iOS 26.5 is likely one of the last meaningful point updates before Apple turns attention to iOS 27 at WWDC 2026. On paper, it looks like a routine late-cycle release: encrypted RCS messaging, new Pride Luminance wallpapers, Maps changes, bug fixes, and a long list of security patches.
Apple released iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 on May 11, 2026, and their security notes list fixes across areas such as Accelerate, AppleJPEG, ImageIO, Kernel, Shortcuts, Spotlight, WebKit, and more.
But the public reaction has been more mixed than the release notes suggest. iPhone users are reporting stuttering, battery drain, overheating, keyboard glitches, RCS issues, Siri issues, app-sharing bugs, and odd UI behavior after installing iOS 26.5. Some users say the update improved performance or battery life, so this does not appear to be a universal problem. Still, enough reports have surfaced to make iOS 26.5 feel like a rough late-cycle update for some iPhone owners.
What iOS 26.5 added before the bugs started getting attention
Before getting into the problems, it is worth noting what changed in iOS 26.5. The update brings end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging between iPhone and Android users, although availability may depend on carrier support and compatible Google Messages support on Android. Users should see lock indicators or encryption labels when the feature is active.
The update also adds a new Pride Luminance wallpaper, Maps advertising and Suggested Places changes, and security fixes. iOS 26.5 patched more than 50 security flaws, which makes the update important even for users worried about bugs.
That makes the situation tricky. iOS 26.5 includes security fixes users should not ignore, but some iPhone owners are now weighing those fixes against everyday problems that affect typing, scrolling, battery life, messaging, and app stability.
1. Stutters, sluggish performance, and ProMotion issues
One of the most repeated complaints after iOS 26.5 is sluggishness. On Reddit’s r/iPhone, a user asked whether iOS 26.5 had been “noticeably buggy,” and another user replied that it was not fully broken for them, but felt “a bit sluggish.” A second commenter said they had “horrible stutters” until rebooting the following day, after which performance improved.
A similar complaint appeared in r/iOS, where a user described iOS 26.5 as a bad update with “stutter errors” and unusual activation requests. This suggests that for some users, the issue is not limited to one app or one animation, but affects the overall feel of the system after updating.
The more specific report comes from r/iOS26. A post titled “Stuter in every app ip17” says that after updating to iOS 26.5, the user saw stutter in every app and felt ProMotion was not working properly on an iPhone 17. The complaint focused on scrolling, where the user said there were too many stutters despite buying the device partly for ProMotion.
This is the kind of bug users notice immediately because it affects the basic feel of the iPhone. A high-refresh-rate display loses much of its advantage when scrolling feels uneven. For some users, a restart appears to help, but that does not mean the issue is fully resolved for everyone.
2. Battery drain after updating to iOS 26.5
Battery life reports are split, but negative reports are easy to find. In r/iOS26, one iPhone 16e user said iOS 26.4.2 felt slower but had great battery life and no heating issue. After updating to iOS 26.5, the same user said the phone felt faster, but battery life went down and heating returned.
On X, the battery discussion is also mixed. Apple Hub asked users whether battery life was better or worse with iOS 26.5, drawing hundreds of replies, which shows that battery performance has become one of the main post-update talking points. Some users reported improvements, including one iPhone 16 Plus user who said battery life had significantly improved after iOS 26.5. Others went the opposite way, with one X user claiming iOS 26.5 made battery life worse and did not even reach six hours of screen-on time.
This kind of split is common after iOS updates. Battery life can look worse for a day or two because the iPhone may be reindexing files, updating app data, processing photos, or recalculating system tasks in the background. But when users report heat and battery drain together, especially after the first 24 to 48 hours, it becomes worth watching.
3. Heating issues are back for some users
The heating complaint appears tied to battery drain in several reports. The r/iOS26 iPhone 16e report is the clearest example: the user said there was no heating issue on iOS 26.4.2, but after iOS 26.5, the “heating issue is back.”
Another r/iOS26 post titled “Another pesky 26.5 bug” said icons “re spring” when the device heats up. The wording suggests SpringBoard, the iPhone’s home screen process, may be restarting or visually refreshing when the phone gets hot. That is not the same as a full phone crash, but it can feel like a mini-reset when icons reload or the interface briefly refreshes.
