iOS 26.1 beta 2 arrived today for developers, bringing the latest changes ahead of the release’s anticipated public launch soon. Here’s what’s new.
iOS 26.1: Latest changes in developer beta 2
Apple shipped iOS 26.1 beta 2 today two weeks after the first beta arrived. There are a handful of updates and even reversals in the release.
Alarms and timers are now harder to dismiss thanks to a new ‘Slide to stop’ gesture.
Both alarms and timers were updated in iOS 26 to utilize a new design with much larger on-screen buttons than before.
Now in iOS 26.1 beta 2, Apple has replaced the ‘Stop’ button with a new sliding gesture that requires a little more intentionality. This should make accidental alarm dismissals more rare.
Beta 2 also brings a major addition to iPad users: Slide Over multitasking is back.
Apple removed Slide Over and Split View when it overhauled iPad multitasking in iPadOS 26.
While Split View’s functionality can largely be replicated by the new windowing system, the same isn’t true for Slide Over.
iPadOS 26.1’s version of Slide Over only supports a single app, not the stack of apps you could use before. But otherwise it’s a nice way to have an extra app float above your workspace and be viewed or dismissed with ease.
Finally, if you use an external microphone with your device, beta 2 now lets you adjust input gain right from the Control Center input panel. You can also now customize where those locally captured audio recordings are saved.
UI enhancements continue in iOS 26.1 beta cycle
Other changes in iOS 26.1 beta 2 are focused on UI updates.
App folder titles are now left-aligned, for example. So too are headers inside the Settings app.
The Apple Vision Pro app now uses a 3D model to represent your device. Perhaps in preparation for Vision Pro 2 launching soon.
Apple has also reversed a couple changes that were present in beta 1:
- Calendar events no longer use full-width colors, but rather are back to their original, iOS 26 design
- Safari’s Downloads menu in iPadOS is now integrated into the address bar again
Have you spotted any other new features or changes in iOS 26.1 beta 2? Let us know in the comments.
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