Apple Focuses on Security in iOS 18.6, macOS 15.6, and Other x.6 OS Updates
Apple has released updates to all its current operating systems, advertising them as providing “important bug fixes and security updates,” with few details on the bugs. Here’s what you will find:
- iOS 18.6 and iPadOS 18.6: Apple says that these updates fix a bug in Photos that prevented sharing memory movies. We’ve also confirmed that StandBy, which we reported as being significantly less responsive to motion in iOS 18.4, has returned to its previous responsiveness. For users in the European Union, these updates also introduce significant changes to App Store rules, adding a new interface for installing alternative app marketplaces or downloading apps directly from developers’ websites. Apple was forced to make the changes by the EU’s Digital Markets Act; the company has said it is appealing the decision. Additionally, the iOS 18.6 enterprise release notes state that managed apps can now browse managed locations in the Files picker and the certificate picker displays correctly for Single Sign-On Web applications. iPadOS 18.6’s enterprise release notes add that temporary sessions defined by a device management service on a Shared iPad will now log out correctly when the timer expires. These updates address 24 security vulnerabilities.
- macOS 15.6 Sequoia: Although Apple’s main release notes don’t describe any of the bugs fixed in this update, the enterprise release notes reveal that the
softwareupdate —fetch-full-installerTerminal command now completes successfully, Macs using transparent proxy extensions no longer fail to obtain IP addresses via DHCP, Setup Assistant completes successfully even if device management skips both Terms and Conditions and data migration, Macs will no longer boot to Recovery after installing a software update, platform SSO enrollment no longer fails when an associated domains configuration is required, and the authentication timeout is increased when manually entering 802.1X credentials. Finally, Apple’s developer release notes report that macOS 15.6 fixes a bug that prevented the Finder and Apple Configurator from restoring some devices from DFU mode. macOS 15.6 addresses a whopping 81 security vulnerabilities. - watchOS 11.6: Apple’s release notes offer no details about bug fixes, but the update addresses 17 security vulnerabilities.
- visionOS 2.6: As with watchOS, Apple remains mum regarding bug fixes but does acknowledge fixes for 19 security vulnerabilities.
- tvOS 18.6: In my best rendition of a broken record, Apple says nothing about bug fixes but does admit to addressing 19 security vulnerabilities.
- HomePod Software 18.6: These release notes switch to Apple’s standard “performance and stability improvements” verbiage.
Apple also released macOS 14.7.7 Sonoma with fixes for 50 security vulnerabilities, macOS 13.7.7 Ventura with fixes for 41 security vulnerabilities, and iPadOS 17.7.9 with fixes for 18 security vulnerabilities. Similarly, Safari 18.6 for Ventura and Sonoma addresses 13 security vulnerabilities.
Practically speaking, there’s little reason for most people to look through the release notes because nothing in them is likely to affect how you use your devices. You should install these updates soon because they—particularly macOS 15.6—address so many security vulnerabilities. Although Apple said nothing about any of these vulnerabilities being actively exploited in the wild, several refer to zero-day exploits in open source tools included with Apple’s operating systems. In short, just upgrade.
Given Apple’s typical release patterns, these will likely be the final feature updates for the x.6 operating systems. Subsequent releases will be limited to security fixes after the OS 26 releases come out, likely in September.
MacRumours has also covered these updates:
iOS 18.6 and macOS Sequoia 15.6 Address Chrome Zero-Day Attack
It mentions the updates address a major zero-day attack that targeted Chrome users.
Oh interesting—I saw that open source libraries had been affected but didn’t follow the CVE trail. Apple didn’t use its normal “Apple is aware…” terminology to indicate that any of these were zero-days.
I’m sure (?) it was purely coincidental, but my M3 MacBook Air died shortly after installing the 15.6 update. It wouldn’t charge and wouldn’t start up. It’s now with my local Apple Store for investigation …
Has anyone heard of similar issues?
Exact same thing happened to my M1 Macbook Air. Also in for repairs.
Thank you both for posting, and please post updates. I have one of each model that I had planned to update; those plans are now on hold.
Ack! I have an M2 MBA. For reason of your posts and other reasons, will not be updating til I hear more. Thank You for posting!!!
this is an important part of why I am slow to do updates. Apple has the capability to explain these things in common language and let users decide for themselves about updating, but they don’t. Sigh.
This is anecdotal, of course, but my M2 MacBook Air installed the update without any issues. Usually I wait, but this one prompted me earlier than most updates do.
I also have one of each model (M1 and M3 MBA) so will also hold off on updating to 15.6.
iOS 18.6 installed cleanly on my iPhone 13 mini.
