Apple Seeds Second iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 Release Candidates to Developers

[MacRumors]

Apple today seeded new release candidate versions of upcoming iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming five days after the first RC. It's not clear what's changed in the second RC, but Apple typically sends out another candidate if there are bugs that need to be addressed.

Registered developers can download the betas from the Settings app on the iPhone or iPad by going to the General section and selecting Software Update.

iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 do not include new Siri capabilities, suggesting any Siri updates are being held until iOS 27. The Maps app has a Suggested Places feature for recommending locations to visit nearby based on trends and recent searches, plus Apple is laying the groundwork for ads in the Apple Maps app.

Apple is continuing to test end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for RCS messages between iPhone and Android users. Apple included the feature in the iOS 26.4 beta, but removed it before the update launched to the public.

There is a new Pride wallpaper to go along with the Pride Apple Watch band for this year.

More detail on what's new in iOS 26.5 can be found in our iOS 26.5 beta features guide. iOS 26.5 is likely to see a launch next week.

Article Link: Apple Seeds Second iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 Release Candidates to Developers

 

[EugW]

Tuesday, May 12 for the official release then?

 

[jbachandouris]

Not showing yet.

Forum having issues? Can only respond but not post.

Working now.

 

[ELman]

26.5 final will be released ready or not the day the pride band is released.

 

[larryak]

Public beta is also out

 

[ProbablyDylan]

We're up to 26.5 and the "tinted" glass keyboard is still blue for some reason. Incredible.

 

[Astuces iOS]

forced kinda, look at this bug on macOS :

 

[Octavius8]

How about a keyboard that doesn't lag?
Even physical keyboards lag like crazy in IOS!, nobody at Apple notices??

 

[tywebb13]

build number is 23F77

 

[realmccoy69]

Tuesday, May 12 for the official release then?

It usually first day of WWDC so 8th june

 

[EugW]

It usually first day of WWDC so 8th june

That is extremely unlikely. Maybe you're thinking of macOS 27.0 beta.

 

[Böhme417]

Oh, good. I installed the first RC on my iPad two days ago, and the springboard crashes every time I try to add a wallpaper.

 

[xpxp2002]

Tuesday, May 12 for the official release then?

Was hoping for Monday release, but usually Friday RC2s mean GA waits until Tuesday or Wednesday.

 

[Reeneman]

Heavy to think about that iOS 27 developer beta 1 is only around 4 weeks away.

 

[nt5672]

Heavy to think about that iOS 27 developer beta 1 is only around 4 weeks away.

And Siri updates may be delivered early 2027 if Apple really gets to it.

 

[mrjtown]

Looking forward to a 12 minute zollotech video to tell me what's new in the RC2.

 

[BrightCanon]

How likely do you all think is this gonna be the same as the final release? Wondering if I should hop in. Thx

 

[N0ughtsAndCr0sses]

Tuesday, May 12 for the official release then?

Monday

 

[Cheesehead Dave]

It was a fairly small update as well; only about 400 MB compared to the multi-gigabyte update for RC1 on Monday.

 

[xmarcuswildx]

We're up to 26.5 and the "tinted" glass keyboard is still blue for some reason. Incredible.

What?

 

[Yamcha]

Hmm not seeing it yet.

 

[Reeneman]

And Siri updates may be delivered early 2027 if Apple really gets to it.

Haha. With 27.2??
And also crazy that still apps are still not using the new keyboard.
Reddit, WhatsApp, Discord, YouTube, so so many.

 

[johnsawyercjs]

One visible difference for me, with 26.5 RC2, is that it seems to have fixed the stock wallpaper image on home screens, so that it properly corresponds to the time of day. This morning when I took my iPhone off its charger, the wallpaper was still showing a starry night, and after installing the update, it's now showing properly again as a blue sky.

 

[xmarcuswildx]

That is extremely unlikely. Maybe you're thinking of macOS 27.0 beta.

What? iOS 27 is usually day of WWDC

They nailed it with this luminance wallpaper and watch face though.

 

[SactoGuy18]

I wonder was iOS 26.5 RC2 released to correct that problem with the iPhone 17 models NOT charging through the USB Type C port when the battery drops to 0%.