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ZDNET Highlights
- iOS 26.2 provides security patches for two zero-day flaws.
- The update also enhances AirDrop, Reminders, and Podcasts.
- Be sure to update your iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV as well.
iPhone owners who have not yet adopted iOS 26.2 will want to download and install this latest update. This is because it not only provides important security solutions, but also enhances many built-in apps and features in clever ways.
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On Friday, Apple released update 26.2 for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and other products. Although they all offer bug fixes and feature improvements, iOS 26.2 may be the most impressive of this group. Here are five reasons why you might want to move to this latest version.
1. Security Improvements
First and foremost is the usual lineup of security patches. With iOS 26.2, Apple has addressed 25 different bugs affecting various apps and services, including the App Store, FaceTime, Messages, and Photos. But the most significant are two zero-day vulnerabilities that could spell trouble for intended victims.
Reported as exploits in the wild, both zero days may have been used in extremely sophisticated attacks against targeted individuals still running versions of iOS prior to iOS 26, Apple explained. These two flaws affect WebKit, the engine used to render web pages in Safari and many other apps.
The first flaw, designated as CVE-2025-43529, could enable an attacker to remotely execute code on a device via a malicious website. Apple describes this as a use-after-free issue, meaning malicious content can hack into memory that would otherwise be off limits. Apple called it a memory corruption issue and said it was resolved with better 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 has fixed the glitch with better verification.
Although these two zero days target specific individuals, all eligible iPhone (and iPad) owners should patch them via the latest update. Moreover, iPhone and iPad users are not the only ones affected. Similar flaws affect MacOS Tahoe, watchOS, tvOS, VisionOS, and Safari, requiring their respective 26.2 updates to be fixed.
2. Reminder alarm
I often set reminders on my iPhone to keep track of items on my to-do list. If you do the same, now you can take the process one step further.
With iOS 26.2, you are able to set an alarm for an important reminder. To do this, open the Reminders app and create a new reminder. On the Details screen, turn on the switch for Urgent. You can then change the default date and time. When the reminder arrives at the scheduled time, an alarm will pop up, providing both a visual notification and an audible beep.
3. AirDrop Security
Apple’s AirDrop provides you with a convenient way to share files and other content with nearby Apple users. Previously, you could share up to 10 minutes of content only with your contacts or with everyone. Now, iOS 26.2 adds another option. With the new update, you are able to use a one-time code to allow transfers with people who are not in your contact list and only for no more than 10 minutes.
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For this, the person who wants to receive the content generates a code on his device. The person sending the content enters the same code on their device. The transfer becomes valid when the codes match. A generated code will last for 30 days, so you can more easily use AirDrop without having to add someone to your contacts list to transfer a file.
4. Sleep Score
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 my phone to see how I slept, looking at my sleep score. Previously, those numbers used ranges of numbers that did not accurately reflect your sleep patterns. But with iOS 26.2, Apple has reset the range.
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To check your score after a night of sleep tracking, open the Health app, tap the search icon, and select Sleep from the results. Tap the Sleep Score option and then view the chart. The scores use new number categories and phrases ranging from very low to very high. Choose a specific score, and the app will explain why it gave you that score based on your sleep duration, consistency of falling asleep, and number of interruptions.
5. Podcast Enhancement
I listen to many podcasts through my iPhone, so I always welcome any new options in the built-in Podcasts app. Comes with iOS 26.2 two new skills,
First of all, you can now view individual chapters for podcast episodes. By looking at each chapter and the time it appears in the episode, you can jump to the topic that interests you. Some podcasts generate their own chapters. But Apple has been slow to display chapter titles for episodes via AI.
To check this, start playing the podcast episode. If the podcast supports the new option, tap the transcript icon and then tap the drop-down arrow next to the title. Then you should see the different chapter names.
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Second, a podcast episode can now display links to other podcasts and some external content directly in the transcript. Podcast developers are able to insert links to Apple Podcasts, Apple Music, Apple News, and Apple TV. Otherwise, Apple can automatically create a link to any podcast that appears in the transcript. For this, simply view a transcript and tap on any links that come up and see what pops up.
To update your iPhone to iOS 26.2, go to Settings, select General, and then tap Software Update. You may also want to update your iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and other Apple products to the latest 26.2 versions.
