Apple has released iOS 26.3, which brings a new tool for transitioning from an Apple device to an Android device, and some features only to iPhones covered by European Union regulations.
Transfer to Android
iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3’s new “Transfer to Android” tool lets users transfer photos, notes, messages, apps and other data to an Android phone but doesn’t do anything with health data, protected notes or photos.
There’s also a new option to forward notifications from an iPhone or iPad to another device, but only for users in the EU.
Whether third-party apps can have their data transferred is tied to the AppMigrationKit developer framework that Apple introduced in iOS 26.1.
Apps using this framework can import and export data to and from other devices and also access and download content the app has stored in the cloud.
Apple notes that AppMigrationKit only functions for transfers from an Apple device to a non-Apple device; Apple already has several systems in place for preserving and transferring data and settings when upgrading from one iPhone to another.
The transfer system will rely on the target Android phone also supporting the feature; on Google’s end, the Data Transfer API was only added in the recent “QPR2” update to Android 16, released in early December.
Notification Forwarding
Another iOS 26.3 update is also aimed at interoperability, though it may only apply to iPhones covered by European Union regulations.
Notification forwarding will send your iPhone’s notifications to third-party accessories, including Google’s Android-based Wear OS smartwatches.
Once the setting is enabled, users will be able to decide which apps can forward notifications to the third-party device.
Apple currently allows notifications to be forwarded to only one device at a time, and forwarding notifications to a third-party device means you can’t send them to an Apple Watch.
Limit precise location
iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3 are introducing a feature for some newer devices with Apple’s in-house C1 and C1X modems: a “limit precise location” toggle that Apple says “enhances your location privacy by reducing the precision of location data available to cellular networks.”
With this setting turned on, some information made available to cellular networks is limited. As a result, they might be able to determine only a less precise location — for example, the neighbourhood where your device is located, rather than a more precise location (such as a street address). The setting doesn’t impact signal quality or user experience.
The limit precise location setting doesn’t impact the precision of the location data that is shared with emergency responders during an emergency call.
This setting affects only the location data available to cellular networks. It doesn’t impact the location data that you share with apps through Location Services. For example, it has no impact on sharing your location with friends and family with Find My.
Support for the feature is limited with only the iPhone Air, iPhone 16e, or the M5 iPad Pro offering the toggle; devices like the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and older phones with Qualcomm or Intel modems won’t support the feature.
Carrier support is even more limited with only the following carriers supporting the feature at launch.
- Germany: Telekom
- Thailand: AIS, True
- United Kingdom: EE, BT
- United States: Boost Mobile
iOS 26.3 Security Updates
iOS 26.3 fixes 39 security flaws — one of which is already being used in real-life attacks.
The already-exploited issue in iOS 26.3 is a flaw in dyld, also known as Dynamic Link Editor — a component of the operating system in macOS and iOS responsible for loading and linking dynamic libraries at runtime.
Using the vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2026-20700, an attacker could execute arbitrary code.
“Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been exploited in an extremely sophisticated attack against specific targeted individuals on versions of iOS before iOS 26,” Apple says.
Accessibility
Available for: iPhone 11 and later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 8th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: An attacker with physical access to a locked device may be able to view sensitive user information
Description: An inconsistent user interface issue was addressed with improved state management.
Accessibility
Available for: iPhone 11 and later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 8th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: An attacker with physical access to a locked device may be able to view sensitive user information
Description: A privacy issue was addressed by removing sensitive data.
Bluetooth
Available for: iPhone 11 and later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 8th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: An attacker in a privileged network position may be able to perform denial-of-service attack using crafted Bluetooth packets
Description: A denial-of-service issue was addressed with improved validation.
Call History
Available for: iPhone 11 and later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 8th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: A user with Live Caller ID app extensions turned off could have identifying information leaked to the extensions
Description: A logic issue was addressed with improved checks.
CFNetwork
Available for: iPhone 11 and later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 8th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: A remote user may be able to write arbitrary files
Description: A path handling issue was addressed with improved logic.
CoreAudio
Available for: iPhone 11 and later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 8th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: Processing a maliciously crafted media file may lead to unexpected app termination or corrupt process memory
Description: An out-of-bounds access issue was addressed with improved bounds checking.
CoreMedia
Available for: iPhone 11 and later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 8th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: Processing a maliciously crafted file may lead to a denial-of-service or potentially disclose memory contents
Description: The issue was addressed with improved memory handling.
CoreServices
Available for: iPhone 11 and later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 8th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: An app may be able to gain root privileges
Description: A race condition was addressed with improved state handling.
Available for: iPhone 11 and later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 8th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: An app may be able to gain root privileges
Description: A path handling issue was addressed with improved validation.
Available for: iPhone 11 and later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 8th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: An app may be able to access sensitive user data
Description: An issue existed in the handling of environment variables. This issue was addressed with improved validation.
dyld
Available for: iPhone 11 and later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 8th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: An attacker with memory write capability may be able to execute arbitrary code. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been exploited in an extremely sophisticated attack against specific targeted individuals on versions of iOS before iOS 26. CVE-2025-14174 and CVE-2025-43529 were also issued in response to this report.
Description: A memory corruption issue was addressed with improved state management.
