Important Software Updates for MacOS Big Sur & Catalina, Older iPhones, iPads, & Apple Watch, Released

Apple has released important software updates to a variety of older devices, including older model Macs, iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watch’s. These new updates are released as macOS Big Sur 11.7.11 and macOS Catalina Security Update 2026-001 Catalina, iOS 16.7.14, iPadOS 16.7.14, watchOS 10.6.2, watchOS 9.6.4, and watchOS 6.3.1.

According to release notes from Apple, these software updates extend necessary device activation certificates, allowing for services like iMessage and FaceTime to continue working after January 2027. Without installing these updates, device activation, FaceTime, and iMessage services, will stop working. This makes these updates important to install on any eligible device, though there’s about 11 months technically before the features stop working.

Specific devices eligible for these updates include many that have not otherwise been updated or supported in quite some time, including:

• Apple Watch, as watchOS 10.6.2, watchOS 9.6.4, watchOS 6.3.1: Series 1, Series 2, Series 3, Series 4, and Series 5, Series 6, Series 7, Series 8, SE, SE 2, and Ultra
• Mac, as Security Update 2026-001 Catalina and macOS Big Sur 11.7.11
• iPhone & iPad, as iOS 16.7.14 and iPadOS 16.7.14 : iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, iPad 5th generation, iPad Pro 9.7-inch, and iPad Pro 12.9-inch 1st generation

The updates included in these new software updates appear to be the same patch that was included in iOS 12.5.8 for the iPhone 5s and iPhone 6 series.

If you have an older model iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch, you’ll want to check to make sure you don’t miss these updates, or those issued the week prior, with the same patch.

How to Download & Install MacOS Big Sur 11.7.1 & macOS Catalina Security Update 2016-001

As always, backup your Mac with Time Machine before starting a software update:

1. From the  Apple menu go to “System Preferences” and then to ‘Software Update’
2. Choose to install “MacOS Big Sur 11.7.1” or “macOS Catalina Security Update 2016-001 Catalina”, depending on the version of MacOS you are running

Installing the updates will require MacOS to restart.

How to Download & Install iOS 16.7.14 and iPadOS 16.7.14 Update

Always backup iPhone or iPad to iCloud before starting your software update:

1. Open “Settings” app on the iPhone or iPad
2. Go to “General” and then choose “Software Update”
3. Find iOS 16.7.14 or iPadOS 16.7.14 and and install the update

Updating Apple Watch can be done through the Watch app on the paired iPhone.

Again, no new features or changes are expected in these software updates, they merely make sure that key Apple features including device activation, FaceTime, and iMessage, will continue to work after January 2027.

The latest available update for more modern devices is iOS 26.2.1, ipadOS 26.2.1, and macOS Tahoe 26.2.