Apple has released the second developer betas for iOS 26 and iPadOS 26, continuing its rollout of the next major updates to its mobile operating systems. These follow the initial betas that became available immediately after Apple’s WWDC25 keynote earlier this month.
Registered developers can access the updates via the Software Update section in the Settings app, provided their devices are enrolled in Apple’s developer beta program. A public beta is expected to follow in July, with a full release planned for the fall.
iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 introduce a refreshed visual style called Liquid Glass, which adds a more fluid and layered aesthetic to the interface. The updates also integrate the new Apple Intelligence system, which brings generative AI enhancements across various apps and system functions.
The beta builds also include feature changes to core apps. Messages, Phone, Shortcuts, and Apple Music have all received updates, though Apple has not detailed every change. On iPadOS 26, multitasking receives a notable update with support for multiple app windows, aiming to bring the tablet experience closer to that of macOS.
Apple provided developers with the second beta of iOS 26, introducing the first changes and refinements to the new operating system since it debuted after the WWDC keynote. Because we’re early in the beta testing process, there are quite a few tweaks to iOS 26, which we’ve rounded up below.
Everything New in iOS 26 Beta 2:
- Control Center: The background behind the Liquid Glass Control Center buttons has more blur, creating a more opaque look for better visibility.
- Reduce Transparency: The Accessibility setting now further reduces Liquid Glass transparency for improved readability.
- Safari: The new tab “+” button in tab management is now located in the bottom left corner, matching the placement in iOS 18. The Compact tab bar also adds both back and forward navigation buttons.
- App Store: A new Accessibility section appears on product pages. Developers must supply relevant data to populate this area.
- Wallet: Full support for the order tracking feature is live. Users can allow Siri to scan Mail for merchant emails and track orders, even those not made with Apple Pay.
- New Ringtone: A new “Alt 1” variant of the Reflection ringtone is available under Settings > Sounds and Haptics > Ringtone.
- Radio Widget: A new Apple Music Live Radio widget is now available.
- Low Power Mode: The setting now includes a more detailed description, listing all the limitations applied when enabled.
- Live Captions: The “Transcribe Calls” feature is now called “Save Call Transcripts” and will alert participants before transcription begins.
As with all pre-release software, Apple and developers caution against installing the betas on primary devices due to potential stability and compatibility issues. Testing is recommended only on secondary hardware dedicated to development.
