Apple is preparing to make a big shift in how it names its operating systems. Apple will no longer use the traditional version numbering system for its major software updates. Instead, it’s going to start naming them by year.

If you’re expecting iOS 19 to be the next big release, think again. Under the new system, Apple plans to jump straight to iOS 26, even though the update is coming in 2025. Just like how car manufacturers name models after the upcoming year, Apple is applying a similar approach.

Why the Sudden Change?

According to insiders who spoke to Bloomberg, Apple wants to clean up the current messy versioning system. Right now, the software versions are all over the place: the iPhone is running iOS 18, the Apple Watch is on watchOS 12, and the Vision Pro just launched with visionOS 2. That’s a lot of numbers, and they don’t really line up in a meaningful way.