If you’ve ever scrambled to delete apps just to install an iOS update, Apple might have your back in iOS 26. 
A new feature called Dynamic Storage Reserve is set to automatically free up space for software updates, so you won’t have to choose between your favorite games and a critical patch.
Included in the iOS 26 Developer Beta 1, the feature works by intelligently reserving enough storage to allow automatic updates to download and install smoothly, even if your iPhone is nearly full. According to Apple’s release notes, “iOS might dynamically reserve update space for Automatic Updates to download and install successfully,” based on how much free space is available.
This is big news for app collectors and users with smaller storage models who often run into the dreaded “Not Enough Storage” warning. Currently, iOS needs a working space two to three times larger than the update file to unpack and install it – hence the struggle if your storage is tight.
While we don’t yet know how much space iOS will set aside, or whether users can disable this feature or receive notifications about it, the change promises a more streamlined and less stressful update experience.
Apple rolled out a revised version of Developer Beta 1 last Friday to address a battery issue, and while anyone can technically install the beta, it’s best to wait – bugs and battery drain are expected. The Public Beta for iOS 26 launches next month, and the full release is expected this September alongside the iPhone 17 lineup.
So yes, this could be the end of the last-minute app purge. CSPAN and your 22 weather apps might live to see another day.