Background Security Improvements
Software & Exploit Protection
Essential
Turn on Automatically Install for Background Security Improvements.
What this setting does
Background Security Improvements allow Apple to deliver lightweight security fixes between normal iOS software updates. They can patch components such as Safari, WebKit, and other system libraries without waiting for the next full software update, reducing the time your iPhone remains exposed to certain known vulnerabilities.
Important notes
Background Security Improvements are separate from normal iOS software updates. Apple introduced the current mechanism beginning with iOS 26.1 and recommends keeping Automatically Install turned on.
If Automatically Install is turned off, the iPhone will not receive these security improvements until Apple incorporates them into a later software update.
In rare cases, Apple may temporarily remove a Background Security Improvement because of a compatibility problem and include an updated version in a later release. Applied improvements can also be removed, which returns the device to the security state of its underlying iOS version.
Background Security Improvements complement Automatic Software Updates rather than replacing them. Both settings should remain enabled.