Apple released a series of software updates this week across nearly all supported versions of iOS, including updates for older devices dating back to 2013. The updates follow reports of emergency call failures on some older iPhones after network outages.
The issue was reported in Australia, where some older iPhones were unable to connect to emergency services during network failures.
Apple’s updated support documentation states that some older phones may still encounter issues reaching emergency services through alternate available networks under rare conditions.
Emergency calls use different network protocols than standard phone calls. When primary networks are unavailable, devices attempt to connect through alternate networks.
Older hardware and older versions of iOS may encounter edge cases during that process, particularly as networks change over time.
Apple released iOS 26.2.1 for current devices. Older phones received updates on earlier versions of iOS that Apple continues to maintain, including iOS 12.5.8, iOS 15.8.6, iOS 16.7.13, and iOS 18.7.4, depending on the device.
Apple did not provide further technical details about the emergency call failures. The company notes that rare network conditions may still affect some older phones’ ability to reach emergency services, even as carriers continue to improve their networks.
The iOS 26.2.1 update also adds support for Apple’s newly released AirTag 2. The second-generation device includes a new Ultra Wideband chip for extended Precision Finding, a louder Bluetooth chime, and compatibility with child-safe batteries.
These updates are available for all supported iPhones, and you are encouraged to install them to ensure emergency calling continues to function properly.
