Apple Releases iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3 with Improved iPhone to Android Migration, Notification Support for Third-Party Smartwatches in the EU, and More

Apple has today released iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3 to the public, bringing an improved experience when switching to Android, notification support for third-party smartwatches in the European Union, and more.

Resolved VoiceOver Bugs

Our experience is that the following accessibility bug has been resolved in iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3:

• When downloading an app from the App Store, VoiceOver no longer speaks extraneous text prior to the download progress.

New VoiceOver Bugs

We are currently aware of one new VoiceOver bug in these releases:

• When the Eloquence Community Dictionary is Enabled, Eloquence Does Not Speak Mixed-Case Words Like "iOS" Correctly.

An Issue with Dictation

While not a VoiceOver/braille/low-vision issue specifically, we did want to take this opportunity to share that multiple members of our team have observed a significant degradation in the reliability of dictation in iOS 26.3. A Feedback report has been filed. It is currently unclear to us whether this issue extends to Siri and whether it is something Apple can resolve server-side; we recommend that if you rely on Dictation, you do not install this update until the issue is resolved.

If you notice any further changes, improvements, or regressions in your use of these releases, please post a comment below with your findings.

iOS 26.3 Release Notes

This update provides important bug fixes and security updates.

For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit: https://support.apple.com/100100

Some features may not be available for all regions. For more information, please visit: https://www.apple.com/os/ios

Software updates, like this one, add new features and improvements that may affect performance and/or battery life. To learn more, please visit: https://support.apple.com/125039

How to Update

iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3 are available via Over-the-Air Update (Settings > General > Software Update), via Finder on a Mac with macOS Catalina or later, or via iTunes on a PC or Mac with macOS Mojave or earlier.

Before updating, we strongly recommend making a full and complete backup of your device (either locally or in iCloud, depending on personal preference). This will ensure that, in the unlikely event that something goes wrong during the update process, you will have a current backup on hand in case a device restore becomes necessary. Also, if using OTA update, we recommend plugging your device into a power source for the duration of the download/installation process, so as to prevent the unlikely event of your battery going dead during the update.