All the New Features in IOS 26.2
On November 3, Apple released iOS 26.1 , introducing several small but significant changes to the iPhone. But after changing how alarms work and adding options to customize the Liquid Glass look , the company is back with another update: iOS 26.2 .
As expected, iOS 26.2 isn’t a major update. Apple clearly included most of the features and changes it planned for iOS 26, as well as a few new features and tweaks from iOS 26.1. However, iOS 26.2 does introduce some changes. Here’s what’s new:
Liquid Glass Slider for Lock Screen Clock
In iOS 26.1, Apple added the ability to customize the appearance of Liquid Glass. It lets you choose between two options: “Transparent,” the iconic Liquid Glass look, or “Tinted,” which increases the opacity of elements, turning Liquid Glass into a frosted glass-like effect.
While this was a welcome addition for users who disliked the Liquid Glass look, some wished Apple would go further and add a slider to more precisely customize the glass design’s appearance. Apple appears to have done this in iOS 26.2, but not for the system-wide Liquid Glass interface. Instead, the new version adds a slider to customize the appearance of the clock on the lock screen:
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Liquid Glass animations have been updated.
Additionally, it appears Apple has made changes to the Liquid Glass animations across iOS. As you can see from the example below, the animations have become more responsive and springy, a bit closer to the demos we saw in June:
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Liquid Glass technology is now available in the Measure app.
Apple also continues to update its apps with the “liquid glass” effect. The next one to arrive in update 26.2 is the “Measure” app. The new update adds “liquid glass” bubbles to the app’s “Levels” feature, replacing the existing solid white circles.
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Reminders using an alarm clock
Reminders are an indispensable feature on my iPhone. I use them daily to remind myself of important tasks. However, reminder alerts appear on your iPhone just as frequently as any other notification. If you frequently check notifications, this is perfectly normal, but if you don’t check your iPhone often or use Focus or Do Not Disturb mode, it’s easy to miss a reminder—and easy to forget to do what you were reminding yourself to do.
iOS 26.2 offers a solution: alarms for reminders . When you set a reminder as “Urgent” in iOS 26.2, a pop-up appears asking for permission to schedule alarms and timers. The idea is that instead of a simple alert, the Reminders app can play a sound when the reminder is approaching. I think this will help prevent forgetting reminders: you might miss the short beep, but you’ll likely hear it if your iPhone is constantly making loud noises.
Sleep quality score updates
If you have an Apple Watch with watchOS 26, you can take advantage of Apple’s new Sleep Score feature . Sleep Score analyzes your sleep duration, bedtime, and number of interruptions to assign you a score that summarizes your sleep quality. Duration can be up to 50 points, bedtime up to 30, and interruptions up to 20, for a maximum score of 100.
In iOS 26.2 and watchOS 26.2, Apple made changes to Sleep Score metrics, which are expected to make them more accurate for users. Here’s how it’s changed, according to MacRumors :
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Very low level : 0–40 (previously 0–29)
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Low : 41–60 (previously 30–49)
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OK : 61–80 (previously 50–69)
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High level : 81–95 (previously 70–89)
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Very high : 96–100 (previously 90–100)
Additionally, the “Excellent” rating has now been replaced with “Very High” to ensure greater consistency in the naming system.
AirDrop codes
iOS 26.2 introduced a new section called “Manage Known AirDrop Contacts,” which states, “You will automatically appear for 30 days to people you’ve shared a one-time code with.” As this setting suggests, you can share a one-time code with another user, after which you’ll be able to easily find each other via AirDrop for 30 days.
Enhanced security alerts
A new feature in iOS 26.2 lets you receive notifications about “imminent threats,” such as floods, emergencies, and natural disasters. You’ll see maps of affected areas and links to relevant safety information. This feature is also available in watchOS 26.2.
Turn on the light for notification
Apple has added a new feature to the Accessibility settings that allows you to configure your device’s screen to flash when you receive a notification.
Updates for free-form tables
Apple’s Freeform app for creating digital interactive whiteboards hasn’t gotten the attention it deserves. In iOS 26.2, Freeform tables can now store text, images, documents, and drawings. Furthermore, cells intelligently resize to fit the board.
Drop and Drop functionality returns to Slide Over (iPadOS 26).
In iPadOS 26.1, Apple brought back Slide Over . This useful multitasking feature lets you designate a single app window that can be easily brought forward or closed to the side of the screen. It’s great for quickly viewing apps like Messages, Music, or social media—things you don’t always need on screen.
In iPadOS 26.2, Apple continues to reintroduce Slide Over functionality. The company has reinstated the Drop and Drop feature, which allows you to grab an app and drag it over the active Slide Over window to instantly transform the selected app into Slide Over mode.
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Changes to podcasts
In iOS 26.2, Apple is introducing three new changes to the Podcasts app. All three will appear in the pop-up menu when you first open the app after the update.
First, all English-language podcasts will have chapters by default. Podcast authors can add these chapters themselves, or if they don’t have them, the app will generate them automatically using AI. If podcast authors don’t want their episodes to have chapters, they can disable this feature. The app will also collect all the podcasts mentioned in the episode you’re listening to in one place, making it easy to find other podcasts if they interest you. Similarly, podcast authors can collect any links they want to share in one place, including links with timestamps in the episode transcript. The app can also automatically generate these links based on the episode’s content.
Three changes in the Games app
After updating your iPhone to version 26.2, you may notice three changes in the Games app . First, there are new sorting options, including filters that sort by game size, show what games your friends are playing, and which games support competitions. Additionally, the app is now compatible with controllers for navigation, so you can continue to use a controller instead of touch controls in the Games app. Finally, your competition scores will be updated in real time while you play.
Disable pinned messages in CarPlay
For the past five years, Apple has allowed you to pin favorite contacts and group chats to the top of the Messages app. In iOS 26, Apple updated CarPlay to support this feature, but didn’t provide users with any control over it. If you had pinned chats on your iPhone, CarPlay will display them, even if you prefer to drive without them on your car screen.
However, in version 26.2, Apple provides the ability to disable pinned messages for CarPlay. This option appears in CarPlay settings as a simple toggle labeled “Pinned Conversations.”
EU users now have the option of real-time translation.
Real-Time Translation is a promising new feature for AirPods owners running iOS 26. When you put on your AirPods and start a conversation with someone speaking another language, your iPhone will translate their words in real time, and you’ll hear what they’re saying in the target language through your AirPods. Apple isn’t the first company to offer this feature, and it’s not perfect, but it’s a welcome addition nonetheless.
However, users of iOS 26 or iOS 26.1 in the EU cannot use Live Translation. Apple cited the region’s Digital Markets Act as the reason for not implementing Live Translation in the EU, but it appears the company has resolved all logistical and bureaucratic issues: now that iOS 26.2 is available, AirPods users in the EU will also be able to use Live Translation .
Edge Light (macOS 26.2)
While not technically a feature in iOS 26.2, Apple has made one important update to macOS: the company added ” Edge Light ,” which creates a ring of illumination around the video call window. Apple says this feature uses the Mac’s neural processor to recognize your face and analyze your movements, allowing it to adjust the lighting as needed. For example, if you move the cursor to access something else on the screen, the light will dim so you can see what you’re doing. You can also change the hue of the light if you prefer a warmer or cooler color for your calls.
It’s unclear whether this feature will be able to replace a separate light source, such as the popular ring light. But it’s an interesting and unexpected feature from Apple, and I’m curious to try it out myself when it launches.
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