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Apple Releases iOS 26.3 Public Beta With Android Transfer and Wearable Notification Forwarding

The pre-holiday build focuses on interoperability under EU pressure ahead of a larger 26.4 update.

Overview

  • Apple has made iOS 26.3 beta 1 available to public testers after the December 15 developer seed, using build 23D5089e.
  • A new Transfer to Android option wirelessly pairs phones via QR or code to move photos, messages, notes, apps, passwords, and a phone number, excluding health data, Bluetooth pairings, and protected items like locked notes.
  • Notification Forwarding routes iPhone alerts to a single third-party wearable and suspends Apple Watch notifications while active, with availability tied to European Union requirements.
  • Lock Screen customization now includes a dedicated Weather wallpaper category with curated presets, separated from Astronomy.
  • Apple also released corresponding 26.3 betas for iPadOS, macOS Tahoe, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS, with reporting pointing to a late-January public release for iOS 26.3.