Apple has officially released iOS 26.2 for iPhone. The latest version includes Liquid Glass design tweaks, new customization options for CarPlay, and much more. Today’s release is available for all users, including developer and public beta testers.
Release notes
Apple Music
- Favorite Songs playlist appears in Top Picks on the home tab
- Offline lyrics for downloaded songs so you can view them without an internet connection
Podcasts
- Automatically generated chapters make it easier to navigate episodes
- Links to mentioned podcasts let you see and follow other podcasts mentioned in the episode you’re listening to directly from the player and transcript
Games
- Filters in the Games library let you find games by category, size, and more
- In-game challenge score banners provide realtime updates when someone new has taken the lead
- Improved support for connected controllers such as Backbone and Razer
This update also includes the following enhancements and bug fixes:
- Additional Lock Screen time customization option lets you further adjust its appearance, giving the Liquid Glass material more or less opacity
- Enhanced Safety Alerts can inform you about imminent threats such as floods, natural disasters, and other emergencies, with rich information like a map of affected areas and links to additional safety guidance (available in the U.S.)
- Alarms for Reminders help you stay on top of urgent tasks, and provide snooze and Live Activity support if you’re not ready to check the reminder off
- AirDrop codes offer an additional layer of verification when using AirDrop with unknown contacts by providing a code on the receiver’s device that the sender must enter to complete the transfer
- Apple News Section links at the top of the Today feed offer easy navigation to popular topics like Sports, Politics, Business, and Food
- Multipack accessory pairing in the Home app lets you use the same setup code to easily enroll multiple accessories when sold together
- Flash for alerts in Accessibility Settings offers the additional option to have the device screen flash when you receive a notification
- Tables in Freeform can hold text, images, documents, and drawings, with cells that intelligently resize to fit, bringing structure to the infinite canvas
- Fixes an issue where pre-release albums in the Apple Music library were not immediately playable at their release time
- Fixes an issue where a Privacy and Security setting may incorrectly be marked as managed by an enterprise organization
Meanwhile, these are the changes we tracked during the beta period.
AirDrop codes
As we’ve been reporting, Apple is developing a new AirDrop capability that allows users to AirDrop between devices without being saved contacts for 30 days. iOS 26.2 beta 3 is the first version to reveal early signs of the feature in the AirDrop section of Settings.
Read more about the upcoming AirDrop codes feature here.
Liquid Glass Level
Last week, Apple introduced an all-new Liquid Glass-inspired Level design inside the Measure app in iOS 26.2 beta 2. In iOS 26.2 beta 3, Apple has further refined the design to avoid obscuring what numbers are shown in certain situations.
Read more about the new design here.
iPadOS Split View and Slide Over
Apple brought back Slide Over in iPadOS 26.1, and now Apple is improving another multitasking feature that was left behind from iOS 18. Starting with iPadOS 26.2 beta 3, you can now drag an app icon out of the Dock to enter Slide Over or Split View during multitasking.
Read more about the multitasking changes here.
Default voice assistant code
Leaked code shows signs that Apple is developing the ability to replace invoking Siri as the default action that occurs when holding the side button. This will only be offered in Japan as a regulatory requirement.
Read more about the leaked code references here.
Games app navigation
Games app adds sorting and filtering to library, controller navigation, and score updates in real time during playback.
Measure redesign
Level inside Measure app adds Liquid Glass design.
Messages CarPlay update
Pinned conversations for Messages can now be disabled in CarPlay Settings.
Edge Light feature on macOS 26 Tahoe
Apple is introducing a new built-in feature for Mac called Edge Light. It creates a virtual ring light using your Mac’s screen to enhance lighting on video calls.
Read more about Edge Light on the Mac and how it works here.
