Apple has launched visionOS 26 for its Vision Pro headset, marking a major step forward in spatial computing and mixed reality. Released on September 15, 2025, this update brings exciting new features, including persistent widgets, enhanced lifelike avatars, or personas, and more shared spatial experiences. These upgrades deepen the immersive potential of Vision Pro, making it a powerful tool for both personal and professional use. This article breaks down the key features of visionOS 26 and explores how it transforms the Vision Pro experience.
What’s New in visionOS 26?
The visionOS 26 update introduces several important changes to the Vision Pro headset, pushing it beyond its initial capabilities and offering even more interactivity, continuity, and realism in mixed reality environments. Here’s a look at the standout features:
1. Persistent Widgets
One of the most anticipated features of visionOS 26 is the introduction of persistent widgets. Previously, widgets were reset each time the user powered on or restarted the device. Now, persistent widgets can be placed in the user’s spatial environment, and they remain exactly where the user positioned them across sessions. For instance, users can place their calendar, weather updates, or photos in a space and have them persist even after turning off or restarting the headset.
- Seamless Continuity: This persistent feature creates a more intuitive and personalized experience by allowing users to interact with their most important apps and data without having to reposition them each time.
2. Lifelike Avatars (Personas)
In visionOS 26, Personas, or avatars, have been significantly upgraded to appear more lifelike. The avatars now feature improved facial expressions, hair textures, and more natural movement, making interactions in mixed reality feel more authentic.
- Enhanced Realism: The update enhances how users’ avatars look and behave in virtual environments, making them more reflective of real-world expressions and motions. This creates a more immersive and emotionally engaging experience when interacting with others in shared spaces.
3. Improved Shared Spatial Experiences
With visionOS 26, Apple Vision Pro users can now share their spatial environments with others. This is a breakthrough feature that enables multiple Vision Pro users to experience the same virtual or augmented reality space simultaneously. Whether for remote collaboration, gaming, or virtual socializing, shared experiences allow users to interact with each other in a collaborative mixed reality environment.
- Interactive Collaboration: Users can now engage with friends, family, or colleagues in virtual spaces, offering endless possibilities for social interactions, business meetings, and entertainment.
4. Expanded Spatial Scene Management
The ability to manage spatial scenes has been improved in visionOS 26. Users now have better control over their virtual environments, with more intuitive options for organizing, moving, and interacting with content in mixed reality. This makes it easier to move objects, switch between scenes, and manage multiple virtual elements simultaneously.
- Streamlined Navigation: Whether using the Vision Pro for multitasking or gaming, this feature enhances the user experience by offering smoother transitions between environments and greater control over spatial content.
5. Enhanced Video and 3D Model Support
Apple has also expanded support for high-quality media. visionOS 26 supports 180°/360° video playback in full field of view (FOV), making it easier for users to enjoy immersive video content. In addition, the update brings improved support for 3D models and web-based spatial content, which can be viewed directly in the Vision Pro environment.
- Immersive Video Experiences: Users can now enjoy immersive video content in a way that feels more real and engaging, thanks to the enhanced FOV and media compatibility.
Why visionOS 26 Matters
Apple’s visionOS 26 update is a game-changer for spatial computing and mixed reality. Here’s why these features are so important:
1. Increased Immersion and Realism
The lifelike avatars and persistent widgets make interactions in Vision Pro feel more natural and immersive. This is a critical upgrade for both personal use and professional tasks. Whether users are attending virtual meetings, playing mixed reality games, or exploring 3D environments, the realism of these experiences enhances the overall sense of presence and engagement.
2. Better Integration in Daily Life
Persistent widgets have the potential to transform how users interact with the digital world. Rather than interacting with floating, resettable widgets each time, visionOS 26 makes them a permanent part of the user’s environment. This provides continuity and efficiency in daily tasks, from managing calendars to checking the weather or seeing reminders in real-time.
3. Social and Collaborative Possibilities
The shared spatial experiences feature allows Vision Pro users to collaborate and interact in new ways. Whether for work, education, or leisure, this update brings the social and collaborative potential of mixed reality closer to everyday use. By supporting multiple users in the same virtual space, visionOS 26 opens new doors for remote work, virtual education, and even shared entertainment experiences.
4. Future-Proofing Mixed Reality
Apple is positioning Vision Pro and visionOS to be at the cutting edge of mixed reality technology. With visionOS 26, Apple is setting a strong foundation for the next generation of augmented and virtual reality devices. As spatial computing continues to evolve, this update ensures that Vision Pro stays relevant, powerful, and versatile in a fast-changing tech landscape.
Practical Information for Users
To take advantage of these new features, users must install visionOS 26 on their Vision Pro device. Here’s what you need to know:
1. Compatibility
visionOS 26 is available for all Vision Pro models. Users who already own a Vision Pro can update their device to access the latest features.
2. How to Install
To install visionOS 26, ensure that your Vision Pro is connected to Wi-Fi. Go to the Settings app, select Software Update, and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the update.
3. Installation Tips
Ensure your device has at least 50% battery and a stable internet connection before starting the update. It’s also recommended to back up any important files, although the update should not impact data.
What’s Next for visionOS?
visionOS 26 is just the beginning. Apple is expected to continue refining the system and adding new features that make Vision Pro even more powerful and immersive. Here are some possibilities for the future:
1. More AI Integration
With advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning, future updates could see even more intelligent, context-aware interactions. This could enhance personalization and create more seamless experiences in mixed reality.
2. Wider Applications for Developers
As visionOS 26 introduces new APIs and tools for developers, we can expect more applications to take advantage of the Vision Pro and spatial computing features. This could open up new industries and use cases for Vision Pro, from healthcare to architecture to entertainment.
