Ahead of the December launch of iOS 26.2, Apple has just released the Release Candidate for its forthcoming operating system update. In the prior version, the company kept adding notes about the yet-to-be-announced AirDrop with PIN feature while also extending Hypertension Notifications to third-party applications.
Commencing with the development of the AirDrop PIN feature, the AirDrop settings menu now includes a new section titled “Manage Known AirDrop Contacts.” Although it is currently non-functional, it indicates that users will be able to automatically appear for 30 days to individuals with whom they have shared a one-time code.
Additionally, Apple’s developer portal indicates that Hypertension Notifications will be accessible to developers via a new API. This allows third-party apps to request permission to access those notifications from the Apple Watch and incorporate them into their applications. Here’s what else Apple has been focusing on in iOS 26.2, and what you can anticipate soon.
What else to look forward to in iOS 26.2
Apple continues to enhance the Liquid Glass experience as it rolls out more updates for iOS 26. In the earlier betas, the company introduced improved animations for navigating menus and modified the parameters for adjusting transparency when utilizing the tinted option.
In Japan, iPhone users will have the option to configure the side button to activate an alternative AI assistant, like Gemini. Meanwhile, in Europe, Apple is finally implementing Live Translation while discontinuing automatic Wi-Fi sync from the iPhone to the Apple Watch when the phone is out of range.
Apple is also making adjustments to certain applications, including Measure, Reminders, and iMessage for CarPlay, allowing users to disable pinned messages from their infotainment screens. It’s noteworthy that iPadOS 26.2 is reinstating the ability to drag and drop apps from the Dock, Spotlight, or App Library in Slide Over. In conjunction with the iOS 26.2 RC, Apple is also launching the Release Candidate versions of iPadOS 26.2, macOS Tahoe 26.2, watchOS 26.2, tvOS 26.2, and visionOS 26.2.
