iOS 26 is imminent, Apple removes placeholder software names

Apple's operating systems are set to receive an entirely new numbering system, and we now have an additional sign that the "iOS 26" rebrand is coming.

On May 28, a report from a generally reliable source indicated that Apple plans to simplify its numbering system for operating system versions. In an attempt to make things easier for end users, all of the company's operating systems will bear the version number 26, a reference to the year 2026.

AppleInsider has already confirmed that Apple is moving forward with the rebrand. The same day, we explained that the iPhone maker was still using placeholder names for some of its operating systems, but this appears to have changed ahead of WWDC.

People familiar with Apple's pre-release operating systems and their variants speaking to AppleInsider have told us that placeholder names such as macOS 16 have finally been removed from the developer betas set to debut on June 9.

The upcoming release of macOS, for instance, is simply labeled "macOS Beta," with a generic icon featuring the name "macOS." The version 26 identifier remains present within the operating system, AppleInsider was told.

In 2024, the first developer beta of macOS Sequoia was labeled "macOS 15 Beta" and used an icon from the previous release, macOS Sonoma. Judging by the recent changes and the new "26" version number, Apple wants to make its latest assortment of operating systems visually distinct.

During development, macOS 26 used images and assets from macOS Sequoia, and internal builds from late 2024 were labeled macOS 16. The name "macOS 16" was in use until late May 2025, meaning that the removal of placeholder names is a recent change. It appears to have been made in preparation for WWDC 2025.

In terms of file size, the first macOS 26 developer beta will be just over 17 GB, while the September 2025 final release variant is expected to be around 2GB larger, at more than 19 GB. While macOS 26 is set to deliver plenty of new features, the difference in file size suggests some of them won't be available at launch.

The operating system itself won't be available for all Macs, either. As we previously reported, macOS 26 is set to drop support for the 2017 iMac Pro, 2018 Mac mini, and all 2018 MacBook Pro models, among others.

Separately, AppleInsider is also able to confirm that the operating system's successor is in the early stages of development. Codenamed "Honeycrisp," internal builds are currently labeled "macOS 17.0." It's unclear why Apple is using the old numbering system for Honeycrisp, but it's likely just a placeholder.

Apple will debut its next-gen operating systems at its Worldwide Developers' Conference, with a keynote event scheduled for June 9, 2025.

6 Comments

fred1 12 Years · 1162 comments

About 1 day ago

OK, I’ll ask. Why is it OS 26 when it’s
going to be announced and released in 2025. Why not OS 25?

0 Likes · 1 Dislike

stephanjobs 13 Years · 287 comments

About 1 day ago

fred1 said:

OK, I’ll ask. Why is it OS 26 when it’s
going to be announced and released in 2025. Why not OS 25?

I’m going to assume it has something to do with the Mac OS numbering system. Companies often change their version numbers for a variety of reasons, usually marketing related. For example, when the Xbox 360 launched, it was actually the second generation of Xbox, competing against the PlayStation 3. But if parents were comparing an Xbox 2 to a PS3, they would probably assume the PlayStation was newer or better. So Microsoft named it Xbox 360 to avoid that direct comparison, and marketing provided a reason to justify the name.

If Apple really is switching to OS 26, it could be a similar move. It might be about unifying the system across all devices. If an iPhone, iPad, and Mac all run OS 26, it reinforces the idea that everything is part of the same ecosystem. As for why the number 26, I’m not sure, but maybe if you count all the previous versions across major OS changes, it adds up to the 26th generation.

1 Like · 0 Dislikes

godofbiscuitssf 3 Years · 181 comments

About 1 day ago

stephanjobs said:

fred1 said:

OK, I’ll ask. Why is it OS 26 when it’s
going to be announced and released in 2025. Why not OS 25?

I’m going to assume it has something to do with the Mac OS numbering system. Companies often change their version numbers for a variety of reasons, usually marketing related. For example, when the Xbox 360 launched, it was actually the second generation of Xbox, competing against the PlayStation 3. But if parents were comparing an Xbox 2 to a PS3, they would probably assume the PlayStation was newer or better. So Microsoft named it Xbox 360 to avoid that direct comparison, and marketing provided a reason to justify the name.

If Apple really is switching to OS 26, it could be a similar move. It might be about unifying the system across all devices. If an iPhone, iPad, and Mac all run OS 26, it reinforces the idea that everything is part of the same ecosystem. As for why the number 26, I’m not sure, but maybe if you count all the previous versions across major OS changes, it adds up to the 26th generation.

They’re not dropping the branding of the individual platforms. They’ve srill called it “macOS Beta”, for instance. The 26 isn’t “26th generation”, it’s for 2026, the year it will primarily live in.

1 Like · 0 Dislikes

PChin 7 Years · 5 comments

About 1 day ago

fred1 said:

OK, I’ll ask. Why is it OS 26 when it’s
going to be announced and released in 2025. Why not OS 25?

Isn't this same as car models. as 2026 models are usually out in 2025.