iOS 26.4 beta 2 is out now, expanding RCS encryption testing

Opinion & Analysis

iOS 26.4 beta 2 is out now, expanding RCS encryption testing

February 23, 2026

After Apple released iOS 26.3 last week, we were anticipating the first beta release of iOS 26.4 with bated breath. That’s because rumors for the better part of a year have pointed to this update as the one to bring the revamped Siri that has been expected since 2024. However, a rumor last week dampened those expectations considerably. Now it’s unclear if the 26.4 updates will have any of the “new Siri” at all, while some of its major features get pushed back.

Still, 26.4 seems like it should be a larger-than-usual update with several new features that aren’t Siri related.

Update February 23: The second beta of iOS 26.4 is out now for developers. It expands the testing environment for RCS encryption to include iPhone-to-Android messages.

iOS 26.4 beta: New features

We won’t know all of the new features and changes to expect in iOS 26.4 until the final version is released to users, likely in March. We’ll update this section with new features as we discover them.

New video podcast experience: Apple has announced that iOS 26.4 will enable HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) technology in the Podcast app to “switch seamlessly between watching and listening to shows.”

Apple Music: iOS 26.4 introduces a new interface for albums and playlists, and new ways to find concerts near you and tour dates for your favorites artists. There is a new AI playlist feature that generates playlists based on short text prompts. There’s a new home screen widget for accessing ambient music playlists, too.

RCS end-to-end encryption: It’s taken about a year, but Apple has an option to test end-to-end encryption in RCS messages. Apple specifically states this feature is not coming in 26.4 and will be available in a future release.

Stolen Device Protection: The feature introduced in iOS 17.3 will now be enabled by default starting with iOS 26.4.

Freeform: Apple’s whiteboarding app has gotten its Creator Studio update with new features and a new icon.

Reminders: There’s a new “Urgent” smart for any reminders you have marked as Urgent using the new feature introduced in iOS 26.2

Health: Bloody Oxygen has been added back to the “Vitals” overview, and the Sleep graph now has a line showing your average bedtime.

iOS 26.4 beta: How to install the public beta

If you want to test the iOS 26 beta releases but are not a registered developer, follow these steps:

Click Sign Up on the Apple Beta page and register with your Apple ID.
Log in to the Beta Software Program.
Click Enroll your iOS device.
Open the Settings app, tap General, then Software Update.
In the Beta Updates section, select the iOS Public Beta.

It may take a few moments after registering for the beta option to appear in Software Update.

iOS 26.4 beta: How to install the developer beta

You’ll need to be registered as an Apple developer, but a free developer account will do. You can get one via Xcode or the Apple Developer app in iOS. Here’s how to do it via the Apple Developer app: