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When Will Apple Release iOS 26.2?

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Apr 12, 2001
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We're getting closer to the launch of the final major iOS update of the year, with Apple set to release iOS 26.2 in December. We've had three betas so far and are expecting a fourth beta or a release candidate this week, so a launch could follow as soon as next week.

iOS-26.2-Whats-New-Feature.jpg

Past Launch Dates

Apple's past iOS x.2 updates from the last few years have all happened right around the middle of the month, which gives us some insight into when iOS 26.2 will launch.
  • iOS 18.2 - RC on Thursday, December 5, launch on Wednesday, December 11. Four betas total before RC, with beta 4 on Wednesday, November 20.
  • iOS 17.2 - RC on Tuesday, December 5, launch on Monday, December 11. Four betas total before RC, with beta 4 on Tuesday, November 28.
  • iOS 16.2 - RC on Wednesday, December 7, launch on Tuesday, December 13. Four betas total before RC, with beta 4 on Thursday, December 1.
  • iOS 15.2 - RC on Tuesday, December 7, launch on Monday, December 13. Four betas total before RC, with beta 4 on Thursday, December 2.
  • iOS 14.2 - RC on Friday, October 30, launch on Thursday, November 5. Four betas total before RC, with beta 4 on Tuesday, October 20.
Apple has stuck to a December launch schedule for x.2 updates since 2021. Before that, updates were less scheduled with more variation in launch timeline. RCs have consistently come during the first week of December, with a launch during the second week.
Possible Scenarios

Compared to the past two years, Apple is a bit behind on the launch of the fourth beta. With iOS 17.2 and iOS 18.2, the last beta came in November, so the RC was able to launch earlier in the month.

This year, we haven't had a fourth beta yet. We should be getting it sometime this week between Tuesday and Thursday. Apple has historically waited a week between beta 4 and the RC, and then another week before releasing the update. If Apple sticks to a similar timeline this year, we'll see the following:
  • Beta 4 between December 2-4, RC between December 8-11, iOS 26.2 launch on December 15 or December 16.
December 15 or 16 would mark the latest that we've had an x.2 release since Apple adopted a more consistent update schedule. It's possible Apple might want to speed things up. If that's the case, we could see this launch timeline:
  • Beta 4 between December 2-4, RC between December 4 and 8, launch around December 11.
Apple could condense the amount of time between the fourth beta and the RC, or the amount of time between the RC and launch. There's also a possibility that we don't get a fourth beta at all. With no fourth beta, the timeline looks like this:
  • RC between December 2-4, launch between December 8-11.
Apple has consistently done four betas before an RC, and there are some major regulatory updates in Japan, so the first scenario with the later iOS 26.2 launch date seems the most likely at this point.

Either way, iOS 26.2 is coming in just a couple of weeks.
iOS 26.2 Features

iOS 26.2 isn't a major update for most people outside of Japan, but there are a handful of useful new features.
  • Reminder Alarms - You can elect to have an alarm go off when a reminder is due, with standard stop and snooze options.
  • Lock Screen - There's a slider that lets you adjust the Liquid Glass transparency of the clock.
  • AirDrop - iOS 26.2 lets you generate a one-time AirDrop code for file sharing with someone who isn't in your contacts list. It supports file exchanges for a 30-day period.
  • Sleep Score - Sleep Score ranges have been adjusted to better reflect how people might be feeling after a night's sleep.
  • Live Translation - AirPods Live Translation is expanding to the EU.
  • Japan - iPhone users in Japan will be able to download apps from alternative app stores and replace Siri with a different personal assistant.
There are even more features in iOS 26.2, with a full list available in our features guide.
iOS 26.3

Apple often follows launches with new betas, so while iOS 26.2 will be the last major software update of the year, we're still likely to get a glimpse of what's in iOS 26.3 before 2026 rolls around.

The first beta of iOS 18.3 came out on December 16, the first beta of iOS 17.3 came on December 12, and the first beta of iOS 16.3 came out on December 14. The first beta of iOS 26.3 should come the day after iOS 26.2. Unfortunately, the x.3 updates are often more focused on internal improvements than outward-facing features, so we are finished with exciting updates until 2026.

Article Link: When Will Apple Release iOS 26.2?
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2025/12/01/ios-26-2-release-date/
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There will probably be an accompanying iOS 18 update. (probably 18.7.3)
Any guess if that will still be installable on newer devices that could be upgraded to iOS 26, but are still on iOS 18?

(for iOS 15 the "cutoff" happened in January, for iOS 16 and 17 in December...)
 
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tonmischa said:
There will probably be an accompanying iOS 18 update. (probably 18.7.3)
Any guess if that will still be installable on newer devices that could be upgraded to iOS 26, but are still on iOS 18?

(for iOS 15 the "cutoff" happened in January, for iOS 16 and 17 in December...)
Click to expand...
I HOPE Apple signs it and makes it into a full ipsw file, not just OTA.

I want to downgrade, but currently all ios18 versions are unsigned.

Please please please sign a ios18 version Apple!
 
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Stalling because it’s that much closer to .4. Which is payday on Siri or just give us another **** eating grin.
 
