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2026 Ford App Predictions

16cards

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Ford has been fairly consistent in their release cadence in 2025 with two releases a month, except only one December. We've likely had the last app release of 2025. And with each app release, there seems to be complaints on what the app is missing. So, let's put a twist on the tone and instead predict what we think will be added at any point in a 2026 release.

One rule, be positive and don't whine. Could be something simple like ProPower controls making a return. Could be something creative no one has yet mentioned yet.

What are your 2026 Ford app predictions?
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RickLightning

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I can't imagine that they've updated the app 2 times a month all year. Last Android update was 11/19.
 
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A precondition HVB on demand would be a valuable addition and might make it next year. Just a 20min. Heating cycle then auto off so as not to cause any unanticipated damage.
 
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RickLightning said:
I can't imagine that they've updated the app 2 times a month all year. Last Android update was 11/19.
Click to expand...
While I have access to Android devices as a mobile app developer, I don't install and track availability of the Ford Android app. However, I was able to scrape data from APKMirror of when Android app versions roughly arrived.

VersioniOS (App Store)Android (APK Mirror archives)Days difference
5.9.02024-12-03?-
5.10.02025-01-06?-
5.11.02025-01-21?-
5.12.02025-02-032025-02-129 days
5.13.02025-02-172025-03-1526 days
5.14.02025-03-032025-03-1613 days
5.15.02025-03-172025-04-0216 days
5.16.02025-04-012025-04-098 days
5.17.02025-04-142025-04-206 days
5.19.02025-05-122025-05-29 (beta)17 days
5.20.02025-05-272025-06-19.23 days
5.21.02025-06-092025-06-110 days
5.22.02025-06-232025-06-26 (beta)3 days
5.23.02025-07-072025-07-092 days
5.24.02025-07-212025-07-298 days
5.25.02025-08-042025-08-128 days
5.26.02025-08-182025-08-268 days
5.27.02025-09-032025-09-107 days
5.28.02025-09-152025-09-227 days
6.0.02025-10-152025-10-20 (beta)5 days
6.1.02025-10-272025-11-048 days
6.2.02025-11-122025-11-197 days
6.3.02025-12-012025-12-05 (beta)4 days

High-level takeaways
  • Who gets updates first? In 2025, for every matched version above iOS releases proceeded Android releases.
  • Typical delay:
    • Average delay (Android after iOS) ≈ 9.8 days.
    • Median delay = 8 days.
    • Range: shortest = 2 days (e.g., 5.23.0), longest = 26 days (5.13.0).
  • Pattern: Early-2025 differences were larger (several weeks for some versions) and the mid/late-2025 cadence shows smaller gaps (often ~5–10 days), suggesting the teams have tightened cross-platform rollout timing over the year — and the major 6.0 release (Oct) was pushed to Android about a week after iOS.
 
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Now remove all the beta updates, and any update that happened within days of the previous one, because it was fixing issues caused by the update. I think you'd be left with maybe 10 at the most vs. 24.
 
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16cards said:
While I have access to Android devices as a mobile app developer, I don't install and track availability of the Ford Android app. However, I was able to scrape data from APKMirror of when Android app versions roughly arrived.

VersioniOS (App Store)Android (APK Mirror archives)Days difference
5.9.02024-12-03?-
5.10.02025-01-06?-
5.11.02025-01-21?-
5.12.02025-02-032025-02-129 days
5.13.02025-02-172025-03-1526 days
5.14.02025-03-032025-03-1613 days
5.15.02025-03-172025-04-0216 days
5.16.02025-04-012025-04-098 days
5.17.02025-04-142025-04-206 days
5.19.02025-05-122025-05-29 (beta)17 days
5.20.02025-05-272025-06-19.23 days
5.21.02025-06-092025-06-110 days
5.22.02025-06-232025-06-26 (beta)3 days
5.23.02025-07-072025-07-092 days
5.24.02025-07-212025-07-298 days
5.25.02025-08-042025-08-128 days
5.26.02025-08-182025-08-268 days
5.27.02025-09-032025-09-107 days
5.28.02025-09-152025-09-227 days
6.0.02025-10-152025-10-20 (beta)5 days
6.1.02025-10-272025-11-048 days
6.2.02025-11-122025-11-197 days
6.3.02025-12-012025-12-05 (beta)4 days

High-level takeaways
  • Who gets updates first? In 2025, for every matched version above iOS releases proceeded Android releases.
  • Typical delay:
    • Average delay (Android after iOS) ≈ 9.8 days.
    • Median delay = 8 days.
    • Range: shortest = 2 days (e.g., 5.23.0), longest = 26 days (5.13.0).
  • Pattern: Early-2025 differences were larger (several weeks for some versions) and the mid/late-2025 cadence shows smaller gaps (often ~5–10 days), suggesting the teams have tightened cross-platform rollout timing over the year — and the major 6.0 release (Oct) was pushed to Android about a week after iOS.
Click to expand...
6.3.0 for Android is not beta. I was notified of, and updated to, it last evening and am not signed up for any betas.
 
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RickLightning said:
Now remove all the beta updates, and any update that happened within days of the previous one, because it was fixing issues caused by the update. I think you'd be left with maybe 10 at the most vs. 24.
Click to expand...
As I mentioned, I don't track Android updates. I had to go to APK Mirror to infer details. They are non-authoritative.

