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iOS 26 officially launched: Six major updates reshape the App Store ecosystem and developer experience
2025-09-28
Apple officially rolled out the iOS 26 operating system update to users on September 16. This update marks a change in Apple's OS naming strategy, unifying the major system version number to "26," aiming to establish clearer consistency and make it easier for users to intuitively identify the generation of each platform.
The new system supports iPhone 11 and later models, but some new features require iPhone 12 or even newer models to be fully experienced. The following will provide a detailed overview of the major updates in iOS 26 and their impact on developers.
01. Downward shift of the App Store search box and optimization of ad slots
iOS 26 has redesigned the App Store's search interface, moving the search bar from the top to the bottom, significantly simplifying the one-handed operation experience. Meanwhile, the tabs (Today/Games/Apps) now use a collapsible display, making the interface even cleaner.
Ad spaces have also been moved upward simultaneously to achieve a "sticky" effect, enhancing the visibility of search tag ads and making ad placements in search results more prominent. These changes will directly impact users' search behavior and ad-viewing habits.
Impact on developers and adaptation recommendations
Statistics show that nearly 65% of app downloads occur after users search in the App Store, further enhancing the traffic value of the search page. Developers should fully leverage the early adopter period of the new system, promptly adjust ad creatives, highlight iOS 26 compatibility features, and seize this high-traffic window to improve customer acquisition efficiency.
Must-do items for developers
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Optimize ad creatives: Design more eye-catching ad creatives for the new positions on search tags and result pages
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Utilize custom product pages: Create targeted landing pages for different ad placements to achieve a precise match between search intent and creatives
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Adjust keyword strategy: Combine natural language search trends and increase投放of long-tail keywords.
02. Standalone app "Apple Games" launched
iOS 26 introduced a new app called Apple Games, which integrates all gaming resources on the iOS platform, providing a unified entry point and pre-installed on all iPhone and iPad devices. The app uses a card-style display of results, unlike the traditional list format of the App Store, and includes rich elements such as name, category, and screenshots.
Impact on developers and adaptation recommendations
Game developers need to set the app category to "Games" in App Store Connect to automatically appear in Apple Games. It's worth noting that the App Store Hot List includes a redirect prompt that says, "Explore more games in Apple Games," and this traffic-driving mechanism provides game apps with new exposure opportunities.
Must-do items for developers
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Optimize game metadata: Ensure that metadata such as the game name, icon, screenshots, and description are attractive, so they stand out in card-style displays.
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Adapt to social features: Explore the social features of Apple Games (such as friend leaderboards and achievement sharing), and consider how to integrate the game's social elements with them.
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Focus on cross-platform experience: Ensure the game provides a consistently good experience on both iPhone and iPad devices.
03. Age Rating System Upgrade Implemented
iOS 26 has made significant adjustments to the age rating system, changing it from the original four tiers (4+/9+/12+/17+) to five tiers (4+/9+/13+/16+/18+), and removing the 12+ and 17+ categories. Apple has automatically re-evaluated all apps based on historical data, and the new ratings will be displayed on iOS 26 devices.
For adapting to the new age rating system, you can refer to our previous articles for the specific setup process:Apple App Store's age rating system undergoes a major update; overdue apps cannot be updated.
Impact on developers and adaptation recommendations
This change requires developers to evaluate app content more carefully and ensure rating accuracy. Incorrect ratings may result in apps being restricted or removed, affecting user access and revenue.
Must-do items for developers
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Verify automatic grading now: Check whether automatic ratings match the content, paying special attention to whether violent content has been mislabeled.
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Submit the new questionnaire on time.: The new questionnaire must be completed by January 31, 2026; otherwise, application updates cannot be submitted.
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Comprehensive content Ratings: Review all content in the app to ensure compliance with the new rating standards.
04. App accessibility label goes live
iOS 26 has added an accessibility tab to app product pages, clearly displaying support for nine accessibility features, including VoiceOver, larger text, voice control, and more. This feature aims to enhance the accessibility experience, making it easier for users with visual impairments and other disabilities to find suitable apps.