Heating after a major update is not always a defect, but iOS 26.5 is not a full annual release. It is a point update near the end of the iOS 26 cycle, so users are less forgiving when basic thermal behavior feels worse than the previous build.
4. Predictive text appears in the wrong place in Messages
A very specific keyboard bug appeared in r/iOS under the thread “26.5 is still buggy.” The user said predictive text in Messages appears at the bottom of the screen when switching between apps, then moves back to its correct position after the app is selected.
This is not a catastrophic bug, but it is the kind of UI glitch that makes iOS feel unfinished. Predictive text is part of the everyday typing experience, and when it jumps around during app switching, it breaks the polish users expect from an iPhone update.
This also fits a broader pattern from iOS 26 feedback. MacRumors forum users have discussed keyboard accuracy and lag since earlier iOS 26 builds, with one user asking whether reduced accuracy, lag, and other keyboard issues had been resolved before jumping from iOS 18.
5. RCS issues across Mac, iPad, and Apple Watch
Encrypted RCS is one of the biggest new additions in iOS 26.5, but it is also involved in one of the more practical complaints. On Forums, a thread titled “Anyone else having problems with RCS, iOS 26.5 and macOS 26.5” includes users saying they could send RCS messages from the iPhone after updating, but not from Mac, iPad, or Apple Watch.
One user said they found a workaround by going to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options on the iPhone and turning off “Limit IP Address Tracking.” After doing that, they could send RCS texts again from other devices. The same user mentioned T-Mobile, so this could involve carrier behavior, Apple’s RCS relay behavior across devices, or how privacy routing interacts with RCS after the update.
There is also confusion about how to check whether a conversation is encrypted. In r/iOS26, a user asked whether there was an easy way to tell if existing RCS message threads were encrypted after iOS 26.5. The user said it was not always easy to see whether a thread was RCS, SMS, or encrypted, especially in long conversations.
This matters because iOS 26.5 makes RCS encryption a headline feature, but the experience still appears uneven. If users cannot clearly tell when encryption is active or cannot send RCS from linked Apple devices, the feature feels less reliable than the marketing suggests.
6. Siri stopped working for some users after iOS 26.5
Siri also shows up in post-update reports. In r/iOS, a thread listed under “Siri stopped working with 26.5” links to r/Siri and specifically frames the issue as a post-update problem. The short listing does not provide much technical detail, but the timing matters because it appeared in the same stream of iOS 26.5-related reports.
Siri bugs can be difficult to diagnose because they may involve on-device speech recognition, Apple Intelligence features, network access, language settings, or server-side problems. Still, when Siri stops responding properly after an update, the first practical checks are simple: restart the iPhone, check Siri language settings, confirm microphone access, disable and re-enable “Listen for Siri,” and test on both Wi-Fi and cellular.
7. Share Sheet not working properly in Microsoft Edge
Another report from r/iOS points to Share Sheet problems in Edge on iOS. A user said the Share Sheet did not show the usual sharing options when sharing directly from Edge mobile. The thread does not explicitly say iOS 26.5 caused it, but it appeared in the current iOS discussion flow after the 26.5 release window.
This may be an app-specific compatibility problem rather than a system-wide iOS bug. Still, Share Sheet behavior depends on iOS extensions, app entitlements, installed apps, and privacy permissions, so a system update can expose issues that were not obvious before.
For users seeing this, testing Safari and another third-party browser can help narrow the cause. If the Share Sheet works normally in Safari but not in Edge, Microsoft likely needs to patch the app. If it fails everywhere, the problem is more likely tied to iOS.
8. Alarm sound delay when iPhone is locked
A r/iOS thread titled “Alarm sound is delayed by exactly 20 seconds” describes an issue where an iPhone 13 Pro Max delays alarm audio by 20 seconds when the device is locked. The user said the alarm plays immediately when unlocked, and their iPhone 16 Pro does not show the same problem. They also said rebooting did not fix it.
The post says the problem started after updating to iOS 26, not specifically iOS 26.5, so this should be treated as a broader iOS 26-era bug rather than a confirmed iOS 26.5-only issue. Still, it is relevant because users updating to iOS 26.5 may still be carrying forward unresolved iOS 26 problems.
