Just upgraded to iOS 26? Optimize your iPhone experience with these 10 essential settings changes. From privacy enhancements to battery-saving tweaks, we'll guide you through the must-do adjustments.
Introduction
Upgrading to the latest iOS version, iOS 26, is always exciting. You get new features, performance improvements, and a fresh look. However, the default settings aren't always the best for everyone. After installing iOS 26 on my iPhone, I immediately tweaked several settings to personalize my experience, enhance privacy, and improve battery life. Here are the 10 settings I changed right away, and why you should consider doing the same.
1. Customize Your Control Center
The Control Center is your quick access hub for frequently used features. iOS 26 allows for even greater customization, enabling you to add or remove controls based on your needs.
# How to Customize:
Go to Settings > Control Center. Here, you can add or remove toggles like Low Power Mode, Screen Recording, or even Accessibility Shortcuts. I added a quick toggle for Dark Mode and a shortcut to my Notes app for rapid note-taking. This saves me a ton of time throughout the day.
# Practical Tip:
Think about what you access most frequently. Is it your flashlight? Your timer? Add those to the Control Center for instant access.
2. Fine-Tune Your Notification Preferences
Notification overload is a real problem. iOS 26 offers granular control over how and when you receive notifications.
# How to Fine-Tune:
Go to Settings > Notifications. Select each app individually and customize the notification style, badge app icon, sounds, and whether notifications appear on the Lock Screen. I disabled banner notifications for social media apps and only allowed them to appear in the Notification Center.
# Practical Example:
For important apps like your banking app, enable critical alerts to ensure you never miss urgent notifications, even when your phone is on silent.
3. Maximize Battery Life with Optimized Battery Charging
Battery life is always a concern. iOS 26 continues to refine battery management features. Optimized Battery Charging learns your charging habits and waits to finish charging past 80% until just before you need to use your iPhone.
# How to Enable:
Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health. Ensure “Optimized Battery Charging” is enabled. This feature helps prolong the lifespan of your battery.
# Pro Tip:
Avoid consistently letting your battery drain to zero. Frequent deep discharges can negatively impact battery health.
4. Enhance Privacy with Location Services Control
Location tracking is a privacy concern for many. iOS 26 offers more precise control over which apps can access your location and when.
# How to Control:
Go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services. Review each app and select either “Never,” “Ask Next Time Or When I Share,” or “While Using the App.” For apps that don't need your exact location, consider enabling “Precise Location” to provide only an approximate location.
# Example:
I set my weather app to “While Using the App” and disabled Precise Location. It still provides accurate forecasts without constantly tracking my exact whereabouts.
5. Customize App Library Organization
The App Library is a great way to declutter your home screen. iOS 26 allows for further customization of how apps are organized within the App Library.
# How to Customize:
While you can't manually create folders, you can influence how apps are automatically categorized. Regularly using an app will make it more prominent in the suggested categories. Also, you can use the search bar within the App Library to quickly find apps.
# Tip for Organization:
Consider using Spotlight Search (swipe down from the home screen) to quickly launch apps instead of navigating through the App Library.
6. Configure Focus Modes for Better Productivity
Focus Modes are a powerful tool for managing distractions. iOS 26 enhances these modes, allowing for even more customization.
# How to Configure:
Go to Settings > Focus. You can create custom Focus Modes for different activities like Work, Sleep, or Personal time. Define which apps and contacts can send you notifications during each mode.
# Example:
I created a “Writing” Focus Mode that silences all notifications except those from my writing app and a few key contacts. This helps me stay focused on my work.
7. Adjust Haptic Feedback
Haptic feedback adds a tactile dimension to your iPhone experience. iOS 26 allows you to adjust the intensity of haptic feedback.
# How to Adjust:
Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics. Here you can adjust the system haptics and keyboard haptics. Experiment with different settings to find what feels most comfortable for you.
# Tip:
Turn off System Haptics if you want to save battery life.
8. Customize Keyboard Shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts can significantly speed up your typing. iOS 26 makes it easier to create and manage custom shortcuts.
# How to Customize:
Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement. Here, you can add custom shortcuts for frequently typed phrases or email addresses. For example, I have a shortcut “ema” that expands to my full email address.
# Example:
Create shortcuts for commonly used phrases like "On my way!" or "Thank you!" to save time when texting.
9. Enable Silence Unknown Callers
Tired of spam calls? iOS 26 includes a feature to silence unknown callers, sending them directly to voicemail.
# How to Enable:
Go to Settings > Phone. Scroll down and enable “Silence Unknown Callers.” This will send any calls from numbers not in your contacts to voicemail.
# Important Note:
Be sure to regularly check your voicemail to avoid missing legitimate calls from unknown numbers.
10. Review and Update App Permissions
It's always a good idea to periodically review the permissions you've granted to your apps. iOS 26 makes this process easier.
# How to Review:
Go to Settings > Privacy. Review each category (Location Services, Contacts, Photos, Microphone, Camera) and ensure that apps only have access to what they truly need.
# Practical Tip:
If an app hasn't been used in a while, consider revoking its permissions until you need it again.
Conclusion
These 10 settings are just a starting point for personalizing your iOS 26 experience. By taking the time to adjust these settings to your preferences, you can improve your privacy, enhance your productivity, and make the most of your iPhone. Experiment with different settings and find what works best for you. Happy tweaking!