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Apple released two minor updates on Monday: iOS 26.5.1 and macOS Tahoe 26.5.1. Both fix specific bugs – one related to charging certain iPhones, and the other to unexpected shutdowns on M5 Macs. These are likely the last maintenance updates before the next generation of Macs is unveiled in a week.
Approximately three weeks after iOS 26.5 and macOS Tahoe 26.5, Apple is releasing two further updates – both minor in scope, but with a clearly defined purpose. They are being released just before WWDC 2026, where Apple is expected to unveil iOS 27 and macOS 27. Work on the current generation is thus visibly drawing to a close.
iOS 26.5.1 fixes the charging problem
iOS 26.5.1 appears to be available only for the iPhone Air and the iPhone 17 series models and can be downloaded via Settings > General > Software Update on eligible devices. According to Apple's release notes, the update fixes a bug that could prevent wired charging for a small number of users when the battery was nearly depleted.
Apple is responding to a charging issue known since the end of April that affected precisely these devices: After a completely drained battery, affected iPhones no longer responded reliably to the USB-C cable. Previous updates had not yet fixed the bug.
macOS Tahoe 26.5.1 fixes M5 shutdowns
macOS Tahoe 26.5.1 was released concurrently, also about three weeks after macOS Tahoe 26.5. The update can be installed via System Preferences under General > Software Update. According to the release notes, it fixes an issue where Macs with the M5 chip could unexpectedly shut down – this affected devices belonging to enterprise users when certain network extensions for content filtering were in use.
The last updates before iOS 27 and macOS 27
Both updates fall within the final stages of the current software cycle. iOS 26 and macOS Tahoe are nearing the end of their respective lifecycles, as the next major version is already on the horizon: Apple will unveil iOS 27 and macOS 27 at its keynote on June 8. Major new features are not to be expected in a maintenance update like this – the focus is clearly on stability. (Image: Apfelpatient)
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