Apple may be preparing to overhaul the naming convention of its operating systems, with the next release potentially skipping ahead to iOS 26, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.

The rebranding would align all Apple platforms—iOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS—with the current calendar year, meaning the versions released in 2025 would carry the “26” suffix.

If confirmed, this would mark Apple’s biggest naming change since 2010, when it transitioned from “iPhone OS” to “iOS.” Current versions vary significantly: iOS 18, macOS 15, and visionOS 2, which creates inconsistency across platforms.

The report suggests Apple will announce the update at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), which begins June 9. In addition to the new naming scheme, Apple is also expected to unveil a fresh visual overhaul across its operating systems.

The change would echo Microsoft’s old strategy, which saw year-based versions like Windows 95 and 98 before shifting to numbered releases.

Apple’s move is seen as a branding reset, potentially simplifying public perception and aligning all its platforms under a single, unified naming strategy. More details are expected at WWDC.