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Apple Issues iOS 26.5 RC 2 to Testers as Public Release Nears

The revised build signals Apple is fixing last‑minute bugs ahead of a near‑term public release.

Updated iOS 26.5 & iPadOS 26.5 RC 2 builds tighten final release
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Overview

  • The second release candidate for iOS 26.5, which Apple posted Friday, carries build 23F77 and is available to developers and public beta testers.
  • RC 2 replaces the 23F75 build from earlier in the week and appears aimed at bug fixes and stability rather than new features.
  • iOS 26.5 adds end‑to‑end encrypted RCS messaging in Messages as a beta feature, with availability tied to carriers that support the GSMA Universal Profile.
  • The update introduces Suggested Places in Apple Maps for nearby recommendations and a new Pride Luminance wallpaper, with groundwork for Maps ads noted in code but not active.
  • A public rollout is expected as soon as next week based on Apple’s typical RC cadence, and some features like encrypted RCS will roll out over time by carrier and region.