇾ General ⇾ Software Update.
Here are Apple’s official release notes:
This update fixes an issue that could prevent wired charging when the battery was low on iPhone Air and iPhone 17 models.
About Apple Security Updates
For the safety of our customers, Apple does not disclose, discuss, or confirm security issues until they have been investigated and patches or releases are available. Recent releases are listed on the Apple Security Releases page.
Apple security documents reference vulnerabilities by CVE-ID whenever possible.
You can get more information from the Apple main sites.
Which iPhones can run iOS 26.5.1?
Unlike other iOS 26 updates, this one is only available for five phones: iPhone 17, iPhone 17e, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air.
This is very unusual and reflects that the update is about one thing: fixing a battery issue on the phones it’s designed for.
So, it’s no surprise that this isn’t a background security update, as it’s all about security fixes. Apple’s support website says that “no published CVEs are included in this update,” meaning there are no security fixes here.
New Pride Wallpaper
Along with the new Pride Edition Sport Loop and Pride Luminance watch face for Apple Watch, iOS 26.5 includes a matching iPhone wallpaper.
Apple said the wallpaper features a “joyful, vibrant design to celebrate LGBTQ+ communities around the world during Pride Month and beyond.”
The wallpaper features a dynamic design with customizable colors.
iOS 26.5 features
AppleJPEG
Available on: iPhone 11 and later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 8th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: Processing a maliciously crafted media file may lead to unexpected application termination or corrupt process memory
Description: A memory corruption issue was addressed with improved input validation.
CVE-2026-28956: impost0r (ret2plt)
Audio
Available on: iPhone 11 and later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 8th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: Processing an audio stream of a maliciously crafted media file may cause the process to terminate
Description: The issue was addressed with improved memory handling.
CVE-2026-39869: David Ige on Beryllium Security
CoreAnimation
Available on: iPhone 11 and later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 8th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: An application may be able to access sensitive user data
Description: Addressed a user interface issue that was incompatible with improved state management.
CVE-2026-28964: Alan Wang, Christopher W. Fletcher, Howav Shacham, David Kohlbrenner, Riccardo Pacagnalla
Basic Services
Available on: iPhone 11 and later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 8th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: Processing a maliciously crafted file may lead to unexpected application termination
Description: The issue was addressed with improved checks.
CVE-2026-28936: Andreas Jaegersberger and Ro Achterberg of Nosebeard Labs
End-to-End Encryption for RCS
End-to-end encryption for ‘RCS’ is a security feature that ensures messages sent between supported iOS 26.5 and Android devices are encrypted and cannot be intercepted or read by a third party during delivery.
Apple had already tested end-to-end encryption for RCS in the iOS 26.4 beta, but the feature was not included in the final release of iOS 26.4 in March. The option was returned in iOS 26.5 beta, and Apple has confirmed it is working on this.
Ads and “Suggested Places” in Apple Maps
In March, Apple announced that native ads would come to the Apple Maps app on iPhones and iPads in the US and Canada “this summer,” and there was evidence in the iOS 26.5 beta code that Apple was preparing for them.
Apple says that businesses in the US and Canada will be able to place native ads at the top of search results and in a new “Suggested Places” section.
According to Apple’s release notes, iOS 26.5 enables the “Suggested Places” section.
“Ads will appear on Maps when users search in Maps, and may appear at the top of a user’s search results based on relevance, as well as at the top of a new Suggested Places experience in Maps, which will show recommendations based on what’s trending nearby, the user’s recent searches, and more,” Apple says.
Similar to the ads already shown in App Store search results on iPhone and iPad, ads in Apple Maps will be labeled “ads,” and Apple promises strong privacy protections. For example, Apple says a user’s location and the ads they see and interact with in Apple Maps will not be associated with the user’s Apple account.
