Is iOS 26.2 worth the download? 5 reasons to update your iPhone today
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ZDNET's key takeaways
- iOS 26.2 offers security patches for two zero-day flaws.
- The update also enhances AirDropRemindersand Podcasts.
- Be sure to also update your iPadMacApple Watchand Apple TV.
iPhone owners who haven't yet jumped to iOS 26.2 will want to download and install this latest update. That's because it not only offers important security fixes butenhances several built-in apps and features in clever ways.
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On FridayApple released the 26.2 updates for the iPhoneiPadMacApple Watchand other products. Though they all offer bug fixes and feature improvementsiOS 26.2 may be the most impactful of the bunch. Here are five reasons you'll want to jump to this latest version.
1. Security fixes
First and foremost is the usual lineup of security patches. With iOS 26.2Apple has addressed 25 different bugs affecting various apps and servicesincluding the App StoreFaceTimeMessagesand Photos. But most important are the two-zero-day vulnerabilities that could pose trouble for intended victims.
Reported as exploited in the wildboth zero days may have been used in extremely sophisticated attacks against targeted individuals still running versions of iOS before iOS 26Apple explained. These two flaws impact WebKitthe engine used to render web pages in Safari and many other apps.
The first flawdesignated as CVE-2025-43529could enable an attacker to remotely execute code on a device via a malicious website. Apple described this one as a use-after-free issuewhich means that the malicious content could hack into memory that would otherwise be off limits. Labeling it a memory corruption problemApple said that this was resolved with improved memory management.
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The other flawtracked as CVE-2025-14174is also due to corrupted memory with WebKit. HereApple said that it fixed the glitch with improved validation.
Though these two zero days target specific individualsall eligible iPhone (and iPad) owners should patch them through the latest updates. FurtheriPhone and iPad users aren't the only ones affected. The same flaws impact MacOS TahoeWatchOSTVOSVisionOSand Safarirequiring their respective 26.2 updates as the fix.
2. Reminder alarms
I often set reminders on my iPhone to keep track of items on my to-do list. If you do the sameyou can now take the process a step further.
With iOS 26.2you're able to set an alarm for an important reminder. To do thisfire up the Reminders app and create a new reminder. At the details screenturn on the switch for Urgent. You can then change the default date and time. When the reminder comes duean alarm will pop upproviding both a visual notification and an audible beep.
3. AirDrop security
Apple's AirDrop offers you a convenient way to share files and other content with nearby Apple users. In the pastyou could share content only with your contacts or with everyone for up to 10 minutes. NowiOS 26.2 adds another option. With the new updateyou're able to use a one-time code to allow transfers with people not in your Contacts list and for more than just 10 minutes.
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For thisthe person who wants to receive the content generates a code on their device. The person sending the content then enters the same code on their device. By matching the codethe transfer is validated. A generated code will last for 30 daysso you can more easily use AirDrop without having to add someone to your Contacts list just to transfer a file.
4. Sleep scores
In the pastI've used my trusty iPhone and Apple Watch to track my sleep. The next morningI can check the Health app on the phone to discover how I slept by viewing my sleep scores. Previouslythose scores used ranges of numbers that didn't accurately reflect your sleep patterns. But with iOS 26.2Apple has reset the ranges.
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To check your scores after a night of sleep trackingopen the Health apptap the Search iconand select Sleep from the results. Tap the option for Sleep Score and then check out the charts. The scores use the new number ranges and phrases ranging from Very Low to Very High. Select a specific scoreand the app will explain why it awarded you that score based on your sleep durationbedtime consistencyand the number of interruptions.
5. Podcast enhancements
I listen to a host of podcasts through my iPhoneso I always welcome any new options to the built-in Podcasts app. With iOS 26.2 comes two new skills.
Firstyou can now view individual chapters for podcast episodes. By seeing each chapter and the time it appears in the episodeyou're able to skip to a topic that interests you. Some podcasts generate the chapters themselves. But Apple is slowing starting to display chapter titles for episodes via AI.
To check thisstart playing a podcast episode. If the podcast supports the new optiontap the Transcript icon and then tap the drop-down arrow next to the title. You should then see the individual chapter names.
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Seconda podcast episode can now display links to other podcasts and certain external content directly in the transcript. Podcast developers are able to insert links from Apple PodcastsApple MusicApple Newsand Apple TV. OtherwiseApple may automatically create a link for any podcast that appears in the transcript. For this onejust look through a transcript and tap any links that appear to see what pops up.
To update your iPhone to iOS 26.2go to Settingsselect Generaland then tap Software Updates. You'll also want to update your iPadMacApple Watchand other Apple products to the latest 26.2 versions.