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ZDNET's key takeaways
- iOS 26.2 offers security patches for two zero-day flaws.
- The update also enhances AirDrop, Reminders, and Podcasts.
- Be sure to also update your iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and 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 but, enhances several built-in apps and features in clever ways.
On Friday, Apple released the 26.2 updates for the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and other products. Though they all offer bug fixes and feature improvements, iOS 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 26.2, Apple has squashed 25 different bugs affecting such apps and services as the App Store, FaceTime, Messages, and Photos. But most important are the two-zero day vulnerabilities that could pose trouble for intended victims.
Reported as exploited in the wild, both zero days may have been used in extremely sophisticated attacks against targeted individuals still running versions of iOS before iOS 26, Apple explained. These two flaws impact WebKit, the engine used to render web pages in Safari and many other apps.
The first flaw, dubbed CVE-2025-43529, could allow an attacker to remotely execute code on a device through a malicious website. Apple described this one as a use-after-free issue, which means that the malicious content could hack into memory that would otherwise be off limits. Labeling it a memory corruption problem, Apple said that this was resolved with improved memory management.
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The other flaw, tracked as CVE-2025-14174, is also due to corrupted memory with WebKit. Here, Apple said that it fixed the glitch with improved validation.
Though these two zero days target specific individuals, all eligible iPhone (and iPad) owners should patch them through the latest updates. Further, iPhone and iPad users aren't the only ones affected. The same flaws impact MacOS Tahoe, WatchOS, TVOS, VisionOS, and Safari, requiring 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 same, you can now take the process a step further.
With iOS 26.2, you're able to set an alarm for an important reminder. To do this, fire up the Reminders app and create a new reminder. At the details screen, turn on the switch for Urgent. You can then change the default date and time. When the reminder comes due, an alarm will pop up, providing 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 past, you could share content only with your contacts or with everyone for up to 10 minutes. Now, iOS 26.2 adds another option. With the new update, you'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 this, the 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 code, the transfer is validated. A generated code will last for 30 days, so 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 past, I've used my trusty iPhone and Apple Watch to track my sleep. The next morning, I can check the Health app on the phone to discover how I slept by viewing my sleep scores. Previously, those scores used ranges of numbers that didn't accurately reflect your sleep patterns. But with iOS 26.2, Apple has reset the ranges.
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To check your scores after a night of sleep tracking, open the Health app, tap the Search icon, and 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 score, and the app will explain why it awarded you that score based on your sleep duration, bedtime consistency, and the number of interruptions.
5. Podcast enhancements
I listen to a host of podcasts through my iPhone, so I always welcome any new options to the built-in Podcasts app. With iOS 26.2 comes two new skills.
First, you can now view individual chapters for podcast episodes. By seeing each chapter and the time it appears in the episode, you'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 this, start playing a podcast episode. If the podcast supports the new option, tap 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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Second, a 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 Podcasts, Apple Music, Apple News, and Apple TV. Otherwise, Apple may automatically create a link for any podcast that appears in the transcript. For this one, just look through a transcript and tap any links that appear to see what pops up.
To update your iPhone to iOS 26.2, go to Settings, select General, and then tap Software Updates. You'll also want to update your iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and other Apple products to the latest 26.2 versions.
