TL;DR: Apple's iOS 27 arrived as a free iPhone update headlined by a more advanced Siri, alongside revamped Screen Time parental controls and dozens of smaller Apple Intelligence additions.

iOS 27 rollout answers what is new for iPhone owners

Apple's latest mobile operating system update, iOS 27, rolled out last week, headlined by a more advanced version of its Siri assistant, according to AP News.

The update also includes revamped screen time controls and other useful but less well known features for iPhone users, according to AP News.

Apple released iOS 27 this week with a focus on refining its flagship operating system and fixing bugs, according to MacRumors.

The company's focus this year included nixing bugs while still adding many additional features to explore, according to MacRumors.

The centerpiece is Apple's new context-aware Siri, re-tooled for the generative AI era, according to MacRumors.

iOS 27 is available now on supported iPhone models as a free update, according to MacRumors.

The software can be downloaded from the Settings app, via General to Software Update, according to MacRumors.

Apple's new child safety features became available on September 14 with the launch of iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS Golden Gate, according to MacRumors.

People shopped at the Apple store on Fifth Avenue on the day of Apple's launch of the iPhone 18 Pro, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in New York, according to AP News.

Screen Time overhaul centers on Child Accounts and Family Sharing

In iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, and visionOS 27, Screen Time introduces new parental controls to help parents manage what kids access, according to Apple Support.

The same controls help parents manage when children use devices and how they stay safe while communicating with others, according to Apple Support.

To access these updated parental controls, every device in the Family Sharing group must use these software versions, according to Apple Support.

The Family Sharing organizer or a parent or guardian also needs to update the parental controls for the family group, according to Apple Support.

If families cannot update every device in the Family Sharing group, they can continue to use the previous version of Screen Time and parental controls, according to Apple Support.

Families in that situation can also adjust the parental controls directly on the child's device, according to Apple Support.

Apple says Child Accounts are easier to set up in iOS 27 and more intuitive to use, according to MacRumors.

To use Screen Time and parental controls, Family Sharing must be set up and each family member must have their own Apple Account, according to Apple Support.

Children in the family group need a Child Account, according to Apple Support.

A child must have their own Apple Account and should not share an account with another family member, according to Apple Support.

If Family Sharing is already set up and the child's Apple Account is part of the group, a parent can set up and manage Screen Time from an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, according to Apple Support.

All devices in the group must be updated to the latest software version to ensure Screen Time settings sync across devices, according to Apple Support.

If Family Sharing is not set up, parents first set up Family Sharing, create a Child Account, and invite other family members, according to Apple Support.

Parents are then asked to update all devices to the latest software version and update parental controls to access the new experience, according to Apple Support.

How parents set up the new controls

When Family Sharing is set up and the Child Account is connected, parents can set up Screen Time and parental controls for the child's device, according to Apple Support.

Management from the family organizer or parent and guardian device is recommended, according to Apple Support.

If Family Sharing is used to manage a child's Apple Account, the family organizer or parent and guardian must set the child's Screen Time passcode on their own device, according to Apple Support.

The passcode is not set on the child's device in that managed arrangement, according to Apple Support.

Setup on iPhone or iPad starts by opening the Settings app, according to Apple Support.

Parents then tap Family, then tap the child's name, according to Apple Support.

Parents then tap Screen Time and follow the onscreen instructions to set up parental controls, according to Apple Support.

Apps, websites, contacts and communication safety

Parents can allow or block access to specific apps and websites, according to Apple Support.

Parents can also adjust app and website protections, including Ask to Buy and Ask to Browse, according to Apple Support.

With Ask to Buy and Ask to Browse, a child sends a request for approval when seeking an eligible purchase or download, according to Apple Support.

The same request process applies when a child wants to visit a new website in Safari or another supported browser app, according to Apple Support.

Improved controls allow parents to choose the types of apps children have access to, according to MacRumors.

Ask to Buy lets kids request new apps and games, according to MacRumors.

Ask to Browse gives parents a way to block or allow the websites children visit in Safari, according to MacRumors.

When a child is ready to browse more freely, parents can update the settings for Ask to Browse, according to Apple Support.

Ask to Browse is on by default for children under 13, according to Apple Support.

Limit Adult Websites is on by default for children under 18, according to Apple Support.

Parents can choose who a child communicates with in Messages, FaceTime, and Phone by deciding who is included in the contacts list, according to Apple Support.

Parents can require permission before a child connects with anyone new, according to Apple Support.

If a child receives a message from someone new, the child cannot see the message until a parent or guardian in the Family Sharing group approves it, according to Apple Support.

Parents can decide who kids can call and message, according to MacRumors.

Communication Safety in Messages and FaceTime detects and blocks both violence and nudity in images and videos, according to MacRumors.

Time Allowances, Schedules and one-tap pauses

With Time Allowances, parents can set boundaries for how long a child can use apps across app categories, such as entertainment, games, and social media, according to Apple Support.

Parents can set a daily time budget that spans all categories, according to Apple Support.

Parents can then fine-tune the allowance by adjusting the time allotted to any individual category, according to Apple Support.

With Screen Time Schedules, parents can choose which apps a child can access at different times of the day, according to Apple Support.

Examples include before school, during school, and after school, according to Apple Support.

Parents can set up separate routines for weekdays and weekends, according to Apple Support.

