WWDC 2025 kicked off Monday and as in previous years, the company focused on software updates and new technologies, including the next version of iOS, called iOS 26.
This year, there was considerable pressure on the company to build on its promises and to make amends to developers as it lags behind in AI and faces continued legal challenges over its App Store.
iOS 26 is the most dramatic design change in over a decade
When Apple introduced a major overhaul to iOS back in 2013 with the launch of iOS 7, it felt jarring for many users with the shift from the prior skeuomorphic design with gradients and real-world textures to the more colorful, but flat, design style that reflected Apple’s then chief design officer Jony Ive’s taste for minimalism.
At WWDC 2025, the company announced a refreshed user interface called Liquid Glass, which features shiny, reflective, and transparent visual interface elements that give the software a more “glassy” look and feel.
The Liquid Glass display is translucent and will behave like glass in the real world. The color of the screen is informed by your content and will adapt between light and dark environments. In addition, alerts appear from where you tap, context menus expand into a scannable list when you scroll and tap.
The Lock Screen and Home Screen are getting updates that align with the overall aesthetic of Liquid Glass.
iOS 26, a new naming scheme
Instead of using system names like iOS 19 and macOS 19, Apple will now use the year as part of the name. This means all its operating systems will be called iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, tvOS 26, watchOS 26, and visionOS 26.
A dedicated Games app
Apple unveiled a new dedicated gaming app that is designed to centralize gaming experiences on Apple devices. The app will serve as a launcher for games and allow users to track achievements and view leaderboards.
The Games app will also include social features, including a “Play Together” tab that lets you see what your friends are playing, compare scores, and invite them to play with you. There’s also “Challenges,” which is a new way to compete with friends in score-based showdowns.
MacOS, iPadOS, watchOS, visionOS, and tvOS updates
Apple showed off watchOS 26, the upcoming software overhaul for the Apple Watch. It will launch with a redesigned interface based on Apple’s new Liquid Glass operating system, a wrist-flick gesture, a new Apple Intelligence-powered Workout Buddy fitness feature, and more.
Apple TV is also getting a redesign, featuring a Liquid Glass aesthetic that offers a sleek and “unobtrusive” design, the company said. One of the standout features is the ability to quickly jump into a user profile. Apple TV will now present profile options each time it wakes from sleep, making it more convenient for each family member to select their profile and quickly resume watching their own favorite shows and movies. There’s also a karaoke feature.
MacOS 26, which the company calls Tahoe, is getting some upgrades as well, in addition to the new Liquid Glass aesthetic will include an AI-powered Shortcuts app.
iPad OS will make the iPad feel like a Mac, including a new Preview feature that gives users a range of tools, including markup using Apple Pencil and AutoFill. Users can also export images in different formats.
And along with updates to visionOS, Apple’s Vision Pro AR/VR headset is getting a couple of new accessories: a Logitech Muse stylus and PlayStation’s VR2 Sense controller compatibility.
Updates to CarPlay and AirPods, too
While leaks suggested more gestures and other additions, Apple announced that the AirPods lineup would be getting two key features: studio-quality audio recording and camera remote. It’s also getting a camera remote.
Three of the biggest additions to CarPlay will be widgets and live activities, as well as the ability to choose a “tapback” response to incoming messages. Users will now also be able to pin their favorite conversations, just like in iMessage.
Apple Wallet, polls, Maps, and more
Other smaller features were announced as well, like new travel-friendly features for Apple Wallet; polls in iMessages; lyrics translation and pronunciation features; and Maps will learn your commute.
This story was originally published on June 5 and was updated significantly with all the announcements from WWDC 2025 on June 9.
