WWDC 2025 Is Just Hours Away: How To Watch and See if iOS 26 Debuts

CNET

3 hours ago

Apple's annual summer software event, WWDC, begins Monday at Apple Park HQ in Cupertino, California. CNET will be there to bring you all the news as it happens, including our first impressions of iOS 19/iOS 26. And you can watch the event online from anywhere in the world.
Apple has already revealed the lineup for its developer conference, which is scheduled to take place from June 9 to June 13, with a mix of online and in-person sessions. The company has scheduled a special event for the first day, from which it will stream its keynote and Platforms State of the Union Address.
This is the point in the year when Apple traditionally unveils major software updates, including the latest versions of iOS, iPadOS and WatchOS, for the iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch, respectively. It's exciting whether or not you're planning to invest in a new Apple product this year, as the new software will also roll out to most of the company's most recent devices, breathing new life into your iPhone for another year or so.
As always, iOS 19 likely won't arrive until later in the year (probably after the annual September iPhone event), but WWDC will let us know what to expect, as well as potentially giving us insight into new Apple Intelligence tools. In the meantime, check out our iOS 19 wish list of features that CNET staff hope will be coming with this next big software update.
We should also note that it might not even be called iOS 19 -- one rumor suggests Apple is changing its numbering system and this iteration will be called iOS 26. Better tune in to see if the rumor is true. CNET has editors and writers attending in person to report on live WWDC 2025 developments as they break.
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How to watch WWDC
The June 9 keynote is scheduled to take place at 10 a.m. PT and will detail "groundbreaking updates coming to Apple platforms," according to a press release. During the keynote, we expect to see the company announce its plans for iOS 19 and other software updates across iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Apple TV.
The platforms state of the union will take place on the same day at 1 p.m. PT, offering "a deeper dive into the new tools MacOS, TVOS, VisionOS and WatchOS."
You can watch both events online via apple.com, the Apple TV app and the Apple YouTube channel.
What is WWDC?
WWDC is a conference for the developers who create the apps we use across our Apple devices, from our iPhones to our MacBooks, to learn about new tools and features they can take advantage of that year. However, the event also garners significant attention from beyond the developer community, since it tells us all we need to know about what to expect from the next generation of software updates that will come to our devices.
The online event is free to attend for all developers, and anyone who is curious can tune into Apple's keynote. But those who want to attend the June 9 event at Apple Park in person need to apply online. In the days following, students and developers will attend sessions where they can engage more deeply with the changes to Apple's platforms, which will allow them to ensure their apps are fully compatible with and that they take advantage of those changes.
"We're excited to mark another incredible year of WWDC with our global developer community," said Susan Prescott, Apple's vice president of worldwide developer relations. "We can't wait to share the latest tools and technologies that will empower developers and help them continue to innovate."
What to expect at WWDC 2025
If rumors are to be believed, Apple's operating systems are set for a dramatic design overhaul this year. According to Bloomberg, iOS 19, iPadOS 19 and MacOS 16 will all feature new icons and menus, which will also change how our devices are controlled and navigated. The aim is reportedly to create a more cohesive style across platforms that will be reminiscent of VisionOS, the operating system designed for the company's mixed-reality headset.
But that's not all -- Apple will likely use WWDC to outline the progress it's made in the field of AI. "I'm looking forward to seeing more details about Apple Intelligence and the new features that will become available," said Francisco Jeronimo, VP of devices at IDC. "This is critical for Apple, as Google Gemini and the Android vendors have taken significant steps forward with their AI offerings."
Last year at WWDC 2024, Apple announced iOS 18 and Apple Intelligence -- as well as updates to Siri that have yet to materialize.
It's highly unlikely we'll see Apple unveil any hardware at this event, although rumors are heating up about next-generation AirTags and a possible iPhone 17 Air. If these are true, they're more likely to come later in the year.