Alarm bugs are serious because they affect real-world routines. A 20-second delay may not sound huge, but it can be enough to make users lose trust in alarms, timers, and notification sounds.
9. Weird activation requests after the update
One r/iOS commenter reported “weird activation requests” after installing iOS 26.5, saying they had not seen those prompts before except when setting up a phone.
This is an unusual report and does not appear as widespread as battery or stutter complaints. It could relate to Apple ID verification, cellular activation, eSIM checks, device management, or a temporary server-side authentication prompt. Still, activation-style prompts after a normal point update can alarm users because they resemble setup or recovery screens.
If this appears after iOS 26.5, users should avoid rushing through unfamiliar prompts. It is better to confirm Apple ID settings, cellular status, and device management status under Settings before assuming the device is compromised.
10. IPSW mismatch warning for iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro
One of the more technical reports comes from r/iOS. A post titled “Be Careful, iPhone 17 Pro 26.5 IPSW is wrong” claimed Apple had uploaded the iPhone 16 Pro IPSW for iPhone 17 Pro and the iPhone 17 Pro IPSW for iPhone 16 Pro. The user said the iPhone 17 Pro download showed iPhone17,1, while the iPhone 16 Pro download showed iPhone18,1.
This does not affect most users who update through Settings > General > Software Update. It matters more for users who manually download IPSW files for Finder, Apple Devices app, or recovery workflows. If the report is accurate, manual installers should double-check model identifiers before restoring.
This is also a good example of why casual users should avoid manual IPSW installs unless they know exactly which model they own. A wrong restore file can create avoidable update failures or recovery loops.
11. Audio routing behavior changed between apps
A r/iOS report describes a change in audio behavior after iOS 26.5. The user said that before the update, they could cast audio from the Rain Rain app and then play Medito audio separately. After iOS 26.5, starting Medito replaced or paused the casted Rain Rain audio.
This sounds like an audio session handling change. iOS apps declare how they handle audio, whether they mix with other audio, interrupt other playback, or continue in the background. A system update can change how strictly those rules are applied, or app updates can expose the issue.
For users who rely on layered audio, such as rain sounds plus meditation, white noise plus podcast, or background ambience plus guided sleep tracks, this is a real usability problem. It may require app updates from the developers if iOS 26.5 changed audio session behavior.
12. Wi-Fi freezing reports from iOS 26.5 beta testing
Some iOS 26.5 problems were flagged during beta testing. In MacRumors’ iOS 26.5 Beta 1 thread, one iPhone Air user reported that apps using live Wi-Fi were randomly freezing with a no-Wi-Fi error, even though Wi-Fi was live and other devices had no issue. The user said Net Analyzer showed little to no signal on the iPhone Air while the status bar still showed full strength.
Because this report came from Beta 1, it may not represent the final iOS 26.5 build. Still, it is worth including because some users continue to report odd connectivity behavior after point updates, and Wi-Fi status mismatch is one of the harder bugs to understand. If the status bar shows full Wi-Fi but apps behave as if the connection is gone, the problem may sit below the app layer, possibly in networking, DNS, Wi-Fi roaming, VPN, private relay, or local network handling.
13. Weather app slow to fetch data during beta cycle
iOS 26.5 Beta 4 discussion included a user saying Weather was very slow to fetch data, later adding that it appeared widespread.
Again, this came from the beta cycle, not necessarily the public release. But Weather app issues often blur the line between iOS bugs and Apple service issues. If Weather loads slowly after an update, users should test whether the issue happens on both Wi-Fi and cellular, check Apple’s system status page, and compare the built-in Weather app with another weather app.
14. Maps ads are not a bug, but users are treating them like one
iOS 26.5 also brings ads and Suggested Places changes to Apple Maps. Maps ads can appear based on approximate location, search terms, or map view, while Apple says that ad data is not tied to a user’s Apple Account.
This is not technically a bug, but it is part of the iOS 26.5 backlash because users often experience new ads as a downgrade. In an Online Forum beta discussion, one user complained that recent point releases had added “nothing but more bugs, and ads in maps.”
