Apple released the iOS 27.2 update on Oct. 26, and it fixes more than 160 security flaws on iPhones that run iOS 27. Apple also shipped smaller updates the same day for older iPhones that cannot run iOS 27, including the iPhone XS and iPhone XR, and one of those fixes is for a flaw Apple says may already have been used against specific people.
The short version
Apple shipped three iPhone updates on Oct. 26, and every iPhone from the iPhone XS onward has one waiting. Installing it takes a few taps in Settings.
- iOS 27.2 is for the iPhone 11 and later, and Apple’s security notes list 163 fixes.
- If you are still on iOS 26, iOS 26.7.2 covers the same iPhones with 134 fixes.
- The iPhone XS, XS Max and XR get iOS 18.7.11, which fixes a flaw Apple says may have been exploited against targeted people.
- iOS 27.2 also brings Siri AI, still in beta, to French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish.
- The downside: Apple says Siri AI has daily usage limits, and more access will cost a fee in the future.
What changes for you: most of these fixes close holes that a booby-trapped file, website or app could use to get into your phone. You will not notice them after you update, and that is the point. The risk sits with the phones that never get updated.
Which iOS 27.2 update does your iPhone need?
It depends on your iPhone and on which version you run now. Here is how Apple’s Oct. 26 releases line up, with our count of the fixes listed on each of Apple’s security pages.
| Your iPhone | Update to get | Security fixes listed |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 11 or newer, on iOS 27 | iOS 27.2 | 163 |
| iPhone 11 or newer, still on iOS 26 | iOS 26.7.2 (or move to iOS 27.2) | 134 |
| iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max or iPhone XR | iOS 18.7.11 | 3 |
Apple lists every release and its security notes on its security releases page. The same day, Apple also updated the Mac (macOS Golden Gate 27.2), Apple Watch (watchOS 27.2), Apple TV (tvOS 27.2), Vision Pro (visionOS 27.2) and Safari, so check those devices too.
Why older iPhones should not skip this one
The iOS 18.7.11 update for the iPhone XS, XS Max and XR is small, with three fixes, but one of them matters. Apple says a flaw in how the phone processes images (a part of iOS called CoreGraphics) “may have been exploited in an extremely sophisticated attack against specific targeted individuals on versions of iOS before iOS 27.”
In plain terms, a specially made file could let an attacker run their own code on the phone. Apple’s wording means it believes the attack was aimed at specific people, not everyone. Still, the fix is free and the flaw is now public, so there is no good reason to wait.
Another fix in the same update stops a harmful app from turning on the camera without your permission. If your phone has been acting strangely, our guide on how to tell if your phone is hacked walks through the signs.
How to install the iOS 27.2 update
These are Apple’s own steps. Do it when you will not need the phone for a while.
- Back up your iPhone with iCloud or your computer.
- Plug the phone into power and connect to Wi-Fi.
- Open Settings, tap General, then tap Software Update.
- If an update shows up, tap Download and Install, then follow the steps on screen.
If the phone says it needs more space, Apple says you can let it remove some apps for a while. They come back on their own once the update is done.
To stop chasing updates, go to Settings, then General, then Software Update, then Automatic Updates, and turn on Automatically Install. Your iPhone will then install updates overnight while it charges on Wi-Fi, and it tells you before it does.
What Siri AI gets in iOS 27.2
The fun part of iOS 27.2 is Siri AI, the new version of Siri that can read what is on your screen and act across your apps. It is still labelled beta, and until now it only worked in English. With iOS 27.2, Apple says it now also works in French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish, with Chinese (traditional), Norwegian, Turkish and Vietnamese coming by the end of the year.
To use it in one of the new languages, your iPhone has to support Apple Intelligence and Siri has to be set to that language. Go to Settings, tap Siri (on some versions it is called Apple Intelligence & Siri), then tap Language. Apple’s notes add two limits: Siri AI is not available in the EU on iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch for now, and it is not available to users under 13.
The downside: Siri AI has a daily limit
Apple’s fine print on the Siri AI announcement says features that run on its servers, including Siri AI, photo editing tools and Image Playground, “are subject to daily usage limits.” Apple says the limits can change with how complex your request is and how busy its servers are, and that “expanded access to such features will be available for a fee in the future.”
Apple’s support page says that when you hit a limit, that feature pauses and comes back after a time-out, while the rest of the phone keeps working. Apple has not said what the limits are or what the paid tier will cost. If you just bought an iPhone for its AI features, that is the part to keep an eye on.
What to watch next
Apple has an event on Oct. 28, so more news may follow this week. For now, the one thing to do today is open Settings and install whichever update your iPhone offers you.
