Software Updates 9 January 2026 - 23 March 2026

Apple and Google Just Made iPhone-to-Android Texts Safer: What iOS 26.5 Changes
···

Apple and Google Just Made iPhone-to-Android Texts Safer: What iOS 26.5 Changes

CUPERTINO, California, May 12, 2026, 03:06 Apple and Google have kicked off the beta launch of end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging, bringing more secure cross-platform texting to iPhones and Android devices—an area where iMessage has held the advantage on privacy. For now, iPhone users on iOS 26.5 with supported carriers and Android users running the current Google Messages app can access the upgrade.
May 12, 2026
Apple iOS 26.4 Release Nears: New Features Include AI Playlists, Video Podcasts, No New Siri
····

Apple iOS 26.4 Release Nears: New Features Include AI Playlists, Video Podcasts, No New Siri

Cupertino, California, March 23, 2026, 03:40 PDT Apple pushed out a release candidate for iOS 26.4 to testers on March 18, indicating the update’s public debut is close. Among the additions: new features for Apple Music and podcasts. Notably, some of the next AirPods Max 2 features will require iOS 26.4 or newer, according to official notes.
March 23, 2026
Apple’s macOS 26.3.1 Update Gets New Urgency as Studio Displays Start Shipping
···

Apple’s macOS 26.3.1 Update Gets New Urgency as Studio Displays Start Shipping

Cupertino, California, March 11, 2026, 02:00 Apple’s support pages received an update Tuesday, confirming macOS Tahoe 26.3.1 as the present release for the majority of Macs—a detail that comes as the new Studio Display and Studio Display XDR are set to launch on Wednesday. Notably, the same listing highlights a distinct macOS 26.3.2 build, but that’s exclusive to the MacBook Neo.
March 11, 2026
iOS 27 leak hints Apple will keep WWDC 2026 “muted” — betting on bug fixes and a chatbot Siri
···

iOS 27 leak hints Apple will keep WWDC 2026 “muted” — betting on bug fixes and a chatbot Siri

Cupertino, Calif., Feb 8, 2026, 22:37 Apple is gearing up for a modest iOS 27 release focused on bug fixes, performance improvements, and minor design tweaks, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman on Sunday. He described WWDC as “a fairly muted affair this year,” highlighting the main update as a “more personalized Siri with a chatbot interface,” along with additional enhancements to Apple Intelligence, the company’s AI suite. Gurman also noted that the first iOS 26.4 developer beta should drop the week of Feb. 23, including “some components” of the long-awaited Siri upgrade.
February 9, 2026
Google’s February 2026 Pixel update is rolling out — and it fixes just one security flaw
·····

Google’s February 2026 Pixel update is rolling out — and it fixes just one security flaw

Google, operating under Alphabet, has kicked off the February 2026 update for its supported Pixel devices. This patch focuses purely on security fixes, offering no new features or noticeable user changes. Both update notes and user reports highlight a significantly smaller download size than past releases. This matters because the monthly patch cycle is the main way Android vendors close security holes exploited by malicious apps or attacks. Even a “quiet” update can cut risks sharply if it patches system-level code.
February 4, 2026
Samsung drops Galaxy S21 from update list as Galaxy S22 moves to quarterly security patches
····

Samsung drops Galaxy S21 from update list as Galaxy S22 moves to quarterly security patches

Samsung Electronics has stopped regular security updates for the Galaxy S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S22 series and the Galaxy S21 FE will now receive quarterly patches, according to Samsung’s Mobile Security website. The company noted that update timing and availability depend on the market, carrier, and specific model. The see-saw is crucial because security patches aren’t just for show. They close vulnerabilities, and the more time passes without updates, the tougher it becomes to claim the phone remains safe for banking apps, work profiles, or simple peace of mind.
February 4, 2026
Android 17 leak shows Google’s “blurry” redesign — plus a new screen recorder
···

