Apple is preparing to overhaul the naming convention for all its operating systems, according to a Bloomberg report. Instead of incrementing version numbers sequentially, future OS versions will reflect the upcoming year – a shift similar to the automotive industry’s model-year system.
For instance, the next major iPhone update, expected in 2025, will be named iOS 26 – not iOS 19. The same naming strategy will apply across Apple’s ecosystem, including iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS – all aligning under version 26.
The change is expected to be officially announced at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), which begins on 9 June 2025. The aim is to simplify and unify Apple’s software versioning, which currently varies significantly – for example, iOS 18, watchOS 12, and visionOS 2.
In addition to the new naming system, Apple is also likely to unveil a refreshed visual design across its platforms, reportedly inspired by the visionOS interface from the Vision Pro headset.
WWDC 2025 kicks off with a keynote on 9 June at 6 PM UK time, where these updates are expected to be revealed.
