Apple launches Preview app with iOS 26 update: A built-in editor for PDFs and images

Apple has officially released iOS 26, introducing a fresh visual design and a new built-in app called Preview. The app, familiar to Mac users, brings a suite of document and image editing tools to iPhones for the first time.

Unlike its name might suggest, Preview isn’t about showing upcoming Apple products or features. It’s a productivity tool designed to let users open, view, edit, and sign PDFs, as well as make quick edits to images. The app offers core functions similar to Adobe Acrobat but with a simplified Apple-style interface.

Once you update to iOS 26, the Preview app will automatically appear on your iPhone. Opening it reveals options such as New Document, Scan Document, and access to files stored on your device. From there, you can annotate PDFs, insert signatures, fill text fields, and crop or rotate images. The interface resembles the existing screenshot editor in iOS, making it intuitive even for first-time users.

One of the standout features is document scanning. Using your iPhone’s camera, you can quickly digitise physical pages into clean PDF files. The app automatically detects edges and corrects alignment, making scanning a smooth experience. Users can also export files in multiple formats, share them directly through other apps, or store them in Files for later use.