Android 17 leak shows Google’s “blurry” redesign — plus a new screen recorder

Leaked screenshots from an internal Android 17 build reveal Google experimenting with a wider blur effect on key system controls, plus a revamped screen recording tool, 9to5Google reports. The images highlight the volume slider and power menu shifting from solid light or dark backgrounds to translucent panels that let wallpaper colors peek through. The build also introduces a new “Lock app” feature and suggests Android’s “Bubbles” — those floating chat-head style shortcuts — may soon extend beyond just conversation apps. This leak is significant as it reveals Google’s direction for Android’s design following the Material 3 Expressive update, which emphasizes motion, layering, and personalization. Minor tweaks to the system interface—the menus you interact with constantly—can influence how manufacturers customize Android
January 27, 2026
Windows 11 January 2026 update chaos: Microsoft probes boot failures as emergency fixes pile up
····

Windows 11 January 2026 update chaos: Microsoft probes boot failures as emergency fixes pile up

Microsoft is looking into reports of certain Windows 11 machines failing to boot after the January security updates, with users encountering the “UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME” stop code. The company says these incidents are limited and affected devices might require manual recovery. So far, no similar issues have been reported on virtual machines. Timing is crucial since many organisations rely on Microsoft’s monthly “Patch Tuesday” updates as a narrow operational window. When a patch renders PCs unbootable, what should be a routine update quickly becomes a desk-by-desk recovery mission—and the costs mount immediately.
January 26, 2026
Google’s “high-friction” Android sideloading update is coming — here’s what changes
·····

Google’s “high-friction” Android sideloading update is coming — here’s what changes

Google confirmed that Android will introduce a “high-friction” process for sideloading apps, adding extra steps when users install apps outside the Play Store. Matthew Forsythe, a Google Play executive, described it as an “Accountability Layer” rather than a restriction. He also reassured that the “Install without verifying” option will stay available for advanced users on Android 8.0 and up. This shift is significant since sideloading, usually involving direct app file installs, has long been a key reason Android users value choice. However, it also opens a door for scammers, who guide users through installs that bypass the Play Store entirely.
January 20, 2026
Samsung’s One UI 8.5 beta just refreshed Good Lock’s Home Up to reshape your Galaxy home screenSEOUL, Jan 20
···

Samsung’s One UI 8.5 beta just refreshed Good Lock’s Home Up to reshape your Galaxy home screenSEOUL, Jan 20

Samsung has begun rolling out a refreshed Home Up module inside its Good Lock customization suite for users on the One UI 8.5 beta, adding new controls for widgets, edge panels and sharing, 9to5Google reported. https://9to5google.com/2026/01/19/one-ui-8-5-home-up-update/ The update lands as Samsung continues testing One UI 8.5 on its Galaxy S25 lineup, with feature tweaks showing up through the Galaxy Store rather than as big system overhauls. In the premium phone market, vendors increasingly fight over software feel — the small, daily frictions.
January 20, 2026
Technology News 20.01.2026
···

Technology News 20.01.2026

ENDEDLive coverage has endedEnded: January 21, 2026, 12:00 AM EST iPhone 18 Dynamic Island rumors collide as leakers dispute left-side camera and under-display Face ID January 20, 2026, 11:58 PM EST. On Jan. 20, initial reports claimed the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 18 Pro would vanish and the front camera move to the left edge. A trio of Apple leakers pushed back: Jon Prosser showed 4K renders with a missing Dynamic Island and a left edge punch hole; Instant Digital countered on Weibo that the claim was a mistranslation and that, while an under-display infrared sensor could sit on
January 20, 2026
Android 16 QPR3 Beta 2 adds tap-to-resize widgets as Google rolls more Pixel fixes
····

Android 16 QPR3 Beta 2 adds tap-to-resize widgets as Google rolls more Pixel fixes

Google introduced plus and minus buttons to resize home-screen widgets in Android 16 QPR3 Beta 2, offering Pixel users a simple tap method rather than dragging widget edges. According to Android Authority, these buttons vanish once a widget reaches its size limits. The update arrives alongside Google’s rollout of Android 16 QPR3 Beta 2, part of the Quarterly Platform Release cycle that ties into Pixel “Feature Drops.” This version reorganizes the System Settings menu into grouped sections. According to Android Central, Google plans to finalize the stable QPR3 release by March 2026.
January 17, 2026
Google Photos could soon add Backup Schedule and Playback Speed controls in a new Expressive UI update (Jan 13, 2026)
·····