The practical issue is trust. Users accept point updates when they feel the update makes their iPhone safer, faster, or more stable. When an update adds ads while users are also reporting stutters and battery drain, the perception shifts quickly.
Should you install iOS 26.5 right now?
For most users, the security fixes make iOS 26.5 hard to ignore. Apple’s security page confirms the update was released on May 11, 2026, and the broader security release page lists iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 for iPhone 11 and later.
That said, users who depend heavily on RCS from Mac or iPad, have an older iPhone with weak battery health, or already had performance problems on iOS 26.4.2 may want to be more careful. The reports do not show one single catastrophic iOS 26.5 bug. Instead, they show a wide set of smaller issues that affect different users in different ways.
If you already installed iOS 26.5 and your iPhone feels worse, try these basic steps before assuming the update permanently damaged performance:
- Restart your iPhone once after the update. Several users reporting stutters said performance improved after a reboot, especially a day after installing iOS 26.5.
- Give battery life at least 24 to 48 hours to settle. If heating and drain continue after that, check Settings > Battery to see which app or system process is responsible.
- For RCS problems across Mac, iPad, or Apple Watch, check RCS settings, carrier support, and whether privacy-related cellular settings affect sending from linked devices. Users specifically discussed “Limit IP Address Tracking” as a workaround in one case.
- If the keyboard or predictive text looks broken, force close Messages, restart the iPhone, and check for app updates. If the issue remains, report it through Apple Feedback.
Final thoughts
iOS 26.5 is not a disaster release for everyone. Some users say battery life improved, some say performance is smoother after a reboot, and the update includes important security patches and encrypted RCS support. But the number of reports across r/iOS, r/iPhone, r/iOS26, X, and other forums shows that iOS 26.5 has not landed cleanly for every iPhone user.
The biggest complaints so far are stuttering, battery drain, heating, predictive text glitches, RCS problems across Apple devices, Siri issues, audio routing changes, and app-specific sharing problems. None of these appear universal, but together they make iOS 26.5 feel less polished than a late-cycle update should.
With iOS 27 now approaching, iOS 26.5 may end up being remembered less for encrypted RCS and more for the small daily bugs users had to work around. If Apple releases iOS 26.5.1, the first things to watch will be performance smoothing, battery behavior, RCS reliability, and keyboard fixes.
26.5.2 makes FB unusable, not the app but the internet version
Just “upgraded” to 26.5 on my iPad Air. Now when watching videos, my AirPods pair and auto connect to the iPad despite being connected to my iPhone. I have tried the usual “When last connected to this iPad” setting. But 26.5 overrides it and changes the setting to “Automatically” and pairs anyway. Miserable experience…
I find the screen unresponsive in several apps, my watch also won’t respond when it shows a notification.
I have flatted the phone and reinstalled but the problems persist. Come on Apple, sort this out, IOS has never been this bad, my android friends are having a good laugh at my dysfunctional iPhone. 😨
My 16 e worked great till 26.2 bluetooth not seeing my Libre 3+ for my test numbers keeps telling me lost connection Blue Tooth still connected and my outside camera reads no Bluetooth connection When is there going to be a fix ? Need to test my sugar numbers 5 times daily dont want loose another kidney due to lack of insulin
Camera worked fine up until yesterday. It allows me to take a picture then freezes. then unfeezes to allow me to take a picture then freezes. wont save pictures. I can take videos but must stand still with no movement and it will save that. once i move it freezes. alarms wont work unless i set up a health account crap that i didnt ask for. Apple forcing you to use shit i didnt want. Camera dont work. I have 5o GB available. deleted all kinds of stuff. Apps as well. I have a Iphone 12 and dont want to upgrade. If I have to upgrade Im going back to a flip phone as Im tired of the forced Bull.
I hate this new update IOS 25.6! The day my phone did the update is when all this nightmare begin.
My iphone 16 pro text no longer works. Some days it will work for a couple hours and then stopped. Sometimes text will be sent to my Ipad instead. When it works my text are all green bubble (from my iphone to another iphone user) and says “not encrypted”. I have called T-mobile, gone to T-mobile store, and tried everything online. It seems like the issue is with Apple!!!
