Please read before September 14, 2025
Hello friends and technologically loved ones. Yesterday, Apple held their annual post-Labor day iPhone-centric presentation, and notably introduced the iPhone 17 Air.
However, we’re going to tell you all about what they said tomorrow, because today we want to express a word of caution about imminent operating system updates.
The next versions of Apple’s operating systems for Mac, iPhone and iPad, all numbered 26 (for 2026), with macOS also being named “Tahoe,” arrive in four days, September 15. These are major updates that represent the first overhaul of these products’ user interfaces in many years.
We recommend that you hold off on installing these right away. This is because there may well be bugs and rough spots that Apple will need to iron out via updates. And, even if there aren’t serious issues, the changes in appearance may be jarring, so deferring lets you adapt on your own schedule.
Disable Auto-Update
Your computers and devices may be set to automatically update. Normally, that’s a good thing, but right now, we recommend you disable that.
You can check on an iPhone or iPad at: Settings > General > Software Update > Automatic Updates. Turn off iOS (or iPadOS) Updates for both “Automatically Install” and “Automatically Download”. Turn on or leave on Security Responses & System Files. While you’re in there, back out at the top level of Settings, tap on your name at the top, tap on iCloud, tap iCloud Backup, and make sure, under the Blue “Back Up Now” link, that you’ve had a backup in the last 24-48 hours. If not, tap Back Up Now, and check an hour later; if you still don’t have a current backup, let us know. (If you intentionally don’t use iCloud Backup and instead back up to your Mac with a cable, that’s fine; now would be a good time to do that.)
On a Mac, go to Apple Menu > System Settings > General > Software Updates. Click the little “i” next to Automatic Updates. Turn off Download New Updates When Available and Install macOS Updates. Turn on or leave on Install Application Updates from the App Store (optional) and Install Security Responses and System Files (strongly suggested). If you see “System Preferences” in the Apple menu rather than “System Settings,” you’re on an old version of macOS; please contact us for guidance. This would also be a good time to verify that you have a current Time Machine, Carbon Copy Cloner, BackBlaze, or CrashPlan backup; if you’re not sure, please let us know and we’ll be glad to help.
It is usually safe to install the new versions of iOS and iPadOS by December 1, and macOS by January 1. You can also always email us to ask! Check that your backups are current before you go for it.
If you are not on the latest versions of iOS/iPadOS (18.x) and macOS (15.x), now is an excellent time to update, before September 15. You are unlikely to notice disruption or changes, but if you do, we can help smooth them out, and these operating system versions are now mature and largely trouble-free. You can check to see what version you have on iPhone/iPad in Settings > General > About, and on a Mac in Apple Menu > About This Mac; at the time of this writing, iOS/iPadOS are on version 18.6.2. If you’re on anything lower, use the above guidance to check that your backup is current, then go to, on iPhone/iPad, Settings > General > Software Update and install whatever it has available for you. On Mac, it’s at Apple Menu > System Settings > General > Software Update > Check For Updates (or it might already say it has one for you); at the time of this writing, macOS is on version 15.6.1.
If what you are being offered is lower than iOS/iPadOS 18.x, or macOS 15.x (i.e. iOS 17, or macOS 14), Apple has deemed your device too old to keep current. Consider upgrading your hardware; we’re happy to advise whether it’s necessary, and if so, to what. We’re also happy to help you eke out a little more use, unless your computer or device is so old it doesn’t make sense.
If you’re reading this after September 15, you still have the option of staying “one behind” on your operating system on your Mac; and there will usually be a window, typically of about a month, where you can do so on iPhone/iPad. So, on iPhone/iPad under Settings > General > Software Update, you should see an option (if Apple has kept consistent with recent years) to update to the latest version of iOS 18.x (though if you’re below iOS/iPadOS 18, you won’t get that option, and you should probably stay where you are until you’re ready to go to iOS/iPadOS 26). On a Mac, at any time, you can go to this link: https://support.apple.com/en-us/102662 and on that page, click on “Sequoia 15”.
(September 2025)