Apple is once again testing the new Background Security Improvement feature that was first released in iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1 , and macOS Tahoe 26.1. Following a previous test earlier this week, developers and public beta testers using iOS 26.3, iPadOS 26.3, or macOS Tahoe 26.3 can now install a second Background Security Improvement update for testing purposes.
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Apple says that Background Security Improvements provide additional security protections between software updates for Safari, WebKit, and other system libraries. These improvements can be installed by going to the Privacy & Security section of the Settings app, scrolling down to Background Security Improvements, and selecting “Install.”
If the “ Automatic Installation ” option is enabled, Background Security Improvement will be installed automatically when it is released, without the need for manual installation.
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Apple says that users who choose not to install Background Security Improvement will receive the updates in a standard software update. Previously, Apple had a Rapid Security Response to deliver security improvements, but it wasn't used often after its introduction in iOS 16 and was eventually removed in favor of Background Security Improvement.
At some point in 2023, there was a bug in Rapid Security Response that prevented certain web pages from displaying properly.
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Apple warns that Background Security Improvement may lead to “rare cases of compatibility issues.” In the event that this occurs, the updates may be temporarily removed and improved in a subsequent software update.