Google Photos could soon add Backup Schedule and Playback Speed controls in a new Expressive UI update (Jan 13, 2026)

Google Photos may be preparing a trio of long-requested upgrades that could make the app feel significantly more “user-controlled” on Android: a Backup schedule setting, video playback speed controls, and an optional cleaner Photos grid that hides date separators. The changes were spotted in Google Photos v7.58 through APK teardown work and echoed across multiple tech outlets over the past few days—meaning they’re not official launches yet, but strong signs of what Google is actively building. As of January 13, 2026, the story here isn’t one single official Google announcement—it’s a convergence of APK-teardown reporting pointing to the same direction: Google Photos is being redesigned and may finally be getting the kinds of “quality-of-life” controls people have been asking for.
January 13, 2026
January 2026 Google System Update rolls out: Play services 26.01 brings cross‑device Wallet history, plus Play Store 49.7 and WebView 144 fixes
·····

January 2026 Google System Update rolls out: Play services 26.01 brings cross‑device Wallet history, plus Play Store 49.7 and WebView 144 fixes

Google’s January 2026 Google System updates are rolling out now across Android phones, tablets, Wear OS, TV, Auto, and ChromeOS—highlighting Google Wallet cross‑device transaction history, Play Store reward changes, and Android WebView security fixes. Published: January 13, 2026
January 13, 2026
Nothing Removes Lock Glimpse Lock Screen Ads in Latest Update — Meta Bloatware and App Recommendations Also Get Changes (Jan 10, 2026)
····

Nothing Removes Lock Glimpse Lock Screen Ads in Latest Update — Meta Bloatware and App Recommendations Also Get Changes (Jan 10, 2026)

January 10, 2026 — Nothing is rolling back one of its most controversial software moves: Lock Glimpse, the lock screen “glance” experience that many users saw as lock screen ads. In a new set of changes shared through the company’s community channels, Nothing says it will remove Lock Glimpse from most Nothing Phone Series devices, while also making it easier to fully remove Meta system services and disable app recommendation prompts that appear during setup. Lock Glimpse started as part of Nothing’s push to experiment with “content” on the lock screen — pitched as a feature that could bring fresh wallpapers and “timely updates and useful content,” with the company emphasizing that it’s off by default on some devices and
January 10, 2026
Android 16 Was Boring at Launch — Now Google’s Update Is Packed With Changes
·····

Android 16 Was Boring at Launch — Now Google’s Update Is Packed With Changes

Android 16 has turned from a muted launch into one of Google’s busiest updates in years, with quarterly drops adding a redesign, lock-screen widgets and revamped multitasking, Android Authority wrote on Thursday. The site said the first release on Pixel phones felt like a minor point update, with few consumer changes such as notification cooldown and faster access to Google Wallet from the power button. In an unscientific poll attached to the report, 82% of 239 respondents called Android 16 the best Android version of the past few years. That matters now because Android’s “big update” is no longer a single moment. The version number can land, then the real changes drip in later, which shifts how users judge upgrades
January 9, 2026
Apple rolls out surprise “Background Security” test update for iOS 26.3 and macOS Tahoe 26.3 betas
···

Apple rolls out surprise “Background Security” test update for iOS 26.3 and macOS Tahoe 26.3 betas

Apple has issued a second “Background Security Improvement” update to developers and public beta testers running iOS 26.3, iPadOS 26.3 and macOS Tahoe 26.3, widening a test of a new channel for security protections between full operating system releases. Apple said the feature is designed to bolster Safari, WebKit and other system libraries outside the normal update cadence. The latest iPhone-side builds have been positioned as a systems test, not a response to a newly disclosed flaw. A release note for iOS 26.3 said: “This Background Security Improvement is for testing purposes only and does not contain any security fixes,” and Apple later followed with an iOS 26.3 test update, 9to5Mac reported.
January 9, 2026
1 2 3 4