The tiny iOS 26 update that made a big difference for me

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ZDNET’s key takeaways

• Apple increased the size of its timer and alarm buttons on iOS 26.
• The update makes it easier to dismiss them. 
• Not every software update needs to be flashy to be helpful. 

I’m waking up at the crack of dawn, after a shoddy night of sleep. My iPhone alarm and its ever-strong siren song blare as it shakes me from my slumber. At this point, I’ll do anything to turn that wretched sound off as quickly as possible. 

The one thing that gets in my way? The iPhone’s dismiss button for its alarm is too small. In my half-asleep state, I don’t always hit and dismiss it the first time. 

The smallest and, perhaps, subtlest feature update of iOS 26 solves a problem for me. The dismissal buttons on Apple’s latest software update are, thankfully, bigger, removing a pain point I’ve had with its timers and alarms on Apple’s Clock app, one of my most-used native apps. 

Also: 5 features that made updating to iOS 26 worth it

The Clock app and its Alarm feature encounter users at their most groggy, disrupting their sacred sleep. Most people aren’t happy to be woken up. When an Apple alarm goes off — and, with it, that signature, bone-chilling ringtone — I immediately activate fight or flight. Turning those tunes off quickly feels imperative, and anything that gets in the way is a great disturbance at best and a day-ruiner at worst. 

There’s not super reliable data on this metric, but surveys show that most Americans use their smartphone as their alarm clock, with usage growing significantly among younger Americans. Unless you are one of the few lucky sleepers who wakes up every day without an alarm at the right time, chances are you’re using your smartphone most days of the week to get out of bed. 

I’m delighted that Apple finally updated this functionality in an app used daily by many iPhone owners, including me. 

Also: Your Apple Watch is getting a big upgrade for free

When considering meaningful software changes, it’s easy to focus on more advanced updates, such as AI-powered assistants or voice-translation features, which can be catchy and flashy. However, the updates that are most appreciated by the largest group of people are simple design changes, like maximizing the dismissal button on a timer or alarm. 

I’ve noticed larger buttons in other apps as well, such as on the Apple Watch Workout app, where, instead of a workout-like elliptical taking up a portion of the screen, the workout activation takes up the entire screen. 

Before updating to WatchOS 26, I’d sometimes fail to click on the Start button because of its smaller size. The button size issue was only exacerbated when I was on the move, such as running or beginning an elliptical workout. 

Also: If these iPhone 17 Air rumors are real, my old phone is about to be retired

Apple’s September iPhone event takes place in Cupertino next week, and the tech giant will unveil its latest lineup of shiny new tech. It could reveal thinner iPhones or Apple Watches with blood pressure-measuring functionalities.

Surely AI will infuse its way into all these products, and, while I’ll be eager to learn about all the latest eye-catching and earth-shattering hardware and software features, I also hope Apple continues to improve the simple features, too, little by little.