<div id="readability-page-1"><div>Updating your iPhone to the latest iOS software takes time and storage space, which is why so many iPhone users delay upgrading until the last possible minute.However, that time for delaying might be over.Tech: Apple's New iOS Feature Could Solve A Universally Hated ProblemThat’s because iOS 26, the significant software update that Apple released in September and updated to iOS 26.2 in December, comes with the divisive Liquid Glass display look some critics hate, but iOS 26.2 also is fixing crucial security weaknesses. These include an App Store weakness allowing access to sensitive payment tokens, a FaceTime caller ID spoofing weakness, and issues with Webkit, which powers your Safari browser.But not all phones have the software capabilities to make this leap.The iOS 26.2 software update is only compatible with the following models: iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 16e, iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone Air, iPhone SE (2nd generation) and iPhone SE (3rd generation).<figure><div><div><img src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/5tVVVum_5jXv7GYJNcFIsw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD02OTg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/the_huffington_post_584/d4c659b93efa10887fcc3abab4bfd295?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" width="630" height="354" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/5tVVVum_5jXv7GYJNcFIsw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD02OTg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/the_huffington_post_584/d4c659b93efa10887fcc3abab4bfd295"/></div></div><figcaption>The latest iOS 26 software might be annoying to download, but the consequences for avoiding it could be dire. Getty</figcaption></figure>In other words, if you have a phone that’s older than iPhone 11, such as an iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR, your phone can no longer support the iOS 26 upgrade.That said, you still have one way to keep your phone safe. If your phone is too old for the iOS 26, you should keep receiving iOS 18 critical security patches upgrades you should install ASAP.Tech: Your Apple ID May Be Logged Into Devices You Don't Even Know About. Here's How To Check.But if you do have a phone that can support iOS 26, you don’t have the option of downloading the older iOS security upgrade to maintain your older iOS without doing the big iOS 26 update –– you must now update to the latest iOS or else your phone will be vulnerable to malicious scammers and security attacks. And the longer you go without updating, the more vulnerable your phone becomes to these known security weaknesses.“As an iPhone grows older, it will stop receiving functional updates, but continue to receive security updates. In this timeframe, it’s fine to keep using your iPhone. Some apps may stop working though,” said Arthur Shi, a senior technical writer for iFixit, a website that allows people to share tech user manuals and sell phone parts for do-it-yourself repairs.To figure out which iPhones are still receiving security updates, check out this Wikipedia chart that Shi shared as a helpful visual. Shi noted that the iPhone models highlighted in orange stopped receiving functional updates but are still receiving security updates.For now, iPhones 6 through iPhone 10 are still receiving security updates even though they no longer get functional updates like iOS 26 provides. But that won’t be forever.Tech: Users Are Sharing This Hack For Combatting iPhone Update Battery Drain“Once an iPhone stops receiving security updates, you can keep using it, but it’s best to shift it out of active use and limit its exposure to the internet,” Shi said. “Remove access to sensitive information by deleting banking apps and removing email accounts you may use for account verification. You can keep using the iPhone as a dedicated music player, camera, Roku remote, etcetera.”To see for yourself which iPhone model you have, go to Settings, then General, then About to read your listed iPhone model name. This way you can know if your iPhone can even do the iOS 26 update.Then, to see if your iPhone is up to date, go to Settings, then General, then select Software Update. If you have not yet done the iOS 26 update or the iOS 18 security update for eligible phones, your phone will let you know here.Many iPhone users are not happy that they can no longer put off doing the latest iOS update, in order to keep their iPhone secure. Doing this kind of update is inconvenient, and it might be aesthetically displeasing, but it’s unfortunately necessary to have a safe and secure iPhone in the long run.<h3>Related...</h3><ul><li>This iPhone Feature Will Actually Make You Safer Against Scams — If You Turn It On</li><li>iPhone’s Major Update Just Took Away A Beloved Feature — Here’s How to Restore It</li><li>This Overlooked iPhone Setting Could Seriously Help Your Eyes — Here’s How To Turn It On</li></ul>Read the original on HuffPost</div></div>

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Apple's latest iOS 26.2 update addresses critical security vulnerabilities but is only compatible with iPhone models from iPhone 11 and newer. Users with older models, such as iPhone XS and XR, will no longer receive the update, leaving their devices vulnerable. While iPhones 6 to 10 still receive security patches, they won't forever. Users are urged to update to maintain security, despite the inconvenience, as delaying updates increases vulnerability to attacks.

- The release of iOS 26.2 addresses significant security vulnerabilities affecting older iPhone models.  
- Users with models older than iPhone 11 must upgrade to iOS 26 to avoid security risks, as older versions no longer receive updates.  
- While many find the update inconvenient, maintaining security is essential for newer models at risk of exploitation.

If You Have This iPhone Model, You Will No Longer Be Able To Run 1 Critical Update — And That’s A Big Problem