Apple has seeded a second round of release candidate builds of iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5, bringing the updates a step closer to public release with a smaller round of fixes and feature additions.
The RC builds arrived one week after the fourth betas. Release candidates are typically the final versions Apple ships publicly unless major bugs force additional revisions during last-minute testing.
Build number 23F77 appears on Apple’s developer portal for both iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5, replacing the earlier 23F75 RC build released on May 4.
iOS 26.5 focuses on bug fixes, interoperability updates, and smaller feature additions instead of major interface changes or new Apple Intelligence features. The lighter update fits Apple’s usual pattern ahead of WWDC, where the company typically introduces its next generation of operating systems.
Support for encrypted RCS is one of the more notable additions discovered during the beta cycle. The feature depends on carriers adopting the latest GSMA Universal Profile specifications and expands encrypted messaging support beyond Apple’s existing iMessage ecosystem.
New Pride-themed wallpapers are also included in the update alongside additional changes tied to the European Union’s Digital Markets Act. Expanded support for Live Activities and notification forwarding on some third-party accessories and connected devices appeared during testing as part of those compliance efforts.
Apple is continuing work on Apple Maps ads in iOS 26.5, but the sponsored search and recommendation features don’t appear publicly active in the current builds. The company hasn’t announced a release date for iOS 26.5 or iPadOS 26.5, and RC builds usually arrive shortly before public rollout.
Most of the visible changes in iOS 26.5 focus on stability improvements and incremental feature updates rather than major platform shifts. Apple will preview iOS 27, macOS 27, and its next round of platform updates at WWDC 2026 in June.
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