I hope they skip iOS 27 and just get all the stuff sort out in 26.

I'd like to see a new (or all-new, as the yanks say) OS being pushed out when it is stable, reliable, and comes with all promised features, ready to go. The Apple Intelligence has soured my view of the method Apple apple, which seems to be 'it's good enough, just get it out the door and we can add that later...'

It'd be remiss of me if I didn't say that I feel some sense of unease that Apple, somewhat recently, has begun to have a whiff of Nokia or Kodak about it.
 
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Boeingfan said:
I hope they skip iOS 27 and just get all the stuff sort out in 26.

I'd like to see a new (or all-new, as the yanks say) OS being pushed out when it is stable, reliable, and comes with all promised features, ready to go. The Apple Intelligence has soured my view of the method Apple apple, which seems to be 'it's good enough, just get it out the door and we can add that later...'

It'd be remiss of me if I didn't say that I feel some sense of unease that Apple, somewhat recently, has begun to have a whiff of Nokia or Kodak about it.
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Not yet...Apple has had their last generation retire and some are still kicking. The new has come and we can see it in their OS's. Normal for the cycle, but "if" Apple does not get-it-together, then "yes" we could be seeing Nokia, Kodak and even Sony.

If companies don't have a solid "next generation" moving forward, then we see this bumpy road currently.

We will just have to wait it out and see.

I too would like them to go to a Snow Leopard approach this time and just have the next OS's a "polishing and tight-up" year and get everything up to speed
 
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tonmischa said:
There will probably be an accompanying iOS 18 update. (probably 18.7.3)
Any guess if that will still be installable on newer devices that could be upgraded to iOS 26, but are still on iOS 18?

(for iOS 15 the "cutoff" happened in January, for iOS 16 and 17 in December...)
Click to expand...

-BigMac- said:
I HOPE Apple signs it and makes it into a full ipsw file, not just OTA.

I want to downgrade, but currently all ios18 versions are unsigned.

Please please please sign a ios18 version Apple!
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure iOS 18.7.3 will be released but only for iPhone XR, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max while nothing for iPhone 11 series and newer. For those who upgraded to iOS 26.x you'll stay there until iOS 27.x is available as a beta.
 
Reminder alarms will be really useful for me. Think it will be released at least a week before Christmas. Will update within a few days of release.
 
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iOS 26 wrecked my iPhone 13.
Empty screen with nowhere to go when Face ID doesn't work immediately, black screen instead of camera every few tries, third party keyboards crash and swap with the (absolutely unusable) Apple keyboard, everything feels slower.
26.1 only fixed some of the buggy graphics. I hope that their strategy worked and they convinced enough people to buy a new phone by now, so that 26.2 can fix the rest.
If it doesn't, I'm buying a new phone but by God, it won't be an iPhone.
 
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nt5672 said:
Do you like in fantasyland? In the last decade, at least, Apple has never waited for it to be done to release. Apple is a marketing company. They release when marketing says so, done or not, buggy as hell or not.
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That goes for the main releases, which they should take their time making (sadly, they don't). This is a point release, which is mostly bug fixes & maybe some features, so they will release it when it is done.
 
WarmWinterHat said:
Yes and it was obviously unfinished (or done, as you say), but they released it anyway.
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Yes, and that's what I meant when I said "That goes for the main releases", which get released with new iPhone or something, not when they get finished. It's the point release like 26.2 that get released when finished.
 
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cicalinarrot said:
iOS 26 wrecked my iPhone 13.
Empty screen with nowhere to go when Face ID doesn't work immediately, black screen instead of camera every few tries, third party keyboards crash and swap with the (absolutely unusable) Apple keyboard, everything feels slower.
26.1 only fixed some of the buggy graphics. I hope that their strategy worked and they convinced enough people to buy a new phone by now, so that 26.2 can fix the rest.
If it doesn't, I'm buying a new phone but by God, it won't be an iPhone.
Click to expand...
My 17 pro max has been similar tbh.
Not sure I've had the face ID issue, but the rest I've had.
And there's been a gradual slowing down.

Anther frustration is apps reloading when I switch between just a few. They no longer freeze their state to continue where I left off. When I first got this 17 pro max it was an improvement on the 15 pro max before it, so thought maybe it was a ram thing. But, it gradually worse, and now it's just as bad as it was on the 15 pro max.
 
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r-m said:
My 17 pro max has been similar tbh.
Not sure I've had the face ID issue, but the rest I've had.
And there's been a gradual slowing down.

Anther frustration is apps reloading when I switch between just a few. They no longer freeze their state to continue where I left off. When I first got this 17 pro max it was an improvement on the 15 pro max before it, so thought maybe it was a ram thing. But, it gradually worse, and now it's just as bad as it was on the 15 pro max.
Click to expand...
Reminds me of Vista.
Microsoft saw Apple's new Aqua interface and wanted something so spectacular they completely ignored RAM usage, practicality of the UI and good taste.
Hope with iOS 27 they realise there's no shame in flat interface. It's lighter, easier to read and can look way better. Transparency and gloss belong in grandma's crystal sculptures cabinet.
 
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