A few months before Apple makes iOS 26 available to the public, this update is released.
Before releasing iOS 26 this autumn, Apple released iOS 18.6 on July 29. Although your iPhone will get Liquid Glass and other features in the upcoming big iOS upgrade, iOS 18.6 doesn’t make many changes to your device. The update contains over two dozen bug and security updates, including a patch for a vulnerability that might be actively exploited, rather than new features.
The features that iOS 18.6 offers your iPhone.
A zero-day vulnerability and other problems are fixed in this release.
About two dozen security flaws and vulnerabilities are fixed in iOS 18.6, according to Apple’s security notes. However, a bug in WebKit, Apple’s proprietary web browser engine used in Safari, is being monitored as CVE-2025-6558 and might infect your machine.
“This is a vulnerability in open source code and Apple Software is among the affected projects,” Apple stated in the issue’s security notes. This problem has a high severity rating according to the CVE Program, which assists in identifying, defining, and cataloging cybersecurity hazards.
A member of Google’s Threat Analysis Group discovered this vulnerability, and on July 15, Google stated that it is aware that there is an attack for it in the wild. To secure your device, you should download iOS 18.6 right now.
Does iOS 18.6 include any new features?
I downloaded and tested iOS 18.6 during the beta cycle, but I didn’t notice any modifications or new features. Given Apple’s iOS release pace throughout the years, that is not surprising.
At WWDC 2024, Apple unveiled iOS 18, and over a month later in July, the company released iOS 17.6. There were no new features in that update, but it did provide over 30 significant security updates and bug fixes. It was the final significant iOS 17 update before to the introduction of iOS 18, and at the time, Apple advised everyone to download it.
When it launched iOS 16.6 in July 2023, Apple followed suit. The tech giant prioritized security updates and bug fixes while releasing that update. iOS 17 was the next significant iOS release.
It’s conceivable that Apple is changing course and concentrating more on iOS 26. Actually, in advance of the iOS software’s autumn release, the corporation has already made many betas available.
Even if iOS 18.6 doesn’t include any new features, you should still upgrade your iPhone to fix bugs and security vulnerabilities, including the zero-day weakness.
Release notes for iOS 18.6
As stated in the short release notes for iOS 18.6, “This update provides important bug fixes and security updates, and fixes an issue in Photos that could prevent memory movies from being shared.” To learn more about the security features in iOS 18.6, see Apple’s page that breaks out the security features of this and earlier releases.
Disclaimer:
This article is for informational purposes only and is based on publicly available information at the time of writing. It reflects the author’s personal testing and interpretation of Apple’s software updates, including iOS 18.6 and iOS 26. Features, performance, and security issues may vary by device and user experience. Apple may release further updates or patches after this post is published. For official details, please refer to Apple’s website or consult Apple Support. This post does not contain professional cybersecurity advice; users should consult trusted security experts for personalized guidance.