Enhanced iOS 26.2: Elevating User Experience with Liquid Glass Enhancements and CarPlay Updates

Apple has officially rolled out iOS 26.2 for iPhone, introducing Liquid Glass design enhancements, new customization options for CarPlay, and more. This latest version is now accessible to all users, including developer and public beta testers.

Release notes

Apple Music

• Favorite Songs playlist now appears in Top Picks on the home tab
• Offline lyrics for downloaded songs allow you to view them without an internet connection

Podcasts

• Automatically generated chapters make it easier to navigate episodes
• Links to mentioned podcasts enable you to see and follow other podcasts mentioned in the episode you’re listening to directly from the player and transcript

Games

• Filters in the Games library help you find games by category, size, and more
• In-game challenge score banners provide real-time updates when someone new has taken the lead
• Improved support for connected controllers such as Backbone and Razer

This update also includes various enhancements and bug fixes:

• Additional Lock Screen time customization option allows you to further adjust its appearance, giving the Liquid Glass material more or less opacity
• Enhanced Safety Alerts can notify you about imminent threats like floods, natural disasters, and other emergencies, with rich information such as a map of affected areas and links to additional safety guidance (available in the U.S.)
• Alarms for Reminders help you stay on top of urgent tasks and provide snooze and Live Activity support if you’re not ready to check off the reminder
• AirDrop codes offer an extra layer of verification when using AirDrop with unknown contacts by providing a code on the receiver’s device that the sender must enter to complete the transfer
• Apple News Section links at the top of the Today feed offer easy navigation to popular topics like Sports, Politics, Business, and Food
• Multipack accessory pairing in the Home app allows you to use the same setup code to easily enroll multiple accessories when sold together
• Flash for alerts in Accessibility Settings offers the additional option to have the device screen flash when you receive a notification
• Tables in Freeform can hold text, images, documents, and drawings, with cells that intelligently resize to fit, bringing structure to the infinite canvas
• Fixes an issue where pre-release albums in the Apple Music library were not immediately playable at their release time
• Fixes an issue where a Privacy and Security setting may incorrectly be marked as managed by an enterprise organization

Meanwhile, these are the changes observed during the beta period.

AirDrop codes

As previously reported, Apple is working on a new AirDrop capability that enables users to AirDrop between devices without being saved contacts for 30 days. iOS 26.2 beta 3 is the first version to reveal early signs of the feature in the AirDrop section of Settings.

Learn more about the upcoming AirDrop codes feature here.

Liquid Glass Level

Last week, Apple introduced an all-new Liquid Glass-inspired Level design inside the Measure app in iOS 26.2 beta 2. In iOS 26.2 beta 3, Apple has further refined the design to avoid obscuring the displayed numbers in certain situations.

Read more about the new design here.

iPadOS Split View and Slide Over

Apple brought back Slide Over in iPadOS 26.1 and is now enhancing another multitasking feature that was left behind from iOS 18. Beginning with iPadOS 26.2 beta 3, you can now drag an app icon out of the Dock to enter Slide Over or Split View during multitasking.

Read more about the multitasking changes here.

Default voice assistant code

Leaked code indicates that Apple is developing the ability to replace invoking Siri as the default action when holding the side button. This feature will only be available in Japan as a regulatory requirement.

Read more about the leaked code references here.

Games app navigation

The Games app now offers sorting and filtering in the library, controller navigation, and real-time score updates during playback.

Measure redesign

The Level inside the Measure app now incorporates a Liquid Glass design.

Messages CarPlay update

Pinned conversations for Messages can now be disabled in CarPlay Settings.

Edge Light feature on macOS 26 Tahoe

Apple is introducing a new built-in feature for Mac called Edge Light. It creates a virtual ring light using your Mac’s screen to enhance lighting on video calls.

Read more about Edge Light on the Mac and how it works here.

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