To be safe, I made a backup to my Mac (from the Finder, via USB) before running the upgrade. But it wasn’t necessary - the upgrade seems to have just worked.
I did the actual upgrade over the air, not via USB.
I have not yet updated my Mac. I’ll wait until I get a notification from the system…
It was fine on my M4 MacBook Pro. Let us know what the Apple Store says, @spells and @MacWish6.
More anecdotal information: I have updated an iPhone 16Pro, an iPhone 12 mini, a MacBook Pro M4, two Apple TVs, an iPad Pro 11 inch, an Apple Watch 10, and various HomePods and all are fine. Doesn’t prove anything, but a bit more data.
Apple tech found no hardware problems with my MacBook Air (2020) which has stopped booting after MacOS 15.6 update. He restored T2 firmware, erased disk and reinstalled MacOS 15.6. MacBook now powers up without any problems and passed all hardware diagnostics. Not sure what happened to T2 firmware.
I added reply to Talk. Bottom line: restoring “T2” firmware appears to have solved the problem and no further problems so far after tech installed MacOS 15.6. Don’t know what caused problem with Firmware in 4 year old MacBook Air that has not been heavily used.
Well after the update, this popped up on my desktop this morning. Yes, I still have a working and upgraded HDD Time Capsule. Its duty is that and some 2.4Ghz stuff that soon won’t be an issue.
Disconcerting and a cold reminder that Apple cancels its support and also doesn’t offer a same or better solution. Thus I’ve been considering a NAS. But that will be an expense far more than the simple, LAN-connected Time Capsule (2TB → 4TB) provided.
In the meantime, CCC does its full drive backup to another drive. And to still have TM running, I’ll put a T7 4TB SSD on my mac studio while I contemplate how to do a NAS for TM and other media storage.
I was hoping these updates might resuscitate iCloud Safari Tab syncing that has been broken for quite a while now (seriously, how hard can this be?). Unfortunately, no dice. I guess my only hope now remains iOS/macOS 26.
If you had had a problem with the iOS update, how would you use the backup to revert to the earlier iOS version? I had understood that wasn’t possible. Thanks.
It is possible but only so long as Apple is still signing the older iOS version. For dot updates, they usually stop signing about a week after the new release comes out. But until that happens, you can still put the iPhone in DFU mode, install the prior version, and restore from backup.
You can put an iPhone into recovery mode and then use the Finder to install a firmware image. But the image has to be signed, and Apple stops signing old images a week or so after the next version ships.
But…
Since iOS 18.6 is brand new, the previous version is still signed and will probably be for a few more days.
And even if you can’t install an old version of iOS, if stuff goes catastrophically wrong, you may be able to “restore” the phone, to bring it back to a blank newly-installed 18.6 environment and then restore your backup. Which may be enough to fix any corrupt database or system configuration files.
Yes, the writing has been on the wall for Time Capsules for a long time now.
Will be awaiting this answer. I recently sold an M1 MBA to a friend and they say it wants a password. So I have to get with them to sort it out. I should have reset it, but it was a while ago and I don’t remember.
Obviously most aren’t having problems, but I don’t see any other M1 MBA reports. M2 Mini Pro and M3 MBP to 15.6 without problems here.
Ditto here. I’m glad my 2022 MBA M2 is still on Sonoma 14.7.7. I hold off updating until just about a year has passed after a new major version of MacOS is released and was just about to install Sequoia. Since I don’t have an Apple Store nearby to do repairs, if something happens and I can’t fix it I have to toss the hardware and get a replacement.
Not a bad approach, in your situation, imho!
I rarely find new Apple OSes compelling any more so also try to wait until my intution tells me it’s safe.
As a follow up, I was having trouble with a new digital camera being seen by the M2 MBAir so went ahead and updated to 15.6.
Took about an hour over DSL while I was tending to dinner.
I haven’t fully gone thru all settings or key apps yet but the Mac is still working, Mail works but had some categorization feature offered which I turned off and adjusted some settings that appeared to be new and on by default.
Appears Apple AI was installed (I had prevented that previously with Little Snitch), but not active as Siri is in one language and the Mac in another. I don’t know how Siri got in another language as i never use it but am happy this keeps Apple AI from working.
There were several things in iCloud turned on that were off before so I turned them off. System Settings was not displaying correctly, I went into my Apple Account section and then for example ‘Sign In & Security’ and at the top it told I was in Wi-Fi Settings though the Sign in stuff was displayed. I clicked the left arrow to go back to Account Settings and it took me somewhere else.
Anyway, I restarted the MBA and then section headers matched content in System Settings.
