Let’s start with expanded parental controls. Apple is adding three new App Store age ratings: 13+, 16+ and 18+. These ratings will be tied directly to parental controls like Screen Time and Ask to Buy, allowing parents to block or allow app downloads based on the most appropriate age range for their child. For example, a 15-year-old won’t see apps rated 16+ or 18+ in the App Store’s featured sections, though parents can still approve these apps individually if they choose.

Setting up a child account comes with more restrictions. For instance, children under 13 must have their accounts linked to a family group, ensuring default safety settings, including app limits and web filters, are on from the start. Teens aged 13 to 17 will automatically receive age-appropriate protections, regardless of how their account was originally created.

Parents can now choose to share their child’s age range (not their exact birth date) with third-party apps. This helps developers offer age-appropriate content and experiences, while still protecting the child’s privacy. Parents control whether this information is shared always, on a per-app basis or never, and children cannot change this setting unless specifically allowed in parental controls.

The biggest step forward is giving parents more say over who their children can contact. For example, texting a new number or FaceTiming a new contact will require parental approval. Approving contacts is a valuable tool for keeping kids safe, but it shouldn’t be the only step. It’s important for parents to follow up with conversations about “new friends” and online interactions. Ask your child how they know the person and why they want to connect, and remind them about safe sharing practices.

If your child is especially social, be prepared for a steady stream of new contact requests. In these cases, it can be helpful to schedule a regular time, maybe once a week or every few days, to sit down together and review any pending requests. This not only keeps you in the loop but also makes the process less overwhelming for both you and your child, turning it into a learning opportunity and a chance to reinforce healthy digital habits.

A second security feature addresses probable spam and scam messages. With iOS 26, When you receive a message containing a link, the system will automatically scan it for known spam or malicious sites. If a suspicious link is detected, the message will be moved to a separate spam folder, much like what happens with suspicious email.

To make things even safer, iOS 26 will remove the clickable link from the message and replace it with plain text, so you can see the destination without risking an accidental tap. If you trust the link’s destination and had reason to expect the message (remember, senders can be spoofed), you have the option to move the message back to your regular inbox and respond. This update is designed to prevent users from clicking on links without checking them first, which is an easy mistake to make when you’re on the go.

FileVault, Apple’s full-device encryption feature, has been quietly protecting user data since its introduction with iOS 8 and the iPhone 6 in 2014. FileVault encrypts all data stored on your device, so if your iPhone or iPad is lost or stolen, your information remains secure and inaccessible without your passcode, Face ID or Touch ID.

What’s changing with iOS 26 is that FileVault will now be turned on by default on all new and updated devices. Previously, users had to turn it on manually — something many people never got around to doing. Now, everyone gets this extra layer of protection by default.

If you’re not using FileVault now, take a moment to activate it. Open Settings, tap “Face ID & Passcode” (or “Touch ID & Passcode” on older devices, scroll down to “Data Protection” and then toggle FileVault to “On.” With FileVault enabled, only you can unlock your device and access your data, even if someone tries to break in using advanced tools.

Finally, you’ll receive real-time alerts if an app accesses your camera, microphone or location unexpectedly. Don’t ignore those alerts; someone may be accessing your phone without your permission. If you find you’ve lost your phone, you can use the new Secure Recovery to remotely lock, locate and wipe your device using another Apple product or Apple’s website.

Leslie Meredith has been writing about technology for more than a decade. As a mom of four, value, usefulness and online safety take priority. Have a question? Email Leslie at asklesliemeredith@gmail.com.