Apple is set to change its approach to naming the upcoming versions of its major operating systems, according to a report by Bloomberg. The company plans to adopt a new nomenclature that labels updates based on the year they are set to be released.
In a unique twist, the version numbers will correspond to the year following the actual release date, mirroring the automotive industry. This means the forthcoming iOS will be designated iOS 26 rather than iOS 19. Other operating systems that will undergo this rebranding include iPadOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26, as reported by Bloomberg.
The announcement is expected to be made at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), which is scheduled to begin on June 9th. The intent behind this change is to create a more uniform system for Apple’s software versioning, as the current approach features a disparate range of numbers. Current variations include iOS 18, watchOS 12, and visionOS 2.
At the WWDC event, Apple is also anticipated to unveil a significant design refresh for its operating systems, influenced by the aesthetics of the Vision Pro’s visionOS. The keynote will take place on June 9th at 1 PM ET.
