visionOS 27 lands as a free Apple Vision Pro update on Monday, September 14, 2026. Apple locked that date at its September 9 event; 9to5Mac and Apple’s own software pages treat it as a same-day wave with iOS 27 and the rest of the fall OS stack. What Apple has not published is a clock hour for the rollout — only the calendar day.
Metaverse Watcher already covered the feature split — Siri AI and Visual Intelligence on both M2 and M5, with Siri voice customization and the improved on-device Dictation model reserved for M5. This piece is the overnight checklist: what Apple’s Vision Pro support docs actually ask you to do before you tap Install.
Back up first — iCloud only
Apple’s Vision Pro backup guide is blunt: there is no Finder or Mac cable path. Backups are iCloud-only. Path: Settings → your name → iCloud → iCloud Backup → turn it on, then tap Back Up Now for a manual run. Results sit under All Device Backups beside any iPhone or iPad backups.
Anything already syncing through iCloud is not duplicated into that backup. If you need a true snapshot of an app’s data, Apple’s note says to turn off that app’s iCloud sync before backing up so the content is included.
Guest User data is not on the headset
Guest sessions store eye and hand setup, plus ZEISS Optical Insert info, on the guest’s own iPhone or iPad via iCloud — not on the Vision Pro itself. MacObserver’s September 13 prep note, citing Apple’s Guest User flow, says the recovery path if a visit skipped that save is Control Center → Guest User → Save Setup to iPhone or iPad before the next session. Do that tonight if anyone else uses the headset.
Charge, Wi-Fi, then update
Apple’s Update visionOS page: go to Settings → General → Software Update. Manual install is available any time an update shows. Automatic install only runs overnight when the headset is on Wi-Fi, charging, and locked — a Vision Pro left unplugged on a shelf will not update itself.
Apple’s power rule is “enough charge or connected to power,” with an alert if the battery is too low. No published percentage. During the install, take the headset off; progress shows on the front display.
What Monday actually delivers
Both the original M2 Vision Pro and the current M5 model get visionOS 27 and the Siri AI beta (English first; additional languages listed for October). Pitch/speed/tone/accent voice customization and the improved Dictation model stay M5-only — the same advanced on-device tier Apple draws across its other platforms. Feature detail remains in our earlier posts on M2 vs M5 and the Thórsmörk / curved windows / Spatial Mac stack.
Primary sources: 9to5Mac’s September 9 date lock, Apple’s Vision Pro backup and update guides, and MacObserver’s September 13 prep recap. Check Software Update Monday. Apple has not named the hour.