Get ready, iPhone users! iOS 26 is here, and it's packed with some seriously cool updates. From controlling your phone with just your face to making your photos pop and customizing your lock screen like never before, there's a lot to explore. Let's dive into the top features that will change how you use your iPhone.

Key Takeaways

• Face Tracking Control: Navigate your iPhone using facial gestures like smiling or sticking out your tongue.
• Spatial Photos: Turn any picture into a 3D scene that moves as you tilt your phone.
• Lock Screen Customization: Create dynamic lock screens with spatial photos, customizable widgets, and new clock styles.
• Enhanced Messaging: Combine emojis to create custom stickers and set personalized chat backgrounds.
• Camera and Phone App Upgrades: Get lens cleaning hints and use the new call screening feature to manage unwanted calls.
• Custom Ringtones: Create your own ringtones from YouTube videos.

Control Your iPhone With Your Face

This is one of those features that sounds like science fiction, but it's real. You can now control your entire iPhone using just your face. To set it up, go to Settings > Accessibility, then scroll down to Head Tracking. You can enable "Track with Face" for easier control. The really wild part is assigning actions to facial gestures like smiling, frowning, or sticking out your tongue. For example, you can set a smile to perform a single tap, or sticking out your tongue to open the app switcher. It's surprisingly responsive and works for scrolling through apps like TikTok or Instagram.

Make Your Photos Come Alive

Prepare to be amazed by how your photos can now become 3D spatial scenes. Open the Photos app, find a picture with a clear subject, and tap the new icon at the top. Your photo will transform, and as you tilt your phone, the image will move, making it feel like it's coming to life. This works with most photos, not just those taken on your iPhone, as long as they have some depth. The coolest part? This feature also works for wallpapers, making your lock screen look incredible.

Lock Screen and Home Screen Makeovers

Your lock screen is getting a major upgrade. You can now set those spatial photos as your wallpaper, creating a dynamic and stunning look. Beyond that, you can finally move widgets to appear right under the clock or at the bottom, depending on your wallpaper. The clock itself is more customizable with new font options and a "Glass" style that lets you adjust transparency and color. For those who love variety, the "Photo Shuffle" option will change your wallpaper every time you unlock your phone.

On the home screen, you'll notice a new "glossy" look for app icons and notifications. You can adjust this with a "Clear" option in the edit settings, making icons more transparent. You can even tint them with colors picked from your wallpaper. If this glossy look isn't your style, you can turn off "Reduce Transparency" in Accessibility settings to get a more standard look for your control center and notifications.

Smarter Messaging and Calls

Messages are getting more fun and functional. You can now create custom chat backgrounds, choosing from your own photos or cool animated presets like "Color," "Sky," or "Aurora." Remember, whatever background you pick will also appear on the other person's phone. Inside a chat, you can also turn on automatic translation. Set your language and the other person's language, and your messages will be translated back and forth in real-time.

For the Phone app, a new "Screen Incoming Calls" feature is a game-changer. If you get a call from an unknown number, your iPhone can automatically answer and ask the caller for their name and reason for calling. You'll then see a transcript of their response before deciding whether to answer. Plus, during a call, you can enable live translation, similar to the messaging feature, to communicate with people speaking different languages.

Hidden Gems and Camera Upgrades

There are some clever hidden features to discover. To save battery, look for "Adaptive Power" in the Battery settings. It helps manage power consumption for longer life. In the Music app, turn on "Animated Art" to see album artwork animate on your lock screen when a song plays. And for smoother music playback, switch "Song Transitions" to the new "Automix" option.

The Camera app has also seen improvements. You can now swipe left or right to access all camera modes, and swiping up on the camera screen reveals mode settings. A handy "Lens Cleaning Hint" will pop up if your camera lens is dirty, reminding you to wipe it.

Custom Ringtones and More

Want a unique ringtone? You can now create your own! Go to YouTube, find a song, and use a tool to trim it to under 30 seconds. Download the audio file, then in your Files app, share it and select "Use as Ringtone." It's a bit hidden, but it works! Finally, the Clock app has a refreshed alarm design, making it easier to snooze or stop. You can even customize your snooze duration, choosing exactly how many extra minutes you want.

These iOS 26 features offer a lot of new ways to personalize and streamline your iPhone experience. Give them a try!