iOS 26.2 update: new features, regional changes and security fixes

Apple released iOS 26.2 on December 12, rolling out another iPhone update that stops short of being major but meaningfully broadens what the system can do and tightens security. The spotlight is on everyday convenience, visual polish, and a handful of notable region‑specific changes.

One of the most visible additions is an upgrade to the Reminders app. A reminder can now act as a full alarm when marked as Urgent. Such alerts show up in blue, offer options to snooze or stop the signal, and, when rescheduled, appear on the Lock Screen as a Live Activity with a countdown and quick actions. Apple flags the feature with a welcome screen and an in‑app banner, so it’s hard to miss.

The Lock Screen gets a visual refresh with the Liquid Glass slider, letting you fine‑tune the clock’s look from nearly transparent to frosted. The classic opaque style and color variants remain available. In Tinted mode, the system automatically handles transparency and contrast, removing the old need to tweak settings by hand—an understated but thoughtful touch.

AirDrop security in iOS 26.2 steps up for unknown contacts. The recipient can generate a special code that the sender must enter, with each code valid for up to 30 days. Trusted contacts are managed in Settings. It’s a pragmatic extra layer that should curb unwanted transfers without getting in the way of normal sharing.

On Apple Watch with watchOS 26.2, Apple has revised the sleep score. The ranges are more realistic and aim to match how you actually feel after a night’s rest. The assessment factors in duration, bedtime, and the number of wake‑ups to paint a clearer picture of sleep quality. The change reads more sensibly than the previous approach.

Podcasts now generates chapters automatically and surfaces quick access to mentions of other shows and links discussed in an episode. Freeform adds table support with adaptive cells, while Passwords gains a setting to manage sites where saving login data is disabled. Apple News refreshes its design and navigation to streamline access to categories and subscriptions.

Elsewhere, the Home app supports adding multiple accessories at once. There’s an option to flash the screen on notifications for accessibility. Emergency alerts expand with maps and recommendations, and the level in the Measure app gets a cleaner look. In Games, you’ll find new sorting options, controller support, and live updates for challenge results—small but welcome quality‑of‑life tweaks.

Apple is also leaning into regional adjustments. In the European Union, live translation via AirPods becomes available. In Japan, users can choose a default search engine during iPhone setup, install alternative app stores, and, down the line, use other voice assistants instead of Siri—changes tied to local regulatory requirements and a sign of how policy now shapes platforms in real time.

The update closes more than twenty vulnerabilities, including two actively exploited WebKit issues that could allow malicious code execution. Apple strongly advises installing iOS 26.2 as soon as possible, noting that once details are public, the window for attacks widens. The update is available for all iPhones that support iOS 26, and the first beta of iOS 26.3 may arrive soon.