Earlier than 2025 wraps up, Apple has stunned thousands and thousands of iPhone customers with a brand new iOS 26.2 replace this week, which is at the moment being rolled out. Whereas it was beforehand assumed that iOS 26.2 can be a small replace, it seems it brings a number of helpful new options, together with key safety enhancements. These embody new choices for the controversial Liquid Glass function, podcast enhancements, offline lyrics assist in Apple Music, sleep rating revisions, and reminder alarms, amongst many others.
Right here’s a refresher on what’s new in iOS 26.2 and why you must obtain it and replace your iPhone.
obtain iOS 26.2
Anybody with a appropriate iPhone that helps iOS 26 can obtain the most recent iOS 26.2 replace. In your machine, open Settings > Normal > Software program Replace, then choose iOS 26.2. So long as you personal an iPhone 11 or newer, you may set up iOS 26.2. This implies the iPhone XR and XS era is not supported, whereas each A13 Bionic–base machine onward together with the iPhone 17 fashions is included.
The iOS 26.2 replace is offered to everybody with an iPhone 11 or later. (Picture credit score: Screenshot by indianexpress.com)
New Lock Display screen customisations
Liquid Glass was imagined to be the design change that will remodel the iPhone’s interface into one thing cool and futuristic; nevertheless, the design language ended up receiving combined opinions from customers. Apple shortly took word of the suggestions and rolled out a device to dial down Liquid Glass’s transparency. Now, with iOS 26.2, Apple has launched new controls for a way Liquid Glass seems on the Lock Display screen, including a slider to regulate the transparency stage. The replace permits you to management how clear the Liquid Glass clock seems, making it extra translucent or extra stable. Irrespective of how a lot you dislike Liquid Glass, Apple’s controversial new design language isn’t going away anytime quickly however at the very least the corporate is now giving customers the liberty to tone it down a bit.
Apple Music will get offline lyrics
Apple Music already had a lyrics function, nevertheless it at all times required Wi-Fi or mobile information. With iOS 26.2, Apple has added offline lyrics assist, permitting subscribers to view music lyrics even with out an web connection after downloading tracks.
Apple is including a slider to the Liquid Glass settings, the place customers can tone down its look. (Screenshot by indianexpress.com)
Up to date Podcast app
For all podcast listeners, there’s excellent news. The brand new iOS 26.2 replace provides three options to the Podcasts app: robotically generated chapters, the power to see mentions of different podcasts in transcripts and the participant, and entry to hyperlinks talked about in episodes. One function, Chapters, makes episode navigation simpler, with chapter breaks proven as small markers within the participant. Different adjustments embody hyperlinks shared in a podcast displayed instantly on the episode web page and a model new technique to comply with different podcasts talked about throughout an episode straight from the transcript.
Alarms for reminders
Whenever you replace your iPhone to iOS 26.2, you’ll discover that the Reminders app has a brand new choice to set an alarm when a reminder is due. Whenever you create a reminder within the app, you may mark it as Pressing, and the app will immediate you to schedule an alarm or timer for that reminder.
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Sleep rating revisions
With iOS 26.2 and watchOS 26.2, Apple has up to date the ranges for Sleep Rating within the Well being app. Sleep high quality is measured on a points-based scale: ry Low, Low, OK, Excessive, and Very Excessive (previously Glorious) primarily based on sleep period, bedtime consistency, and interruptions. The Sleep Rating makes use of a 100-point system, with sleep period accounting for 50 factors, bedtime consistency for 30 factors, and sleep interruptions for 20 factors. To earn the total 50 factors for period, customers have to sleep at the very least 8 hours, preserve a constant bedtime, and keep away from lengthy nighttime awakenings.
The up to date Podcasts app makes it a lot easier to leap to different talked about podcasts. (Screenshot by indianexpress.com)
Enhanced Security Alerts
The iOS 26.2 replace may also introduces enhanced safety features, providing extra security alerts, reminiscent of earthquake and different menace alerts. To seek out these new alerts, go to Settings > Notifications > Enhanced
Essential replace for 1 billion iPhone customers
iOS 26.2 fixes two WebKit vulnerabilities (CVE-2025-43529 and CVE-2025-14174) that might permit arbitrary code execution through malicious net content material, and a kernel vulnerability (CVE-2025-46285) that might let an app achieve root entry, probably giving attackers full management of the iPhone. The discharge of iOS 26.2 comes at a time when the corporate just lately despatched cyber menace notifications to customers in at the very least 80 international locations, warning them that they’re being focused by a malware. The spy ware is extremely focused, geared toward a particular subset of iPhone customers, together with journalists and politicians. As soon as put in on a tool, the spy ware all of your actions, even inside encrypted apps reminiscent of WhatsApp.
Different adjustments
Video games app and beefed up Airdrop safety
The Video games app Library now permits you to filter video games by measurement, along with Identify and Latest. In-game problem rating banners present real-time updates every time somebody new takes the lead in a recreation you’re taking part in. In the meantime, iOS 26.2 provides further safety to AirDrop by introducing a further layer of verification when sharing with unknown contacts: a code seems on the receiver’s machine that the sender should enter to finish the switch.