I’m so upset and frasturated I’m considering switch from Iphone to Android!
Was this OS deliberately made to actually cause all these problems?
I have so many issues I can’t even begin.
Utterly ridiculous!
iPhone 13 Pro Max.
Don’t proceed to 26.5!
Regretting this!!!
My ipad 10 cannot text to any android user. I only use wifi on its so I that it’s it not on my end When I did the last big upgrade both my iphone 16e and ipad would not sync texts or photos. It was awful. The look and feel of it took forever for me to get back to some form of visually pleasing and easier to use layout.
I’m 55 and just want to have a nice functional phone and tablet. I went to art school for graphic design and fell in love with Apple. I loved my imac. If it were not for the fact that I truly hate my work cell which is a Samsung and I had the android layout, I would seriously ditch apple altogether. It’s just awful. I don’t want anything to do with the new update. just fix what’s broken and leave us alone.
To be honest, that’s the worst update ever! My iPhone 16 PRO is draining the battery like crazy; apps are showing up in battery usage that I haven’t opened either in the foreground or in the background, Photos is going completely haywire – it keeps wanting me to edit photos even though I haven’t selected that option – and since the update, my screen has been so dim that I have to turn the brightness all the way up just to see anything at all.
I can no longer easily create a note in Notes.
But what I find worst is Apple’s service; support simply told me it was down to my usage habits, which is why I’m now experiencing such battery drain… I’m not doing anything differently from before the update; I didn’t have these problems before, so why all of a sudden now?
Not to be recommended at all!!!
I have an I phone 16
my ios version 26.5
I can o longer searh my photos and my messages are in many cases unreadable
My iPhone and my wife’s both have numerous issues with the alarm popup on mine , her alarms didn’t even work this morning, my screen flashes off and on uncontrollably, today while out could not find my Wi-Fi hotspots on Comcast, yesterday Siri which I rely on for directions would not work, getting no coverage where I know I should. Wish I knew a way to back the update out, what a mess.
In a few areas, voice mail in particular, the “view” has changed and I no longer have an option to go diretly to VM. I have to go to calls and review the list to see if I have a VM. I feel like I have an Android instead of an iPhone with the necessary additional steps. Grrrrr. I phone 15 Pro
Spotlight search is no longer working for me. Neither when I try to search in my notes!
I can barely send any messages because the app closes out so frequently. I’ve resorted to responded from my watch because I can’t finish a text before it kicks me out of Messages. It also doesn’t save the text I’ve typed when it does it. It’s only gotten increasingly worse over the last two days. I’ve tried everything I know. Reset network setting, toggled iMessage, turned off RCS, reset my phone more times than I can remember. I’m only seeing the issue with Messages. I’m incredibly frustrated.
My Facebook app is buggered up after the update. I can see all the Facebook icons on the left of the screen, but the rest of the screen is blacked out.
I tried deleting and reinstalling, but that didn’t work.
This is some BS.
after updating my appletv to 26.5, my elmedia player app on it can’t connect to my media on my mac anymore…the same with Infuse… and Plex is even more weird, it plays but with horrendous quality, all pixelated and blurrish, and with 4k media, i was asked to get Plex Pass cause suddenly it needs to convert (!!!!)… even paying music is totally weird: the bass is muffled and too loud… oh well…. don’t let me get into the problems with my mac mini….!!!!
Since the 26.5 up date to my IMAC the web pages keep reloading.
With wifi-assist turned on phone is not switching from weak wifi to cellular. Have to manually turn wifi off to get phone working on internet.
iPhone 14 Pro Max – I have none of these issues. But then, I am still running iOS 18.7
What would be cool would be the ability to shut off “features” that individual users do not want, especially if that would also move the associated software and bug impacts out of the operating iOS.
I’m considering going back to my iPhone 14 Pro Max. This iPhone 17 Pro Max is nothing but trouble. It’s seemed slower and needier than the 14 since the day I got it, this new iOS makes me exceedingly nostalgic for my old phone. Hang in there anon, you did the right thing by avoiding an “””””upgrade”””””.
