On Monday evening, the release candidates for iOS 26.5, macOS 26.5, iPadOS 26.5 as well as watchOS 26.5, visionOS 26.5 and tvOS 26.5 appeared – the next major update for the 26 operating systems. New features in 26.5 include end-to-end encryption of RCS messages, faster pairing of third-party accessories, and forwarding of notifications to third-party smartwatches. With these updates, Apple will also introduce advertising in the Apple Maps app – but initially only in the USA. Probably noticed a bigger problem
Apple has already confirmed that the above updates will appear in final versions for all users next week. But apparently a serious error was discovered in the release candidate version of iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5, which Apple released last Monday evening.
Release candidates are actually finished versions in which no major problems were noticed in the beta phase – and which should be tested one last time before release. Normally, only serious problems are corrected in such versions – and smaller problems are postponed to bug fix updates or the next major version.
New release candidate
This evening Apple is releasing the second release candidate for iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5. The company has not yet provided an updated RC version for macOS, watchOS, tvOS and visionOS. iOS 26.5 RC 2 and iPadOS 26.5 RC 2 have the build number 23F77 – Apple marked the first release candidates with the build number 23F75.
Error not known
Unfortunately, Apple does not make public which problem has been corrected in the new release candidate versions. Even during the beta phase, Apple only makes public in a few cases what changes and bug fixes the company made between two beta releases – and this makes it particularly difficult for developers to test their own apps. Why Apple doesn’t communicate via a support document which specific changes have been incorporated into a new version remains a mystery.
