Apple seeded the iOS 26.1 RC to developers and beta users in late October 2025, signaling that the public version will likely arrive in early November 2025.
This release feels stable enough to be final — performance is solid, battery life seems consistent, and no major bugs have popped up so far.
What’s New in iOS 26.1
Here are seven standout features in iOS 26.1 that actually make a difference in day-to-day use.
1. Liquid Glass Toggle — Clear or Tinted Mode
When Apple introduced the Liquid Glass effect, the new transparency looked stylish but not everyone loved it — some users found text harder to read.
With iOS 26.1, Apple finally adds a Liquid Glass toggle, letting you pick between a transparent “Clear” look or a softer “Tinted” version.
This tweak affects notification backgrounds, tab bars, and more — a small but thoughtful way to personalize your phone’s clarity.
How to use it: Go to Settings > Display & Brightness → switch between Clear and Tinted modes.
(The same option also appears in iPadOS and macOS.)
Photo Credit: MacRumors
2. Lock Screen Swipe Control
Finally, Apple fixes one of the most annoying iPhone quirks: accidentally opening the camera from the lock screen.
With the new Lock Screen Swipe option, you can disable the swipe gesture entirely.
How to set it:
Go to Settings > Camera > Lock Screen Swipe to Open Camera and turn it off.
Simple — and no more random pocket photos.
3. Apple Music Gesture Controls
Apple Music’s MiniPlayer now supports left-right swipe gestures for switching songs. It’s a subtle addition, but if you listen to music constantly, this change makes playback smoother and more intuitive.
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4. “Slide to Stop” for Alarms
Apple has replaced the small “tap to stop” alarm button with a slide gesture. It’s such a small UX change, yet it solves a real-world issue: people accidentally turning off their alarms. Now you’ll have to slide to stop it — which feels more deliberate and user-friendly.
5. Apple Intelligence Expands Language Support
Apple Intelligence now supports more languages, including Danish, Dutch, Norwegian, Portuguese (Portugal), Swedish, Turkish, Traditional Chinese, and Vietnamese.
That’s a big step toward making Apple’s on-device intelligence tools accessible across Europe and Asia.
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6. AirPods Live Translation
If you travel or work internationally, this one’s exciting.
AirPods Live Translation now supports Japanese, Korean, Italian, and Chinese (Simplified & Traditional). Real-time translation feels smoother and more natural, especially in noisy environments.
7. Custom Workouts in Fitness App
The Fitness app finally lets you build custom workouts on your iPhone — choose the activity type, intensity, duration, calorie goal, and start time.
It’s a handy upgrade for users who don’t rely on preset routines or Apple Watch workouts.
Is It Worth Updating?
If you’re on iOS 26 already, iOS 26.1 is a clear improvement. It doesn’t introduce flashy new visuals, but it smooths out everyday frustrations.
Between the Liquid Glass customization, improved gestures, and expanded AI tools, the update feels thoughtful and mature.
For most users, it’s worth installing once the public version is live — and if you’re part of the beta program, the RC build already feels rock-solid.
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How to Update to iOS 26.1 RC
If you want to try the iOS 26.1 Release Candidate before the public version drops, it’s pretty easy — as long as your device is already enrolled in Apple’s beta program.
Here’s how to do it:
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Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
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Go to General → Software Update.
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Tap Beta Updates and make sure iOS 26 Developer Beta or Public Beta is selected.
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Once the iOS 26.1 RC appears, tap Download and Install.
The installation takes about 10–15 minutes depending on your connection. It’s always smart to back up your data to iCloud or your Mac before updating — just in case something goes wrong.
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Final Thoughts
The iOS 26.1 RC update isn’t about headline-grabbing innovation; it’s about small, human-focused improvements.
Apple listened to user feedback and quietly refined the details that affect how you use your iPhone every single day.
So when iOS 26.1 officially drops in early November, my advice is simple: update it. You’ll notice the difference.