Parents can also create their own routine based on what works best for the family, according to Apple Support.

Parents can quickly pause device use, allow unlimited use, or change the schedule for the day, according to Apple Support.

Time Allowances and Schedules let parents customize what children can access by the day, hour, and activity, according to MacRumors.

The tools include options to limit apps during school hours, according to MacRumors.

There are one-tap controls to pause access entirely during family events like dinnertime, according to MacRumors.

The same one-tap controls can allow unlimited screen time, according to MacRumors.

Every device in a Family Sharing group needs to be running the latest software for the Screen Time update to work, according to MacRumors.

Regulatory backdrop for the safety push

Apple's updated parental controls come as the company deals with regulatory pressure over child safety in countries like the UK, U.S., and Australia, according to MacRumors.

The UK has called for device-level controls that keep kids from viewing and sharing inappropriate images, according to MacRumors.

The U.S. Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act is now in the Senate, according to MacRumors.

Australia has already prohibited children under 16 from creating accounts on certain social media apps, according to MacRumors.

Apple shared a video promoting the new parental control features it added in iOS 27, according to MacRumors.

The video was shared on Thursday September 24, 2026, according to MacRumors.

Apple Intelligence extras: Photos, Safari, Reminders and Calendar

A new wallpaper extension feature in iOS 27 uses Apple Intelligence to automatically expand a photo beyond its original boundaries, according to MacRumors.

The expansion helps the image fill the entire Lock Screen more naturally, according to MacRumors.

If a photo is cropped too tightly, does not match the iPhone's aspect ratio, or leaves empty space when positioned, iOS 27 can generate additional image content around the edges with the Extend option, according to MacRumors.

The system analyzes the existing image and creates matching background details that blend with the original photo, according to MacRumors.

The Extend option can also be found in the Photos app, according to MacRumors.

Safari uses Apple Intelligence to automatically organize open tabs into related topics, according to MacRumors.

For example, shopping for a new refrigerator while planning a vacation can place tabs for each activity into separate topic-based collections, according to MacRumors.

The feature can be enabled by opening Tab View, tapping the three-line icon in the top-right corner, and turning on Automatically Create Topics, according to MacRumors.

In the Reminders app, users can now create reminders using natural language, according to MacRumors.

Apple Intelligence will automatically fill in details such as the date, time, and location, according to MacRumors.

Typing Pick up Dad at 6 p.m. tonight or Send the photos to Eric tomorrow at 3 p.m. lets Reminders extract the relevant information and add it automatically, according to MacRumors.

The Calendar app also supports natural language input, identifying people, dates, and locations as users type, according to MacRumors.

Users can then tap the suggested information to quickly add it to an event, according to MacRumors.

Messages, Wallet, Shortcuts, Maps and Camera

In the Messages app, users can now long press on a specific message from an Android user and get an option to reply to it, according to MacRumors.

Android messages appear as green chat bubbles, according to MacRumors.

That contrasts with iOS 26, where inline replies are limited to blue bubbles sent over Apple's iMessage platform, according to MacRumors.

Apple has expanded the redesigned pass experience in the Wallet app with iOS 27, according to MacRumors.

The enhanced design introduced for airline boarding passes in iOS 26 now applies to additional pass types, according to MacRumors.

Membership, gift, loyalty, and rewards cards can now use a new Poster Generic layout with a background image, according to MacRumors.

The layout includes a logo, customizable header and footer fields, main information, and an optional barcode, according to MacRumors.

Passes can also include up to two quick actions at the bottom, according to MacRumors.

Examples include getting directions to a venue or checking a rewards points balance, according to MacRumors.

Apple Intelligence makes creating shortcuts more accessible by letting users build them with natural language, according to MacRumors.

Tapping New Shortcut in the Shortcuts app opens a Describe a Shortcut interface, according to MacRumors.

Users explain what they want the shortcut to do, according to MacRumors.

Apple Intelligence selects the appropriate actions and assembles the shortcut automatically, according to MacRumors.

An example can set tomorrow's alarm based on the first Calendar event, enable Sleep Focus, and dim bedroom lights each evening, according to MacRumors.

Another example can display the first meeting, the weather, and today's reminders every morning, according to MacRumors.

These automations can be triggered by factors such as the time of day, location, app activity, and incoming notifications, according to MacRumors.

System events like taking a screenshot can also trigger the automations, according to MacRumors.

Apple is enhancing the Flyover feature in Maps with iOS 27, using Apple Intelligence models to improve aerial imagery, according to MacRumors.

The update offers greater texture and sharper detail, according to MacRumors.

Trees, buildings, and other landmarks appear more realistic, with more accurate geometry and improved lighting effects, according to MacRumors.

Select cities around the world look more lifelike, from the shape of individual trees to the way light reflects off glass skyscrapers, according to Apple, as reported by MacRumors.

Flyover already offers detailed 3D views of landmarks, roads, parks, and buildings in more than 350 cities, according to MacRumors.

The iOS 27 Camera app has a new Siri mode available in addition to video, photo, and other camera modes, according to MacRumors.

The new mode uses Visual Intelligence to identify objects in the frame and provide information about them, according to MacRumors.

It can be used to identify plants, animals, food, and more, according to MacRumors.

For food, it can tell users what it is and how many calories are in it, according to MacRumors.

Sources referenced