Apple has unified the numbering of all its operating systems
By ForGeeks At WWDC 2025, Apple announced a new numbering scheme for all of its software platforms. From now on, operating system versions will correspond to the year of release – starting with the index 26. The new system covers iOS, macOS, iPadOS, watchOS, tvOS and visionOS.
What’s changed
In place of the previous disparate numbering – iOS 18, watchOS 11 and visionOS 2, for example – all platforms are now synchronized:
- iOS 26 for iPhone
- macOS 26 Tahoe for Mac
- iPadOS 26 for iPad
- watchOS 26 for Apple Watch
- tvOS 26 for Apple TV
- visionOS 26 for Vision Pro and future devices
According to Apple, the number 26 symbolizes the next calendar year (2026) -which is how the numbering will now be done. This makes it easier to understand: the user only needs to know the current year to determine if the software is up to date.
Why it matters
In the past, there were inconsistencies between versions of Apple’s platforms, especially after the launch of new systems – such as visionOS. Unifying the numbers makes the ecosystem more logical, simplifying support, documentation, and communication between devices.
Apple said it’s “the most consistent and understandable system in the company’s history.”
What’s next
From 2025, all Apple OS updates will be released with a single number corresponding to the following year. This applies not only to major fall releases, but also to interim updates: for example, in 2026, expect versions 26.1, 26.2, etc.
The Apple has unified the numbering of all its operating systems was first published on ITZine.ru.
