After beta testing iOS 26.3 since mid-December, Apple finally pushed its stable build to the public Wednesday. Unlike the last two major iOS 26 point builds, iOS 26.3 is light on major new features.
Instead, it brings some notable underlying improvements to the platform, including better compatibility with third-party wearables. Here are two notable changes iOS 26.3 brings to your iPhone.
New features in iOS 26.3
iOS 26.3 is not a big, flashy upgrade. Instead, it focuses on improving the experience behind the scenes. Most of these changes are subtle and easy to miss, but they address long-standing usability and compatibility gaps. Over time, they should make iOS feel more consistent across devices and accessories.
Transfer to Android improvements
An EU-mandated change in iOS 26.3 sees Apple making data transfer to Android easier with a new “Transfer to Android” tool. It enables you to transfer your photos, notes, messages, apps and other data to an Android phone.
Your health data, protected notes and photos are not migrated as part of the process.
Tighter carrier location access
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
iOS 26.3 gives you greater control over how carriers access your location. You can block access to your exact location and instead limit it to your general neighborhood.
While a part of iOS 26.3, the feature is only coming to selected iPhones. Only iPhones and iPads that use Apple’s modem are eligible, including the iPhone 16e, M5 iPad Pro and iPhone Air. It also only works with selected networks globally, including Boost Mobile in the United States, EE and BT in the United Kingdom, and AIS and True in Thailand.
The Limit Precise Location toggle is located under Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options.
Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that iOS 26.3 includes Notification Forwarding for iPhones in the European Union. While earlier betas of iOS 26.3 offered the option, Apple removed it from the final release. Apple still plans to introduce Notification Forwarding to comply with EU regulations. The feature might reappear in iOS 26.4.
Update your iPhone, iPad and Mac
Alongside iOS 26.3, Apple also released iPadOS 26.3, macOS 26.3, watchOS 26.3 and tvOS 26.3. And if you own a Vision Pro, there’s an update out for your headset as well.
All these updates only bring underlying improvements and bug fixes. There are no notable new features.
Rajesh has been writing about consumer technology for over a decade, with a strong focus on iPhones, Macs and Apple’s ecosystem. He enjoys digging into Apple software updates, hardware changes, and discovering new Mac apps that make work faster and more enjoyable.
2 responses to “iOS 26.3 brings these 2 changes to your iPhone”
I live in the EU, but the notifications forwarding feature doesn’t exist, no such option. It was only in the beta 1 and after that it was removed. Please correct the misinformation.
Corrected! Thank you.