macOS Tahoe 26.2 Release Candidate Now Available to Developers and Public Beta Testers

[MacRumors]

Apple today provided the release candidate of an upcoming macOS Tahoe 26.2 update to developers and public beta testers, with the update coming two weeks after Apple seeded the third beta. The RC represents the final version of macOS Tahoe 26.2 that will be provided to the public as long as no bugs are found in the software.

Testers can download the macOS Tahoe 26.2 update by opening up the System Settings app, selecting the General category, and then choosing Software Update. Beta Updates will need to be enabled.

macOS Tahoe 26.2 includes Edge Light, a new feature for video calls. Edge Light adds a border of soft light around the edges of the Mac's display to illuminate your face in darkened rooms. Edge Light is meant to mimic the look of a physical ring light.

Edge Light uses the Neural Engine for positioning, so it is optimally placed around your face in the video frame. Light color can be adjusted from warm to cool, and intensity varies based on ambient lighting. Edge Light is available in video conferencing apps like FaceTime and Webex alongside other options like backgrounds, Portrait mode, and Voice Isolation. It works on Macs that support Apple silicon.

Along with Edge Light, the Reminders app is getting an option to have an alarm go off when a reminder is due, the News app has some design updates, and Apple is adding new features to the Podcasts app.

Article Link: macOS Tahoe 26.2 Release Candidate Now Available to Developers and Public Beta Testers

 

[WilliApple]

the Reminders app is getting an option to have an alarm go off when a reminder is due

This feature on iOS uses AlarmKit, AlarmKit is not on macOS, so therefore this feature is not available on macOS. All it does is turn on the alarms on your phone.

 

[tywebb13]

build number is 25C56

other rc builds:

macOS 15.7.3 RC 4 (24G419)
macOS 14.8.3 RC 4 (23J220)
iOS 26.2 RC 1 (23C52)
iOS 18.7.3 RC 1 (22H217)
iPadOS 26.2 RC 1 (23C52)
iPadOS 18.7.3 RC 1 (22H217)
watchOS 26.2 RC 1 (23S303)
tvOS 26.2 RC 1 (23K51)
audioOS 26.2 RC 1 (23K51)
visionOS 26.2 RC 1 (23N301)

 

[robd003]

I really hope this fixes the memory leaks and insane battery drain

 

[ozarkcanoer]

I really hope this fixes the memory leaks and insane battery drain

Where are you seeing these issues? iOS or iPadOS?

 

[robd003]

Where are you seeing these issues? iOS or iPadOS?

macOS - the memory leaks got better on 26.1, but still having issues.

 

[Larsen2k4]

All I wish for is better Exposé performance. Got better in 26.1 but there’s still some temporary bottlenecks in terms of animation smoothness. Hoping for 26.2 to deliver something here

 

[bhagemann]

Missing all my flags in Apple Mail now and searching Mail finds little to nothing. Also spotlight isn't locating documents that are on laptop. Have rebooted a few times, waited a while, nothing changed. Maybe rebuilding the spotlight index next will fix (I hope).

 

[capamac]

"Edge Light uses the Neural Engine for positioning"

So I guess we need neural nets to draw a white box around the edge of displays.

 

[waydabber]

There is this bug that really annoys me for many releases now and still not fixed in 26.2 RC: if I add a folder (like Applications) to the Dock and set it to Grid view, the entire grid bubble will just jump right-down unexpectedly about 10-15 pixels as soon as I move the mouse (dock icon magnification has to be enabled and one has to wait with the movement until the grid to fully unfold to reproduce).

 

[filchermcurr]

All I want for Christmas is to be able to click SMB shares in the Finder sidebar and have them reconnect instead of complaining that "" can't be opened. 😭

 

[mac-hummer]

I wouldn’t recommend installing any version of iOS 26 until at least 26.4. Remember, guys, iOS 26 is still a work in progress—an unfinished product. If you’re on the latest iOS 18 (18.7.2) (15.7.2 for macOS Sequoia), just stick with it until most of the bugs are taken care of