Apple Expected to Release iOS 26.1 Tomorrow, iOS 26.2 Beta on Tuesday

Apple is set to release iOS 26.1 to the public this week, with the update expected to arrive as early as Monday, according to Mark Gurman. The release will cap a lengthy stretch of developer and public testing that brought several new features and refinements following the major launch of iOS 26 last month.

The update introduces several new customization options. A new toggle in Settings lets users choose between a transparent "Clear" look or a more opaque "Tinted" option for the system's 'Liquid Glass' interface. Users can also now disable the Lock Screen's swipe-left gesture for opening the Camera app. A notable change comes to the Clock app, where a new "slide to stop" control replaces the large stop button for alarms and timers to prevent accidental taps.

The Apple Music app now lets users swipe on the music player to switch between songs. iOS 26.1 also makes changes for Apple's recent streaming service rebranding by introducing a more colorful Apple TV app icon.


Language support also expands in this update. Apple Intelligence is now available in eight additional languages, including Danish, Dutch, and Portuguese. The AirPods Live Translation feature gains support for five new languages, including Italian, Japanese, and Korean, as first spotted in the beta.

Finally, a new toggle under Privacy & Security for "Background Security Improvements" revamps the prior Rapid Security Responses feature, allowing Apple to automatically install stopgap security patches between full iOS updates.

With iOS 26.1 out the door, Apple is expected to quickly shift its focus to the next development cycle. The first developer beta of iOS 26.2 could arrive as soon as Tuesday, though Gurman notes that major new features are not anticipated in the initial build. Developer betas of iPadOS 26.2, watchOS 26.2, visionOS 26.2, tvOS 26.2, and macOS 26.2 should also arrive at the same time.

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