Apple Faces Backlash As IOS 26 Adoption Slows

Apple’s latest iOS update, iOS 26, has landed with a thud rather than a bang, sparking debate among users, analysts, and industry observers about the tech giant’s direction. While Apple typically enjoys rapid adoption rates for its new operating system releases, external data now suggests that iOS 26 is struggling to win over iPhone and iPad users, even as the company continues to patch and refine the software in response to widespread criticism.

According to figures from Statcounter, as of January 2026, iOS 26.1 and 26.2 together account for only 15.31% of iOS users (including iPadOS). In stark contrast, the previous generation—iOS 18.5, 18.6, and 18.7—remains dominant, commanding a combined 64.43% share. This is a remarkable reversal from just a year earlier: in January 2025, iOS 18 versions had already captured over 62% of users, following a September release, indicating that adoption rates for iOS 18 were four times higher than what iOS 26 has managed so far.

Apple itself has been notably silent on the latest figures. The company’s official distribution data has not been updated since June 2025, when it reported that iOS 18 had reached 88% of App Store users on iPhones from the previous four years. This lack of transparency has left users and analysts alike speculating about the reasons for iOS 26’s sluggish uptake and whether Apple is recalibrating its public messaging in the face of lukewarm reception.

The most obvious culprit behind the slow adoption is the controversial new “Liquid Glass” design language introduced with iOS 26. The overhaul, which aimed to give the operating system a sleeker, more modern look, quickly became a lightning rod for criticism. Many users found the visual changes jarring and, more importantly, complained that the new interface hampered usability. Unreadable icons, confusing menus, and transparency issues made day-to-day navigation more difficult, especially for users who didn’t have the time—or patience—to acclimate to the new style.

Apple has responded with a series of incremental updates. The release of iOS 26.1 and, more recently, iOS 26.2 on December 12, 2025, brought a raft of fixes and refinements aimed squarely at addressing user complaints. According to reporting by heise and other outlets, the most glaring issues—such as unreadable icons and menus—have been corrected. A new transparency slider for the Lock Screen clock was introduced, allowing users to adjust opacity levels and improve readability in various lighting conditions. The Measure and Level apps also received Liquid Glass visual updates, while the fundamental look of the system remains unchanged.

Despite these efforts, the core design remains polarizing. The manager responsible for the Liquid Glass aesthetic, Alan Dye, has since departed Apple for Meta, where he is reportedly working on “AI as a new design material.” His move, presumably for a lucrative package, has only fueled speculation about internal dissatisfaction and the future of Apple’s design philosophy.

Beyond the visual tweaks, iOS 26.2 has focused on security and incremental feature improvements rather than headline-grabbing new functionality. The update patches 26 vulnerabilities, including two WebKit flaws that had reportedly been exploited in targeted attacks against older iOS versions. Apple recommends immediate installation, especially for iPhone 11 and newer models, citing the importance of these security fixes. The company has also addressed issues across Messages, FaceTime, Safari, and other critical system components, with specific patches for CVE-2025-46276 (iMessage information disclosure), CVE-2025-43542 (FaceTime password field exposure), and CVE-2025-43428 (Hidden Photos Album access). Additional fixes target memory corruption in AppleJPEG, Foundation, and Multi-Touch components.

Usability improvements extend beyond the Lock Screen. AirDrop now features one-time access codes that remain valid for 30 days, simplifying secure file sharing with non-contacts. Users can share these codes through Settings without needing to add temporary contacts, a nod to privacy and convenience. The Reminders app has gained alarm-style alerts that bypass Focus modes when marked “Urgent,” ensuring that time-sensitive notifications break through even when users have silenced other distractions. Apple Podcasts now generates chapters based on transcript content and detects mentions of other podcasts within episodes, providing direct links for easier navigation—especially helpful for longer listens.

Health and wellness features have also seen updates. The Health app’s Sleep Score calculations now use revised categories: Very Low (0-40), Low (41-60), OK (61-80), High (81-95), and Very High (96-100), offering users a clearer sense of their nightly rest quality. Meanwhile, Apple News has added quick-access buttons for Sports, Puzzles, Politics, and Food sections, and the Games app now displays live events, friend activity, and past downloads. Freeform, Apple’s brainstorming tool, has gained table creation tools, while Apple Music now supports offline lyrics and Accessibility settings feature flash notifications for alerts.

Regional compliance has played a significant role in shaping iOS 26’s feature set. In Japan, new regulatory guidelines have prompted Apple to open third-party app marketplaces and allow users to assign non-Apple voice assistants to the Side button. These changes mirror similar moves in the European Union, where users now have access to AirPods Live Translation—a feature supporting nine languages, including English, French, German, and Spanish, on AirPods Pro 3, Pro 2, and AirPods 4. CarPlay has also received an update, enabling separate pinned message controls independent of iPhone settings, catering to drivers who want more granular control over in-car notifications.

Despite the breadth of these improvements, the overarching narrative remains one of cautious, iterative refinement rather than bold innovation. Most changes have been direct responses to user feedback collected since iOS 26’s rocky September release. As reported by heise and confirmed by Apple’s own update notes, the company is already testing background security updates in the latest iOS 26.3 beta—a sign that it is doubling down on stability and safety as it seeks to regain user trust.

Yet, the numbers don’t lie: adoption of iOS 26 still lags far behind previous releases. Whether this is a temporary blip or a sign of deeper dissatisfaction with Apple’s current trajectory remains to be seen. For now, the company faces a delicate balancing act—refining its vision for the future of iOS while ensuring that longtime users don’t feel left behind by unwelcome or poorly executed changes.

With the next major update already in testing and the industry watching closely, Apple’s ability to respond to criticism and adapt its approach will likely determine whether iOS 26’s slow start becomes a footnote or a turning point in the company’s storied history.