However, the iOS releases were consistent. Here is a table of just the iOS releases and you can see how consistent they are:

Version (as listed)Release dateDays since previous release
15.9.02024-12-03—
25.10.02025-01-0634 days (no 2nd release in December... holiday)
35.11.02025-01-2115 days
45.12.02025-02-0313 days
55.13.02025-02-1714 days
65.14.02025-03-0314 days
75.15.02025-03-1714 days
85.16.02025-04-0115 days
95.17.02025-04-1413 days
105.17.12025-04-228 days (bug fix)
115.18.02025-04-286 days
125.19.02025-05-1214 days
135.20.02025-05-2715 days
145.21.02025-06-0913 days
155.22.02025-06-2314 days
165.23.02025-07-0714 days
175.24.02025-07-2114 days
185.25.02025-08-0414 days
195.26.02025-08-1814 days
205.27.02025-09-0316 days
215.28.02025-09-1512 days
226.0.02025-10-1530 days (likely a longer test cycle for the app redesign)
236.1.02025-10-2712 days
246.2.02025-11-1216 days (no 2nd release in November... holiday)
256.3.02025-12-0119 days
 
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Just updated the app yesterday (Android). I didn't wait for it to tell me an update was available, I just went in and searched for the app, it said one was available.

There's a few differences but the only one I was amped about is they brought back PPOB controls. Apparently it was in the app before then removed, then people complained so it's back lol.

Ford F-150 Lightning 2026 Ford App Predictions 54974987554_a3601225ec
 
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RLXXI said:
Just updated the app yesterday (Android). I didn't wait for it to tell me an update was available, I just went in and searched for the app, it said one was available.

There's a few differences but the only one I was amped about is they brought back PPOB controls. Apparently it was in the app before then removed, then people complained so it's back lol.

54974987554_a3601225ec.jpg
Click to expand...
I just verified that I don't have this yet, and I see no update available, with 11/19 being the last one. Also Android.
 
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16cards said:
As I mentioned, I don't track Android updates. I had to go to APK Mirror to infer details. They are non-authoritative.

However, the iOS releases were consistent. Here is a table of just the iOS releases and you can see how consistent they are:

Version (as listed)Release dateDays since previous release
15.9.02024-12-03—
25.10.02025-01-0634 days (no 2nd release in December... holiday)
35.11.02025-01-2115 days
45.12.02025-02-0313 days
55.13.02025-02-1714 days
65.14.02025-03-0314 days
75.15.02025-03-1714 days
85.16.02025-04-0115 days
95.17.02025-04-1413 days
105.17.12025-04-228 days (bug fix)
115.18.02025-04-286 days
125.19.02025-05-1214 days
135.20.02025-05-2715 days
145.21.02025-06-0913 days
155.22.02025-06-2314 days
165.23.02025-07-0714 days
175.24.02025-07-2114 days
185.25.02025-08-0414 days
195.26.02025-08-1814 days
205.27.02025-09-0316 days
215.28.02025-09-1512 days
226.0.02025-10-1530 days (likely a longer test cycle for the app redesign)
236.1.02025-10-2712 days
246.2.02025-11-1216 days (no 2nd release in November... holiday)
256.3.02025-12-0119 days
Click to expand...
I think it's great that every 2 weeks or so they roll out an update to the app. I don't think it's great that a large percentage of those updates are to fix things screwed up that worked prior. That's what I meant. Getting new features - that's an update. Fixing something that was broken 3 months ago, that's not.
 

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Maybe it's just me, but the iOS 6.3.0 update removed the PPO function I had in the iOS 6.2.0 update.
 
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RickLightning said:
I just verified that I don't have this yet, and I see no update available, with 11/19 being the last one. Also Android.
Click to expand...
Do a search for the Ford App, see if it pops up with open or update. That's how I got the update.
 
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RLXXI said:
Do a search for the Ford App, see if it pops up with open or update. That's how I got the update.
Click to expand...
Open. Hasn't rolled out to everyone yet.
 
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bmwhitetx said:
Maybe it's just me, but the iOS 6.3.0 update removed the PPO function I had in the iOS 6.2.0 update.
Click to expand...
Weird, I didn't have PPO function in the other version but do have it in this one.
Ford F-150 Lightning 2026 Ford App Predictions 54976496308_a192f2b9bb
 
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People commenting on the past!?!? Let's stay focused on the future!...

I didn't write my 2026 predictions. The general theme will be extending current and future functionality to platform specific features. I know this is generic, so I'll list some specifics with the platforms I'm most familiar with... iPhone and Apple Watch:
  1. Apple Watch Ford app will run untethered to iPhone. At present, the AW app is just an extension of the iPhone app. When it displays data or controls, it is the Ford app running on iPhone that powers it. Ford will evolve the AW app to run independently from the iPhone app.
  2. Phone as a Key will extend smartwatch. PaaK is a Bluetooth LE solution. There shouldn't be any technical reason for Apple Watch to act as a key.
  3. More Ford app features will be accessible outside of the app. For instance, on iPhone, Apple Watch, and macOS a Live Activity will show the current charging session status. More widgets, as an other example. In iOS 26, Apple has made widgets and Live Activities available in CarPlay so that you'll be able to interact with your vehicle without leaving CarPlay.
  4. More Ford app features from Apple Shortcuts. Using Shortcuts, users will be able to automate their vehicle in ways Ford never imagined. At present, actions are lock, unlock, or start climate.
  5. ProPower Controls. The return of ProPower, with additional controls. Likely a dedicated home screen widget available to control ProPower and a Live Activity running when ProPower is running.
It is clear to me that the 6.x redesign re-organized the app's to group features to better align with general vehicle features vs EV-specific features. For instance, the old home screen contained EV-related controls mixed in with features generally available to vehicles whereas 6.x moved all EV features to the Lightning Bolt screen. Through re-organizing, I'm sure it allowed a more sane approach to where code lives and more rapid iteration and test plans.

My prediction is that 2025 was about stabilizing the in-app experience whereas 2026 will be able brining your vehicle to an out-of-app experience so that most status and controls will be available without opening the app.
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