Apple has released iOS 26.2, a significant update arriving just over a month after iOS 26.1. While not a full-number revision, this release packs a surprising number of new features, design refinements, and functional improvements, moving beyond simple bug fixes. The update, which became available on December 12, 2025, enhances core experiences like the Liquid Glass aesthetic, introduces novel sharing methods, and finally delivers promised features to European Union users.
Liquid Glass Gets More Customizable and Expands to New Apps
The visual design language introduced with iOS 26, known as Liquid Glass, receives further refinement in this update. A highly requested feature has arrived: a transparency slider specifically for the Lock Screen clock. This allows users to fine-tune the opacity of the clock's glassy elements, addressing legibility concerns that some had with the more transparent default look. Furthermore, Apple has subtly updated the Liquid Glass animations system-wide, making them more responsive and bouncy, closer to the fluidity demonstrated in initial previews. The design language also continues its expansion across Apple's ecosystem, now reaching the Measure app, where it replaces solid white circles in the Level tool with distinctive Liquid Glass bubbles.
New Utilities: From Urgent Reminders to Enhanced Safety
iOS 26.2 introduces several practical features aimed at improving daily utility and safety. A notable addition is the ability to set reminders as alarms. When a user marks a reminder as "Urgent," the system can schedule an audible alarm, ensuring critical tasks are harder to miss than a standard notification. For user safety, a new "Enhanced Safety Alerts" feature provides detailed information about imminent threats like floods or natural disasters, complete with maps and resource links. This feature is also available on the paired watchOS 26.2. Additionally, a new Accessibility option allows the screen to flash a light when a notification arrives, offering an alternative alert method.
Connectivity and EU Feature Unlocks
AirDrop receives a clever new sharing method designed for temporary collaborations. Users can now generate a one-time code to share with another person. Once entered, the two devices will be able to see each other in AirDrop for a period of 30 days, eliminating the need to be contacts or open discovery to "Everyone." Separately, a major regional restriction has been lifted. The Live Translation feature for AirPods, which provides real-time spoken translation during conversations, was previously unavailable in the European Union due to regulatory considerations related to the Digital Markets Act. With iOS 26.2, Apple has resolved these issues, granting EU users access to this powerful communication tool.
Compatible Devices: iPhone 11 and later, including iPhone SE (2nd & 3rd gen) and all iPhone 17 models. Update Size: Approximately 1.64 GB (as reported on an iPhone 17 Pro Max). Key Regional Change: Live Translation for AirPods, previously blocked in the EU, is now available with iOS 26.2. Sleep Score New Ranges (vs. Old):
- Very Low: 0–40 (was 0–29)
- Low: 41–60 (was 30–49)
- OK: 61–80 (was 50–69)
- High: 81–95 (was 70–89)
- Very High: 96–100 (was 90–100)
App-Specific Updates Across the Board
The update brings targeted improvements to several first-party apps. The Podcasts app now automatically generates chapters for English-language episodes using AI if the podcaster hasn't provided them, and it collects mentioned podcasts and relevant links in a dedicated section. The Games app gains new sorting filters, expanded controller support for navigation, and real-time challenge score updates. On iPadOS 26.2, the Slide Over multitasking feature regains drag-and-drop functionality for quicker app switching. Freeform tables become more powerful, capable of holding mixed media and intelligently resizing. CarPlay users also gain a welcome toggle to disable pinned conversations on their car's display.
Refinements to Health and Companion Updates
The Sleep Score feature, which analyzes sleep data from an Apple Watch, has been recalibrated for what Apple hopes is greater accuracy and intuitiveness. The scoring bands have been adjusted, with the "OK" range now extending higher (61-80), and the top tier renamed from "Excellent" to "Very High" for consistency. While not part of iOS, the macOS 26.2 update was highlighted alongside it, introducing an "Edge Light" feature for video calls. This uses the Neural Engine to create a dynamic, adjustable ring of light around the user's video window, potentially reducing the need for external lighting hardware.
This comprehensive update demonstrates Apple's commitment to iterative refinement, addressing user feedback on design, filling functional gaps, and navigating complex regulatory landscapes to deliver a more polished and capable experience across its devices.