Game Center
Available for: iPhone 11 and later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 8th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: A user may be able to view sensitive user information
Description: A logging issue was addressed with improved data redaction.
ImageIO
Available for: iPhone 11 and later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 8th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: Processing a maliciously crafted image may lead to disclosure of user information
Description: The issue was addressed with improved bounds checks.
Available for: iPhone 11 and later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 8th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: Processing a maliciously crafted image may result in disclosure of process memory
Description: The issue was addressed with improved memory handling.
Kernel
Available for: iPhone 11 and later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 8th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: An app may be able to cause unexpected system termination
Description: The issue was addressed with improved memory handling.
Available for: iPhone 11 and later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 8th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: A malicious app may be able to gain root privileges
Description: This issue was addressed with improved checks.
Available for: iPhone 11 and later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 8th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: An attacker in a privileged network position may be able to intercept network traffic
Description: A logic issue was addressed with improved checks.
LaunchServices
Available for: iPhone 11 and later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 8th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: An app may be able to enumerate a user’s installed apps
Description: The issue was resolved by sanitizing logging.
libexpat
Available for: iPhone 11 and later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 8th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: Processing a maliciously crafted file may lead to a denial-of-service
Description: This is a vulnerability in open source code and Apple Software is among the affected projects. The CVE-ID was assigned by a third party. Learn more about the issue and CVE-ID at cve.org.
libxpc
Available for: iPhone 11 and later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 8th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: An app may be able to break out of its sandbox
Description: A logic issue was addressed with improved checks.
Live Captions
Available for: iPhone 11 and later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 8th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: An attacker with physical access to a locked device may be able to view sensitive user information
Description: An authorization issue was addressed with improved state management.
Messages
Available for: iPhone 11 and later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 8th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: A shortcut may be able to bypass sandbox restrictions
Description: A race condition was addressed with improved handling of symbolic links.
Photos
Available for: iPhone 11 and later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 8th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: A person with physical access to an iOS device may be able to access photos from the lock screen
Description: An input validation issue was addressed.
Sandbox
Available for: iPhone 11 and later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 8th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: An app may be able to break out of its sandbox
Description: A permissions issue was addressed with additional restrictions.
Sandbox Profiles
Available for: iPhone 11 and later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 8th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: An app may be able to access sensitive user data
Description: An authorization issue was addressed with improved state management.
Screenshots
Available for: iPhone 11 and later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 8th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: An attacker may be able to discover a user’s deleted notes
Description: A logic issue was addressed with improved state management.
Shortcuts
Available for: iPhone 11 and later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 8th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: An app may be able to access sensitive user data
Description: A parsing issue in the handling of directory paths was addressed with improved path validation.
Spotlight
Available for: iPhone 11 and later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 8th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: A sandboxed app may be able to access sensitive user data
Description: The issue was addressed with additional restrictions on the observability of app states.
StoreKit
Available for: iPhone 11 and later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 8th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: An app may be able to identify what other apps a user has installed
Description: A privacy issue was addressed with improved checks.
UIKit
Available for: iPhone 11 and later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 8th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: An app may be able to bypass certain Privacy preferences
Description: This issue was addressed by removing the vulnerable code.
Available for: iPhone 11 and later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 8th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: An attacker with physical access to iPhone may be able to take and view screenshots of sensitive data from the iPhone during iPhone Mirroring with Mac
Description: An inconsistent user interface issue was addressed with improved state management.
VoiceOver
Available for: iPhone 11 and later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 8th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: An attacker with physical access to a locked device may be able to view sensitive user information
Description: An authorization issue was addressed with improved state management.
WebKit
Available for: iPhone 11 and later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 8th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: A remote attacker may be able to cause a denial-of-service
Description: The issue was addressed with improved memory handling.
Available for: iPhone 11 and later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 8th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to an unexpected process crash
Description: This issue was addressed through improved state management.
Available for: iPhone 11 and later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 8th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: A website may be able to track users through Safari web extensions
Description: This issue was addressed through improved state management.
Available for: iPhone 11 and later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 8th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to an unexpected process crash
Description: The issue was addressed with improved memory handling.
Wi-Fi
Available for: iPhone 11 and later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 8th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: An app may be able to cause unexpected system termination or corrupt kernel memory
Description: The issue was addressed with improved memory handling.
iOS 26.3 Supported Devices
- iPhone 17
- iPhone 17 Pro
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- iPhone Air
- iPhone 16
- iPhone 16 Plus
- iPhone 16 Pro
- iPhone 16 Pro Max
- iPhone 15
- iPhone 15 Plus
- iPhone 15 Pro
- iPhone 15 Pro Max
- iPhone 14
- iPhone 14 Plus
- iPhone 14 Pro
- iPhone 14 Pro Max
- iPhone 13
- iPhone 13 mini
- iPhone 13 Pro
- iPhone 13 Pro Max
- iPhone 12
- iPhone 12 mini
- iPhone 12 Pro
- iPhone 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 11
- iPhone 11 Pro
- iPhone 11 Pro Max
- iPhone Xs
- iPhone XS Max
To update to iOS 26.3 go to your iPhone Settings > General > Software Update and install 26.3 as soon as you possibly can.
