Apple Seeds iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 Release Candidates to Developers

Source: MacRumors

Release Candidates for Developers

Apple today seeded the release candidate versions of iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 to developers for testing. The software arrives a week after Apple released the fourth betas.

Downloading the Release Candidates

Registered developers can download the updates from the Settings app on their iPhone or iPad:

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to General → Software Update.
3. Select the iOS 26.5 or iPadOS 26.5 release candidate and install.

Notable Features and Changes

• Siri: No new Siri capabilities are included; further updates are expected in iOS 27.
• Maps: Introduces a Suggested Places feature that recommends nearby locations based on trends and recent searches. Apple is also preparing to support ads within the Apple Maps app.
• RCS Messaging: Support for RCS messages between iPhone and Android users was added in the iOS 26.4 beta but removed before the public launch.
• Pride Wallpaper: A new Pride-themed wallpaper is available, complementing the Pride Apple Watch band for the year.

EU Testing for Third‑Party Wearables

In the European Union, Apple is testing several features for third‑party wearables (e.g., earbuds and smartwatches):

• Proximity pairing
• Notification forwarding
• Live Activities

These capabilities aim to give third‑party devices many of the same functions currently available only to Apple Watch and AirPods.

Outlook

iOS 26.5 is expected to launch publicly next week.

Source: MacRumors.com