Apple releases iOS 26.4.2 beta with RCS messaging for iPhone-Android, Apple Music AI playlists, and security updates. Learn about new features and how to try the beta.
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Apple has released the beta version of iOS 26.4.2, expanding the testing environment for end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging between iPhone and Android devices. This update continues the development of the iOS 26.4 branch and follows the release of iOS 26.3, which came out a week earlier. Expectations for a fully revamped Siri, discussed since 2024, were long tied to this version, but recent rumors have dampened enthusiasm, leaving it unclear whether the "new Siri" will appear in this update.
iOS 26.4 appears more substantial than a typical interim update, featuring several notable changes unrelated to the voice assistant. According to Macworld, the system includes updates across multiple apps and services. Apple Music, for instance, has a redesigned interface for albums and playlists, new tools for finding concerts and tours by favorite artists, and an AI Playlist function that creates playlists based on short text prompts. Additionally, a new widget was added to the home screen for quick access to playlists with background music.
The Podcasts app now supports HTTP Live Streaming (HLS), allowing users to seamlessly switch between watching and listening to video podcasts. Significant changes also affect system security: the device theft protection feature, first introduced in iOS 17.3, is enabled by default starting with iOS 26.4. In messaging, after nearly a year of preparation, Apple has gained the ability to test end-to-end encryption in RCS, though the company separately emphasizes that this feature won't be available in the final version 26.4 and will only appear in future updates.
On February 23, the second developer beta of iOS 26.4 was released, which expands the test environment for RCS, enabling message sending from iPhone to Android via this protocol. Other new features include an update to the Freeform app: this service for creating notes and visual boards now has a Creator Studio mode with new capabilities and an updated icon. The Reminders app has added an "Urgent" function for tasks marked as priority, based on a mechanism introduced earlier in iOS 26.2. In the Health app, the blood oxygen saturation parameter has returned to the "Vitals" section, and sleep statistics now include a line showing the average bedtime.
The full list of changes will only be known after the final version of iOS 26.4 is released, which is expected to be available to users in March. For those wanting to try the system early, Apple offers both a public beta and a developer beta. For the public beta, users need to register for the Apple Beta program using an Apple ID, connect their device, and then select the public beta of iOS in the Software Update section of settings—the option may take some time to appear after registration. To install the developer beta, an Apple developer account is required, including a free one: this can be created through Xcode or the Apple Developer app, downloaded from the App Store, by entering the Account section and logging in with a regular Apple ID.