iOS 26.2 RC― Bug Fixes, Changes, and Improvements

[Spocky]

No IPSW for RC2 yet... wonder if it's just an OTA thing for this release.

Quite possibly, being a very small update.

 

[Kylo83]

I installed RC2 and none of the problems I had with RC1 have been resolved. The bottom part of the system still loads with stutters in some areas, and the local capture function is still missing.

It’s only 2 builds higher, so would be nothing worth fixing

 

[Kylo83]

Still all the issues I had before are there, unbelievable

 

[Paabloestevez]

I've updated my two everyday devices: an iPhone 17 Pro Max and an iPhone Air. Wireless CarPlay still isn't working with my 2026 Hyundai Kona.
It gives a message access error when pairing and won't connect to CarPlay.
It stopped working after updating to iOS 26.2. It works with other iPhones (15 and 15 PM) and iOS 26.1.

 

[eyespy03]

I've updated my two everyday devices: an iPhone 17 Pro Max and an iPhone Air. Wireless CarPlay still isn't working with my 2026 Hyundai Kona.
It gives a message access error when pairing and won't connect to CarPlay.
It stopped working after updating to iOS 26.2. It works with other iPhones (15 and 15 PM) and iOS 26.1.

Have you tried removing the profile from both the phone and the car and rebooting both before re-adding?

 

[Paabloestevez]

Have you tried removing the profile from both the phone and the car and rebooting both before re-adding?

Yes, in fact, the problem has been happening on the iPhone Air since I installed the first or second beta; it was working fine on the 17 Pro Max with 26.1. I've updated both and they both have the same problem. It's quite a coincidence to have the same error on two different phones, isn't it?

 

[kawa636r]

modem firmware is the same on iPhone 17 series, I'm testing it now

 

[Paabloestevez]

Okay, I got it working, but I had to remove the car from CarPlay, not from Bluetooth, from CarPlay, and it seems to connect now.

 

[gank41]

I've updated my two everyday devices: an iPhone 17 Pro Max and an iPhone Air. Wireless CarPlay still isn't working with my 2026 Hyundai Kona.
It gives a message access error when pairing and won't connect to CarPlay.
It stopped working after updating to iOS 26.2. It works with other iPhones (15 and 15 PM) and iOS 26.1.

I updated both an iPhone 16 Pro Max and an iPhone 16e to RC2 and I'm also still having an issue.
I've got a 2018 Chevy Impala..

I submitted FB21062288 prior and have been updating that.

 

[gank41]

Okay, I got it working, but I had to remove the car from CarPlay, not from Bluetooth, from CarPlay, and it seems to connect now.

I've tried removing my car from CarPlay and reconnecting to add it again, but I'm wired not wireless...

 

[ManuCH]

“iTunes, which you want nothing to do with” wrong, stop right there - I have nothing against iTunes, however I have already migrated to the new Apple apps. I’ve expressed interest in a regression without data loss however this has never been successfully demonstrated when I’ve asked about it.

“OTA , which you want nothing to do with is stable” wrong, stop right there - someone in this very thread posted of an OTA update gone very wrong. It is also the long standing consensus of the community that an OTA update is a lesser process than an IPSW update. Next!

I'm interested in understanding your use case better. What do you mean when you say that you can't downgrade to iTunes without data loss? What data are you talking about, what data does Apple Devices (or iTunes) manage for you on your Windows PC?

Also, about OTA stability: sure, once in a million or so, an OTA upgrade may go bad. But the likelihood of that happening is lower than it happening with Apple Devices. So indeed I recommend you stick with the upgrade method most likely to be successful.

 

[Paabloestevez]

I updated both an iPhone 16 Pro Max and an iPhone 16e to RC2 and I'm also still having an issue.
I've got a 2018 Chevy Impala..

I submitted FB21062288 prior and have been updating that.

If you want to try this, it solved my problem: restart your iPhone, unpair the car from Bluetooth, go to CarPlay settings and remove the car as well, resync, and you're done.

 

[gank41]

If you want to try this, it solved my problem: restart your iPhone, unpair the car from Bluetooth, go to CarPlay settings and remove the car as well, resync, and you're done.

Again, I have done this.. I don't sync via BlueTooth so nothing for me to remove there. But I have been having this issue since beta 3 of iOS 26.2, and I've restarted many times during that time thru now. I've tried using a different cable. I even tested an iPhone 16e still on iOS 26.1, and it was working fine. Updated it to the 26.2 RC and I started having issues. So, it's not just the cable or the iPhone.

It's going to be really really crappy when some family members can no longer use the Maps app in CarPlay when traveling over the holidays because of this. I have 2 iPhones under this roof with this issue, and know of at least one other iPhone 13 in a different model car all together that's having similar issues.

 

[eyespy03]

If you want to try this, it solved my problem: restart your iPhone, unpair the car from Bluetooth, go to CarPlay settings and remove the car as well, resync, and you're done.

Yes, that was what I meant by removing the profiles from both Bluetooth and, most importantly, from CarPlay on the phone and from the vehicle. I am glad that resolved it for you. I had to do that with my phone in my one car.

 

[Reeneman]

We won’t see any huge and noticeable changes anymore here.
All that having noticeable bugs need to put their hopes on 26.3.

 

[gank41]

Yes, that was what I meant by removing the profiles from both Bluetooth and, most importantly, from CarPlay on the phone and from the vehicle. I am glad that resolved it for you. I had to do that with my phone in my one car.

I did check just to confirm, but I do not have a listing for my car under BlueTooth. I've again "forgotten" the car in CarPlay settings and will reboot and try again in a bit.. Just odd that this also happened on an iPhone 16e, and that was the very first time I connected that phone in my car.. I was able to select the option to accept the Lock Screen security on the 16e, and head unit still rebooted.. I tested an iPhone 14 Pro still on iOS 26.1 and it's still working. So I know it's not my head unit.

 

[digitalfx]

I've updated my two everyday devices: an iPhone 17 Pro Max and an iPhone Air. Wireless CarPlay still isn't working with my 2026 Hyundai Kona.
It gives a message access error when pairing and won't connect to CarPlay.
It stopped working after updating to iOS 26.2. It works with other iPhones (15 and 15 PM) and iOS 26.1.

no issues with wireless Car Play on 25 Tucson w 17PM...its been rock solid thru all the betas. Id try deleting and reinstalling

 

[GuruZac]

Maybe you can explain what a broken auto brightness does for you.

Well, I’m not sure it requires further explanation. But if you insist, the display does not adjust to indoor or outdoor lighting appropriately. And when I would get messages it would temporality brighten display to max brightness. It appears RC2 has fixed it, at least so far.

 

[dwrufus53]

According to a Reddit post you can still use the Windows Apple Music app alongside iTunes. An answer states:

“If you want you can still use iTunes alongside AM.

runas - "C:\Program Files\RunAsTool\RunAsTool.exe" mto

I use both just run iTunes as Administrator”

https://www.reddit.com/r/AppleMusic/comments/1ksls5l/if_i_uninstall_apple_music_app_on_windows_and_go

Isn’t there a way to turn off your phone auto-syncing in iTunes? If so, in theory could you just use iTunes to check for, and apply, software updates?

You can also play a round of 18 holes at St. Andrews with just a putter. I cannot imagine that it would be a pleasant experience, but it can be done.

Same thing applies here.