- The third iOS 26.2 beta is out now
- It includes a new way to use AirDrop with people who aren’t in your contacts
- It also hints at the possibility of changing the default voice assistant, though so far only in Japan
Apple has now rolled out the third iOS 26.2 beta, and while most of the changes and additions here are minor, there is one quite significant new feature.
Now—as discovered by MacRumors—you’ll be able to use AirDrop to share files with someone without having to first add them as a contact or enable AirDrop for everyone nearby. Instead, you can generate a code that – when shared with someone – allows the two of you to exchange files over AirDrop for 30 days. So this works even if you have your AirDrop set to contacts only.
If you want to remove their AirDrop privileges before 30 days have passed—or simply see a list of those you’ve shared such a code with—you can do so from Settings > General > AirDrop > Manage Known AirDrop Contacts.
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The other changes in this iOS 26.2 beta are relatively small, but worth knowing about. For example, third-party medical apps will now be able to access hypertension notifications from the Apple Watch, and Apple has further tweaked the design of the Level in the Measure app after giving it a Liquid Glass overhaul in the previous beta.
Most of the other addons just give you information about changes that were added in previous beta versions. For example, there’s now text in the Reminders app that makes it clearer that you can add an alarm to a reminder if you set it as urgent — with the ability to add alarms having been added in an earlier iOS 26.2 beta.
Similarly, a warning has now been added to the Liquid Glass settings screen warning you that you cannot use the previously added ‘Tinted’ option in combination with the ‘Reduce Transparency’ and ‘Increase Contrast’ accessibility settings.
A Japan-only Siri replacement
However, there is one last thing that could be a big deal, except that it is currently limited to Japan, as there are signs in this beta that users in Japan will soon be able to select a different default voice assistant that you would be able to launch by long pressing the side button.
It’s unclear why this would be Japan-only, but if Apple ever expands it to the rest of the world, it could be a huge upgrade for anyone who isn’t crazy about Siri.
In any case, as with previous iOS 26.2 betas, we wouldn’t necessarily recommend downloading this one, especially since the finished version is likely to be out very soon. But if you simply can’t wait, here’s how to download iOS betas.
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