Next month you’ll be able to download and install several software updates including iOS 26.2, iPadOS 26.2, macOS 26.2 and watchOS 26.2 for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch. You can now test the updates and they fix various bugs, but also add new features.
The most important addition is alarms for Reminders. In addition, the new software update includes an updated version of Sleep Score, you can further customize the Liquid Design on the lock screen, use new options in Podcasts and more. We list all the new options for you.
Alarm for Reminders
Apple’s latest software updates let you set alarms for reminders in the Reminders app. You can now have an alarm sound play with a reminder, in addition to a notification at a specific time. This is useful for important tasks or appointments that you don’t want to miss, as the sound is clearer than standard notifications.
- Open the Reminders app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac
- Create a new reminder or edit an existing one
- Set a date and time
- Enable the ‘Urgent’ option
Alarms are activated even when a focus is active or your device’s sound is turned off. From Settings ▸ Apps ▸ Reminders, you can enable the ‘Complete from alarm clock’ option to complete reminders from the alarm clock feature. The feature works system-wide and syncs via iCloud, so alarms on your iPhone also sound on your Apple Watch, iPad or Mac.
Tables in Freeform
Starting with iOS 26.2, iPadOS 26.2, visionOS 26.2 and macOS 26.2, the Freeform app supports tables. This allows you to structure your Freeform boards by neatly organizing data, ideas, or plans into rows and columns. Users can adjust cell size, format text and combine tables with other elements such as drawings, images or notes. This addition makes Freeform more versatile as a collaboration and brainstorming tool, especially when planning projects or sharing information with others.
Customize Liquid Glass on lock screen
Do you find that the clock is difficult to read on the lock screen of your iPhone or iPad when you use the Liquid Glass layout? From now on you can adjust the level of transparency specifically for the clock.
- Activate the lock screen and place your finger on the screen
- Edit mode is activated
- Tap ‘Customize’
- Select the clock
- Choose ‘Glass’
- Use the bottom slide switch to adjust the intensity
You can choose to display the clock very transparently or slightly matte for better readability. This is useful if you have a busy background and the clock was difficult to read.
Translate live with AirPods in the EU
Live translation for AirPods is also available in the European Union with the new software updates, but not yet in Dutch. This feature allows users to have conversations translated in real time through their AirPods, while seeing the translated text on their iPhone, iPad or Mac. The feature works with multiple languages and is especially useful during travel or international meetings. Apple is gradually expanding language support, with Dutch expected to be added at a later stage.
Sleep score adjusted
Starting with iOS 26.2 and watchOS 26.2, Apple has adjusted the way sleep scores are calculated on the Apple Watch for a more realistic picture of sleep quality. The new method takes into account more factors, such as sleep patterns, sleep duration, rest periods and heart rate variations. This gives users a more balanced score that better reflects their real night’s sleep.
- Very Low – 0-40 (previously 0-29)
- Low – 41-60 (previously 30-49)
- Okay – 61-80 (previously 50-69)
- High – 81-95 (formerly 70-89)
- Very High – 96-100 (previously 90-100)
In addition, the Health app now presents the sleep score more clearly, with insight into trends over longer periods. Users can better track their progress through improved graphs and sleep improvement recommendations. By refining the algorithm, Apple wants to further increase the wearing comfort and health value of the Apple Watch, especially for people who want to actively monitor and optimize their sleeping behavior.
Podcasts improvements
Apple’s Podcasts app is getting three major improvements that make listening to podcasts easier. A new feature is the automatic creation of chapters for English episodes, making it easier to navigate through a podcast.
With this update, you can also follow podcasts mentioned in an episode directly from the player or transcript. There’s also a new ‘From This Episode’ feature, which gives you easy access to links shared in the podcast, such as music, books or websites. These links appear on the episode page and are automatically synced to when they are discussed.
Edge Light for Mac
Edge Light is essentially a virtual ring light that appears around the edges of your Mac screen when you’re videoconferencing. The feature works with all major video calling apps – FaceTime, Zoom, Google Meet and WebEx – and provides soft, even lighting to your face. Instead of having to purchase and set up a physical ring light, the Edge Light does the work virtually through your Mac’s screen technology.
The great thing about Edge Light is that Apple has made it much more intelligent than a regular ring light. The feature uses the Neural Engine in your Mac to detect your face, estimate its size, and determine your position in the video frame. In this way, Edge Light ensures that the lighting reaches exactly the right point.
At the same time, the Image Signal Processor adjusts the brightness of the light based on the ambient lighting in your room, so that the effect always looks natural.
Other innovations
- Subtle adjustments for Liquid Glass design such as spirit level in Measurement and custom animations for pop-up menus
- In the passwords app settings, there is now an option to manage websites for which passwords are not saved upon login.
- The LED flash on notifications option in the Accessibility section of the Settings app now allows users to flash the screen. Previously, this setting was limited to the LED on the back of the iPhone.
- Song lyrics for Apple Music are now also available offline, including karaoke function, translation and more.
- Games app adds sorting and filtering to library and provides real-time score updates while playing.
- Pinned conversations for Messages can now be disabled in CarPlay settings
- In the Settings app, under Notifications, there is a section for Safety Alerts. Here you can manage earthquake alerts, threat alerts and enhanced alert delivery, which improves alert reliability by using your location. (not in the Netherlands)