Apple says Background Security Improvements are controlled by a single “Automatically Install” switch in Privacy & Security on iPhone, iPad and Mac, and that switch should be on if you want the fixes as soon as they ship. According to Apple’s support document, the feature is supported and enabled for future releases starting with iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1 and macOS 26.1, which takes in iOS 27 and macOS 27.
It takes under a minute to check. Here is what the feature does, where the setting lives and the one Mac setup that does not get these fixes at all.
What Background Security Improvements are
In its support document on Background Security Improvements, Apple says they deliver “additional security protections between software updates.” They are lightweight security releases for components such as the Safari browser, the WebKit framework stack and other system libraries that benefit from smaller, ongoing patches.
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In practice, that means a fix for a Safari or WebKit flaw can reach your device without waiting for the next full iOS or macOS point release. We covered the launch of the system when Apple moved security updates to the background in iOS 26.1.
Apple also notes that in rare cases of compatibility issues, a Background Security Improvement may be temporarily removed and then enhanced in a later software update.
How to check the setting on iPhone and iPad
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap Privacy & Security.
- Tap Background Security Improvements.
- Make sure Automatically Install is turned on.
How to check the setting on Mac
- Choose Apple menu, then System Settings.
- Click Privacy & Security.
- Go to Background Security Improvements.
- Make sure Automatically Install is turned on.
The setting sits in the same place on all three platforms, so if you manage a family’s devices, it is the same steps everywhere.
What happens if you turn it off
Apple is clear about the trade-off. If you turn off Automatically Install, your device will not receive these improvements until they are included in a later software update.
So switching it off does not stop the fixes forever. It only delays them until the next regular iOS, iPadOS or macOS update rolls them in. For most people there is little reason to wait, since the patches target the browser and web components you use all day.
What happens if you remove one
You can also remove a Background Security Improvement after it has been applied. Apple says that if you do, your device reverts to the baseline software update, using iOS 26.3 as its example, with no Background Security Improvements applied.
That is worth knowing if an app or website starts misbehaving right after one installs. Removing it is a clean step back to the version you had before, not a partial rollback.
The Mac exception: external startup disks
There is one setup where the feature does not work. On Mac, Apple says Background Security Improvements are available only when you start your Mac from its built-in storage.
If you boot your Mac from an external storage device, it receives these improvements as part of a later software update instead. Anyone running macOS from an external SSD should keep that in mind and install regular updates promptly.
Where Apple lists each release
Apple publishes a Background Security Improvements by date page with the components patched in each release. When a release has CVE details, Apple also publishes a security advisory and adds it to its security releases page.
At the time of writing, that page lists one release:
| Release | Available for | Components patched | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|
| iOS 26.3.1 (a), iPadOS 26.3.1 (a), macOS 26.3.1 (a), macOS 26.3.2 (a) | iOS 26.3.1, iPadOS 26.3.1, macOS 26.3.1, macOS 26.3.2 | WebKit | 17 Mar 2026 |
Each release carries a letter in brackets after the version number, as in iOS 26.3.1 (a). We covered that first release when Apple shipped iOS 26.3.1 (a) for iPhone.
Quick checklist
- Settings (or System Settings on Mac), then Privacy & Security, then Background Security Improvements.
- Automatically Install should be on.
- On Mac, start up from the built-in drive to receive them.
- Removing one takes you back to the baseline update, and turning the switch off delays fixes until the next full update.
