iOS 26.2 Released: What Devs Need to Know
Source: Dev.to
UI and Design Changes
Liquid Glass Customization
The Lock Screen now has an expanded Liquid Glass slider that lets users adjust how transparent the clock appears. This builds on iOS 26.1’s “Clear” and “Tinted” options by adding a granular slider for fine‑tuning the frosted glass effect.
- If your app has custom Lock Screen widgets or interacts with the Lock Screen, test how they look across different Liquid Glass transparency settings.
- The Measure app’s level indicator now uses translucent bubbles instead of white circles.
Menu Animations
Pop‑out menus that expand from corner buttons now have quicker, bouncier animations. This affects context menus, action sheets, and custom UIMenu implementations in your apps.
App Feature Updates
Reminders with Alarms
The Reminders app introduces Urgent reminders that trigger alarms when tasks are due.
- Display snooze and stop options
- Show a Live Activity countdown on the Lock Screen
- Use a blue color to differentiate from standard alarms
- Provide options to complete or reschedule directly from notifications
If your app integrates with EventKit for reminders or implements similar urgent‑task patterns, verify compatibility with this new system.
Apple Music Updates
- Offline lyrics support – view song lyrics without an internet connection.
- “Favorite Songs” playlist now appears in Top Picks on the Home tab.
- Bug fix for pre‑release albums that were not immediately playable at release time.
Podcasts Enhancements
Three new AI‑powered features improve navigation:
- Automatically generated chapters for easier episode navigation.
- Links to mentioned podcasts directly from the player and transcript.
- Episode page links to access URLs mentioned in episodes.
Games App
- Library filtering by category, size, and more.
- In‑game challenge score banners with real‑time updates.
- Improved controller navigation.
- Enhanced support for controllers like Backbone and Razer.
Privacy and Security
Critical Security Updates
iOS 26.2 addresses over 20 security vulnerabilities, including two actively exploited WebKit bugs:
- Memory corruption from malicious web content.
- Code execution vulnerabilities.
- Unauthorized payment token access in the App Store.
- Hidden Album authentication bypass.
- Password removal during FaceTime remote control.
All users should update immediately to protect against these vulnerabilities.
Password Management
The Passwords app adds a new setting to exclude specific websites from password saving, giving users finer control over credential storage.
Regional Compliance Features
Texas App Store Accountability Act
Critical for developers with users under 18 in Texas. iOS 26.2 introduces the Declared Age Range API to comply with Texas SB 2420 (effective January 1, 2026).
Age categories
- Under 13
- 13‑15
- 16‑17
- Over 18
Implementation requirements
- Notify parents about significant app changes.
- Allow parents to revoke their child’s access at any time.
- Create age‑appropriate experiences based on the declared range.
- Test in the sandbox environment (available now).
Example usage
// Pseudocode – check actual API documentation
if ageRange == .under13 {
// Require parental consent
// Show age‑appropriate content
}Japan‑Specific Changes
Third‑Party App Stores
iOS 26.2 allows iPhone users in Japan to install alternative app marketplaces, mirroring the EU’s approach.
European Union Updates
AirPods Live Translation
Now available in the EU for AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, and AirPods 4 with ANC.
Supported languages
- English, French, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian
- Mandarin Chinese (Simplified & Traditional)
- Japanese and Korean
Wi‑Fi Syncing Change
iOS 26.2 stops automatically syncing Wi‑Fi networks between iPhone and Apple Watch in the EU (Digital Markets Act compliance). Users must manually authenticate on each device.
Other Notable Updates
AirDrop Security
Enhanced verification for unknown contacts:
- 30‑day pairing option using PIN codes (up from 10 minutes for non‑contacts).
- Code generation on the receiver’s device that the sender must enter.
- Management interface in Settings > General > AirDrop.
Enhanced Safety Alerts
New section in Settings > Notifications for:
- Earthquake alerts
- Imminent threat alerts (floods, natural disasters)
- Improved alert delivery using location data
- Rich information including maps of affected areas
Available in the United States only.
Compatibility
iOS 26.2 is available on iPhone 11 series and later, plus iPhone SE (2nd generation).
Resources
Summary
iOS 26.2 brings important compliance features (age verification for Texas, regional changes for Japan and the EU), refined Liquid Glass design, enhanced security patches, and improvements across Apple’s built‑in apps.