Tired of Manually Downloading Security Updates? This iOS 26.1 Setting Can Do It Automatically

Security updates help patch vulnerabilities in your iPhone that could be exploited by cybercriminals. Downloading those updates as soon as possible helps keep you and your device safe, and iOS 26.1 is making it easier to do that.

Apple released iOS 26.1 on Monday, almost two months after the company released iOS 26 to the general public. While that update brought Liquid Glass, call screening and more to your iPhone, iOS 26.1 also introduced a new feature called Security Improvements. 

Security Improvements could be an easy way for Apple to implement smaller security measures without issuing a full iOS update. This feature reminds me of Apple’s Rapid Security Responses the company introduced in 2023. The RSR updates were a way for the company to quickly deploy security fixes to devices, but Apple hasn’t issued an RSR since the release of iOS 16.5.1 (c) in July 2023.

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Here’s how to enable Security Improvements to be installed on your iPhone automatically, so you get the most protection on your device at all times. 

Where to find Security Improvements

1. Tap Settings.
2. Tap Privacy & Security.
3. Tap Background Security Improvements near the bottom of the menu.
4. Tap the toggle next to Automatically Install.

Now your iPhone will download small security updates and install them on your device automatically. 

Everyone should enable Security Improvements for the most protection.

Apple/CNET

“Background Security Improvements provide additional protection to your iPhone in between software updates,” Apple writes in the feature’s settings. “In rare instances of compatibility issues, these Security Improvements may be temporarily removed and then enhanced in a future software update.”

In a beta version of iOS 26.1, there was a way to manually uninstall these updates in the Background Security Improvements, but it appears Apple removed this option in the general release of iOS 26.1.

For more iOS news, here’s what to know about iOS 26.1 and my review of iOS 26. You can also check out our iOS 26 cheat sheet for other tips and tricks.

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