What would be interesting is a table of issues vs iPhone number. If
26.5 immediately destroyed Bluetooth on my 16. Completely inop. Can’t connect or even find nearby devices.
I’ve tried the usual fixes: no help.
Nice job, Apple.
Terrible update, don’t do it.
Phone updated, and it wasn’t even plugged in. It’s terrible on my iPhone 13.
Overheats when using and charging
Terrible battery life
AirDrop stopped working (Followed ALL the Fix-It recommendations, and nothing.)
CarPlay glitches or doesn’t connect
My 13Pro max no longer shows up in finder on my MacBook Pro (2017 or 2018 model). So looks like I can’t backup or sync my music. I did manage to back up & sync my 13Pro Max and my husband’s X max to the MacBook immediately after the update. But a couple days later, I get the connect sound but my phone doesn’t show up in the finder list anymore.
My phone doesn’t work.
It overheats and turns off!
Terrible update don’t do it.
I’m typing from an old phone it’s that bad!
I have noticed since 26.5 on devices Mac and iPad that web pages fail to load in Safari indicating can’t connect with server. Very odd since my internet provider shows no issues with DNS or connections. Also have noticed Safari having to reload web site because it was using to many resources.
having exact same problem…updates should not cause so many issues!
My ability to block potential spam or scam telephone calls disappeared when I updated to iOS 26.5. The swipe left on the number to get the “Block” or “Block and Report Spam” is still in place but nothing happens when you block the call. I verified it does not get added to the blocked list of calls. I attempted to block calls the “long way” by going to “Privacy & Security” followed by “Blocked Contacts” followed by copying the number and saving it–it also does not work. Again, I verified the numbers I attempted to block did no show up in the block call list. I’ve done the restarts and other suggestions found online to no avail. I’m hoping the next update will fix this . . . it’s a real pain in the ass.
I have the same call blocking bug on my iPhone 13 after the update. Another issue came up as well, occasionally when I open the camera the screen will flash constantly until I close the app.
Both of these are irritating.
Ditto on iPhone 16e, although I have been able to add two or three email addresses “the long way.” I get 30 to 40 spam emails per day so “the long way” is not practical. I am NOT amused!
Same issues I can’t block calls anymore
Agree. Numbers I’ve blocked have been getting through just recently.
When I talked with two Apple techs and blamed my phone’s Bluetooth failure on 26.5 they had no comment. Would not admit their screwup is to blame. They didn’t get the problem rectified, either. Will try again.
I have the same issue and tried the same things you did. I get spam and scam texts frequently. I truly hope they fix this fast. I delete but they just continue to contact me. I hate this update and you can’t roll it back either. Good Bob.
My iPad Pro is running very slow. I can’t send or receive iMessages. I’ve restarted it a number of times. I have over 90 GB of storage available. iPhone 16 is running fine. so I know it’s not my internet, but I have changed to 5G just to see if helps but no luck.
My battery has been dying much quicker, phone heats up when using and charging, glitches, and the worst one is when I try to check my balance or make payments in Apple wallet, I cannot get in to it because the whole thing just freezes. If I go to Settings, scroll down to Wallet and Apple Pay, I cannot click on it and the page just freezes. I have to restart my phone every time.
Ads in Maps is completely unaccountable
5 months of Wi-Fi drops, greyed-out toggle, reboots & Bluetooth hell on iOS 26.5 iPhone 11 Pro Max
This Wi-Fi/Bluetooth nightmare started after 26.2 in December 2025 and has now lasted 147 days / nearly 5 months through seven straight updates (26.2.1, 26.3, 26.3.1, 26.4, 26.4.1, 26.4.2, and now 26.5). Still broken.
Wi-Fi randomly drops (full bars, no internet). Toggle locks/greys out to OFF. I have to force restart + Reset Network Settings MULTIPLE times a day just to get online for a few hours. Random auto-reboots all day and night. Bluetooth constantly drops AirPods, car audio, and speakers; toggle often unresponsive.
I’ve done every reset, erase, and restore known to man. Phone is basically unusable for daily life.
Apple, this shared radio-stack bug on a still-supported iPhone 11 is ridiculous at this point. Fix it already.
Definitely AirPods disconnect constantly in 26.5. It’s pissing me off!!