Apple Seeds iOS 26.1 Beta 2 to Developers: Here’s Everything New

By Mehtab Ansari • Updated On 7 Oct 2025

Like
Comment
Share

TL; DR

Alarms and timers now need a “slide to stop” gesture to prevent accidental dismissals.
iPad regains Slide Over multitasking for quick app access.
Transparent navigation buttons return in Photos, and the Dock gets the Liquid Glass effect.

Apple has released iOS 26.1 Beta 2 to developers, refining usability and visual details across the system. While the update doesn’t introduce major new features, it polishes the iOS 26 experience with interface and control improvements.

Slide to Stop for Alarms

In this beta, alarms and timers now require users to slide to stop them on the Lock Screen, reducing accidental dismissals.

iOS 26.1 Beta 2 has a new “slide to stop” for Alarms and Timer. pic.twitter.com/OgOV2IcBvl
— Beta Profiles (@BetaProfiles) October 6, 2025

ALSO READ: iPhone 17 Pro vs. vivo X300 Pro vs. OPPO Find X9 Pro: Leaks Reveal the Ultimate Camera Showdown

Slide Over is Back

For iPad users, iPadOS 26.1 Beta 2 restores the Slide Over multitasking feature, allowing a floating app window over the main workspace for quick access.

More (and Less) Liquid Glass

Apple has also brought back transparent navigation buttons in the Photos app, giving it a more Liquid Glass-like look. Meanwhile, the Dock now gets the “Liquid Glass” effect seen elsewhere in iOS 26, improving visual consistency.

More apps have been updated to support the Liquid Glass redesign. However, the background in the control center is now more blurred, like it was in iOS 26.0.

iOS 26 Beta 1 vs Beta 2

Huge improvement!! It is wayyyyy more readable now. pic.twitter.com/IO3AMEq6eJ
— Sam Beckman (@sam_beckman) June 23, 2025

ALSO READ: The iPhone 17 Pro’s 4X Telephoto Camera: Upgrade or Downgrade?

More Left-Alignment

Other changes include left-aligned headers in Settings and Home Screen folders (this was already the case with the passcode screen), new controls for external microphone gain, and an option for automatic background security updates. Accessibility settings now add a “Display Borders” toggle for clearer button outlines.

The update also reverts some visual changes from Beta 1, such as Calendar’s full-color backgrounds, which have been toned down. Overall, iOS 26.1 Beta 2 focuses on small changes. The stable rollout of iOS 26.1 is expected later this month.

You can follow Smartprix on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Google News. Visit smartprix.com for the latest tech and auto news, reviews, and guides.

Source

Mehtab Ansari

Mehtab Ansari is the Assistant Editor – Features & Reviews at Smartprix, where he writes about smartphones, laptops, audio gear, and everything in between. A computer science student by degree but a tech nerd by heart, he’s been into consumer tech for years and started reviewing products professionally in February 2024. He’s especially into photography and audio, often spending more time testing a smartphone’s camera than he probably should. For him, tech isn’t just work, it’s what he’s always thinking about.

Expertise

Smartphones, laptops, tablets, monitors, smartwatches, photography, and audio gear. I’ve reviewed over 60 products across these categories on Smartprix in the past year and a half.

Education - Bachelor of Computer Applications – Nizam College, Hyderabad (2022–2025) | Joined Smartprix -February 2024 | Published Reviews & Stories - 723

Nissan’s Compact SUV Tekton Launched In India From ₹10.49 Lakhs, Takes On Creta With 5-Star BNCAP Rating

Nissan has launched the Tekton in India at its global premiere in Mumbai on July 9, 2026. The launch marks the brand’s most significant push into the mainstream SUV segment in over a decade. Built on the same platform as the Renault Duster and available in 12 variants with two engine options, it comes ready …

iOS 27 Beta 3 Released: Here’s Everything New

Apple released iOS 27 Beta 3 to developers on July 6, 2026 (build 24A5380h). This update brings several visual refinements, Siri improvements, and smaller quality-of-life changes. Here’s a breakdown of what’s new in iOS 27 Beta 3: 1. New Siri listening animation Siri now shows a more colorful reflective orb effect while listening, enhancing the …

iOS 27 Beta 2 Brings Noticeable Improvements to Siri and Daily Usability

Apple has released iOS 27 Beta 2 for developers, and it feels like a meaningful step forward from the first beta. While it doesn’t bring any major new features, it focuses on refining existing ones, especially Siri, and fixing several annoying bugs that were present in Beta 1. Siri Gets Faster and Smarter The most …

Apple Releases iOS 26.2 Beta 2 With Liquid Glass Design For Measure And Improvements To Other Apps

The Cupertino-based tech giant Apple has seeded iOS 26.2 Beta 2 to developers for experimenting with a handful of new features and additions. Although this won’t be a major upgrade for users, skipping it isn’t a great idea either, as it may also include vital security updates. Also Read: iQOO 15 Indian Price Leaked Ahead …

macOS 27 Golden Gate: Here’s Everything New

Apple unveiled macOS 27 Golden Gate during WWDC 2026 as the next major version of macOS. Rather than introducing a dramatic redesign, Golden Gate focuses on improving speed, refining the interface, and expanding Apple Intelligence across the operating system. Developer beta 1 is available immediately, a public beta will arrive in July, and the final …