Apple Says iOS 26 Can Reserve Space for Automatic Software Updates - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Apple Says iOS 26 Can Reserve Space for Automatic Software Updates

iOS 26 can dynamically reserve space for automatic updates, according to Apple.

iOS 26 Feature
"Depending on the amount of free space available, iOS might dynamically reserve update space for Automatic Updates to download and install successfully," says Apple's release notes for the first iOS 26 developer beta.

This change will ensure that iPhone users who have Automatic Updates turned on in the Settings app actually have enough storage space available for those updates to download and install. However, Apple has not shared any further information about this capability at this time, so it is unclear exactly how it works.

Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26
Related Forum: iOS 26

Popular Stories

iOS 26 6 2

Apple Releases iOS 26.6.2

Tuesday September 8, 2026 10:47 am PDT by
Apple today released iOS 26.6.2 with a fix for "an issue that prevents downloading a software update over a cellular connection." The minor software update is rolling out now for the iPhone 11 series and newer. To update your iPhone, open the Settings app and tap on General → Software Update. It might take a few minutes for the update to be visible to everyone. iOS 26.6.2 arrives...
ios 26 7

Apple Releases iOS 26.7 With Security Fixes

Monday September 14, 2026 10:32 am PDT by
Alongside iOS 27, Apple today released iOS 26.7, an update to the existing iOS 26 software. Users who check for new software will see iOS 26.7 as the default update, with iOS 27 listed as an option at the bottom of the Software Update interface. According to Apple's release notes, iOS 26.7 includes security fixes, but it does not have any other features. Apple will eventually show iOS 27 ...
apple lock security bug vulnerability fix privacy

iOS 27 and iOS 26.7 Fix More Than 100 Security Bugs

Monday September 14, 2026 11:36 am PDT by
Today's iOS 27 update addresses over 100 security vulnerabilities, which is a good reason to install the new software. If you don't want to update to iOS 27 yet, Apple also released iOS 26.7 with over 80 security fixes. 75 of the fixes are shared across both updates, so iOS 26.7 addresses many of the same issues. There are multiple kernel fixes, including one that could allow a malicious...

Top Rated Comments

gleepskip Avatar
17 months ago
I hope this feature magically works on my mother-in-law's 32 GB iPad.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sw1tcher Avatar
17 months ago

"Depending on the amount of free space available, iOS might dynamically reserve update space for Automatic Updates to download and install successfully," says Apple's release notes for the first iOS 26 developer beta.

This change will ensure that iPhone users who have Automatic Updates turned on in the Settings app actually have enough storage space available for those updates to download and install. However, Apple has not shared any further information about this capability at this time, so it is unclear exactly how it works.
Cheaper than increasing iPhone storage capacity by making 256GB the minimum across all iPhones and not just the Pro Max

#margins
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Yr Blues Avatar
17 months ago

Eh, even with Apple we're less and less the user and more and more the product.
We've added a new feature. Your iPhone will automatically purchase the next iPhone for you. I hope you like this innovation as much as we do! ;)
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mousse Avatar
17 months ago
Here's a crazy idea. Add an microSD slot to the iPhone/iPad for stuff like photos and videos. You don't need super high speed storage for the thousands of photos that lives on you devices. Save that fast storage for apps. You'll have plenty of space available for OTA updates.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
17 months ago
Interesting. Have not kept automatic updates on my devices turned on. I always wait a couple of days at least before updating to see if there are any major problems reported.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BelgianChoklit Avatar
17 months ago
Same kinda of automatic updates as the App Store's automatic updates that only updates apps 17 years after they're made available?
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)