On the plus side, I launched Firefox and up came TBT, still logged in!
Alas, the update did not solve the problem with the digital camera. Need to decide on sending for repair or trying to return for refund or exchange.
You can turn Apple Intelligence off via the Apple Intelligence & Siri settings panel.
Does the camera need a driver? Have you checked online for information?
Thanks Mr. Forkosh!
Yes I have never turned on Apple-I in Sytems but wanted to avoid using storage space for it as the MBA only has 1TB internal storage. (it’s also irksome how many applications can’t be deleted even if one doesn’t use them; but that’s another topic…).
Camera is a Fujifilm X100VI. I owned an X100V previously and it did not require a driver and worked fine with the same Mac, apps, and same cables. I’ve read the manuals for both models and not come across any reference to drivers. Good Question! Sending it off to repair center tomorrow.
A bit of a nuisance but I travel with an Apple SD card reader for transferring photos if the camera wifi feature does not work for my iiPad (eg camera battery needs recharging). I haven’t tried it with my MBA but expect it would work.
I have an iPhone 15. The bottom 4 Apps are Contacts, Phone, Evernote annd Comcast/Xfinity. I use them every day.
Last week I updated to 18.6. When the update was finished, the bottom row was changed to Conacts, Phone, and a folder called Productivity. Comcast and Evernote were placed in this folder. I didn’t ask for this and I don’t want these Apps in a folder! (It’s another click just to open the App!) I tried to drag the 2 Apps out of folder numerous times and was finally able to get Comcast out. But I can’t get Evernote out of the folder. When I touch the folder I do get a menu that says: Remove Folder, Edit Home Screen and Rename.
Question: If I choose Remove Folder, does that mean Evernote will be gone, too?
I don’t want Evernote in a folder — any suggestions on how it can be removed? It won’t let me drag it out!
Did this happen to anyone else where Apple decided to put Apps in folders??
I have a 15" MacBook Air M2 2023. I bought it April 2024. I returned from vacation on Monday (8-11-2025) and booted up the laptop. It doesn’t hold a charge! It was charged to 100% went I went to bed, with top open and on. In the morning only 2% charge was left. Before I left for vacation, I updated to 14.7.7. From reading the comments here, It appears that the update has caused this problem. Is Apple acknowledging this problem? Those of you that have had to take your computers in to be fixed —are you paying for that?
Interesting. iOS has never changed the icons on my home screen. My Dock (the bottom row) has what I think is still the factory default: Phone, Messages, Safari and Mail. Everything else is on the screen above it (mostly in folders):
Regarding the question itself, that popup is what happens whenever you long-press any folder:
“Rename” opens the folder and lets you rename it. Same as if you would open the folder and then long-press its name.
“Edit Home Screen” starts the icons wiggling so you can move them around. Same as if you would long-press the icon and then start dragging it somewhere.
“Remove Folder” will delete the folder and its content from the home screen. The app will remain installed, and will be accessible via the App Library, should you want to put it back. If you tap this option, it even says so:
My suggestion to you:
THANK YOU, David. Dragging the folder out of the dock was the trick! Bad Apple --if I want my Apps in a folder, I’ll put them there myself!
It’s not uncommon to see a Mac perform a lot of background tasks after updates. If you have your Mac on after an update but not plugged in, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the battery run down.
Leave it plugged in over night while it’s finishing all its housekeeping. See if once you start using it after it has fully charged, the battery rundown appears any faster than it used to. If you are suspicious of a runaway process and don’t wan’t to get into detailed investigation, you can always just reboot your Mac.
What does System Information say under Hardware > Power in terms of cycle count and max capacity?
Cycle Count: 126
Condition: Normal
Max Capacity: 89%
That’s still fine.
A decent rule of thumb is no less than 80% before 300 cycles.
I have a MacBook Pro 2019 16-inch running Sequoia 15.6.
Under System Information there is Cycle Count (211) and Condition (Normal), but no Maximum Capacity.
Under Charge Information, however, there is Full Charge Capacity (mAh): 7454.
I assume this is all fine too, but is there a reason there is no Maximum Capacity as a percentage?
David
The Intel MacBooks are different. But we can arrive at similar conclusions.
Your 2019 16" has a 100 Wh battery and its battery voltage is ~11.4 V which means the battery has a charge capacity of about 8.8 Ah. So that would put your remaining capacity at about 85%. At ~5 years of age and over 200 cycles that looks just fine so I’d claim the ‘normal’ label is spot on.
I thought the fact that it’s an Intel model might have something to do with it.
Thanks for the clear and detailed explanation.
David