Impact on developers and adaptation recommendations
These tags will be included in the search index, meaning that apps supporting "larger fonts" will be displayed preferentially when users search for relevant keywords. Developers should carefully evaluate and accurately label their apps' accessibility features, as this is not only a social responsibility but also an opportunity to attract new users.
Must-do items for developers
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Assess Accessibility: Thoroughly test the app's accessibility support, such as VoiceOver compatibility and font scaling adaptation.
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Accurate labeling feature: Accurately label implemented accessibility features in App Store Connect; misleading labels may trigger review.
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Optimize accessibility experience: Ensure that all core features are accessible through accessibility features to enhance app inclusivity
05. Design Specification Innovation: Liquid Glass
iOS 26 introduces a brand-new design language called "Liquid Glass." This system-level design specification extensively uses translucent glass materials, allowing interface elements to reflect or refract light from the surrounding environment, creating dynamic and responsive visual effects.
System-level app icons have been redrawn, and a transparent style icon option is provided. Although third-party app icons won't be automatically redrawn, the system will outline them to achieve a similar floating effect.
Impact on developers and adaptation recommendations
This design language requires developers to reassess how app interfaces perform in the new-age system. Transparency and glass-like designs may affect content readability, necessitating comprehensive testing.
Must-do items for developers
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Check icon compatibility: Be sure to test the display effect of the app icon on the new translucent design background on a real device.
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Test UI components: Thoroughly test the translucency effect of the application interface (especially pages with complex backgrounds) to ensure text readability and controllability of the controls.
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Adapts to multiple theme modes: Ensure that the app icon and interface provide a cohesive visual experience in both light and dark modes.
06. Apple Intelligence Open Capabilities
iOS 26 further expands Apple Intelligence capabilities, providing developers with more on-device intelligent processing features. Through the Foundation Models framework, developers can call AI-related APIs and integrate intelligent functions such as text generation and image analysis into their own applications.
The real-time translation feature has been deeply integrated into Messages, FaceTime, and Phone, with all processing completed on-device to protect user privacy. Visual Intelligence capabilities have also been enhanced, enabling recognition of on-screen content and providing relevant action suggestions, as well as supporting cross-app searches.
Impact on developers and adaptation recommendations
This update significantly reduces the development costs of integrating AI features, making it particularly suitable for scenarios such as automation, real-time translation, and content summarization. Developers can now explore how to incorporate AI capabilities into their own applications to enhance user experience.
Must-do items for developers
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Explore the possibilities of AI integration: Study the AI-related APIs provided by iOS 26 and explore scenarios for integrating intelligent features into applications.
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Adaptive screen content analysis: Consider adapting the "screen content analysis" feature and developing innovative functions such as "create reminders based on screenshots"
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Please note regional restrictions.: Please note that for users in mainland China, the Apple Intelligence AI features are not enabled in this system version. If your application heavily relies on these AI features, you need to develop corresponding alternative solutions.
The official version of iOS 26 has been released. Developers are advised to prioritize upgrading on test devices and thoroughly check for compatibility issues with existing apps. Pay special attention to UI adaptation under the new Liquid Glass design language, the potential integration of new system APIs, and ensure compliance with the latest privacy and security guidelines.
Apple usually closes the verification channel for older versions shortly after releasing a new system, but downgrading is not a long-term solution to compatibility issues. Actively adapting to the new system is the key to fully leveraging its new features and capabilities.
In the era of intelligent app store distribution, accurately acquiring users is the key to success. AppFast provides professional ASO optimization services, deeply empowering growth on both the App Store and Google Play. Through precise metadata strategies, user review management, and end-to-end optimization solutions, we significantly enhance your app's keyword coverage and rankings, optimize conversion paths, and drive organic growth of high-quality users. Conduct a metadata diagnosis now and seize the traffic advantage!
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