The third developer beta of iOS 26.2 is here with changes to AirDrop and updates to the Measure app. Here's what's new.
On Monday, less than a week after the arrival of the second developer beta, Apple released iOS 26.2 developer beta 2. The iOS software update has the build number 23C5044b, replacing 23C5033g.
As a whole, iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 introduced a variety of changes, most notably Apple's controversial "Liquid Glass" design language. The following update, iOS 26.1, brought additional toggles for existing system features, along with new customization settings for Liquid Glass.
The first developer beta of iOS 26.2, meanwhile, offered even more ways of adjusting the Liquid Glass material. iOS 26.2 developer beta 1 also made third-party app marketplaces available to users in Japan and included a reference to the unannounced "Apple Creator Studio."
With the second iOS 26.2 developer beta, Apple brought Liquid Glass to the Measure app, while macOS Tahoe gained a new feature known as Edge Light. This new capability lets you use your Mac display as a camera ring light.
Monday's software update builds upon the user interface tweaks introduced with the previous two developer betas, with slight adjustments to the look of the numbers in the Measure app. Apple has made a new AirDrop feature available to iPhone users as well.
AirDrop gets 30-day access codes
The second developer beta of iOS 26.2 contained code referencing an unannounced AirDrop pairing option. iOS 26.2 developer beta 3 made this feature fully functional.
AirDrop now lets you create one-time access codes that expire after 30 days.
To be more specific, users can now set up an AirDrop code to share with users who are not in their contact list. The new option can be found by navigating to Settings > General > AirDrop and tapping Manage Known AirDrop Contacts.
"Share a secure code with people not in your contacts to use AirDrop. You will be able to find each other for the next 30 days. You can manage access in Settings," reads the feature description. "You will automatically appear for 30 days to people you have shared a one-time code with."
Previously, users could only allow AirDrop with everyone for 10 minutes, disable the feature entirely, or make AirDrop usable only with contacts. Now, one-time codes let users share files via AirDrop without adding someone to their contacts, for 30 days.
It's nice to have the extra option, but it's only really applicable in niche use cases, meaning most won't find the codes useful.
AirDrop itself was introduced back in 2011, with macOS 10.7 Lion, and made its way to the iPhone and iPad two years later, with the arrival of iOS 7. The feature lets users transfer files between compatible iOS devices and Macs via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
While the new AirDrop toggle seems to be the only visible addition in iOS 26.2 beta 3, Apple is gearing up for a more meaningful change, at least in the EU.
Side button settings in Japan could let users swap Siri for another assistant
Text strings from Monday's developer beta suggest users in Japan will be able to use a third-party virtual assistant in place of Siri.
EU users may soon be able to select a default virtual assistant other than Siri.
In theory, Japanese users may be able to choose Google Gemini, Amazon Alexa, DeepSeek, or a different default voice assistant instead of Siri, albeit without the same degree of integration.
To be more specific, code from iOS 26.2 developer beta 3 offers an idea of what this change could look like in the Settings app:
- Press and Hold to Speak is not available while the Side Button is assigned to %@.
- Side Button Settings
- Select Another Default Side Button App
- The default Side Button app cannot be hidden. You can change your default apps in Settings.
- The default Side Button app cannot be locked. You can change your default apps in Settings.
- %@ is no longer eligible for use with the Side Button. Contact the app developer for more information.
- %@ is not available for use with the Side Button in your region.
Although the strings don't reference Siri or AI outright, the fact that they were found in Siri-related frameworks suggests the change will effectively enable or empower Siri alternatives in Japan. The upcoming virtual assistant change will likely only impact Japanese users, but could come to the EU thanks to the Digital Markets Act.
Apple currently allows users to ask Siri to pass verbal queries over to ChatGPT. Allowing third-party assistants to take Siri's place could eliminate the step of using Siri as a go-between with the third-party service. Rumors of this change surfaced back in May 2025, so its arrival would not be unexpected.
Overall, the third developer beta of iOS 26.2 is a relatively minor update. While Apple did add one-time AirDrop codes, the only other visible change, found in the Measure app, is cosmetic. Meanwhile, the apparent Side button options referenced in the operating system are non-functional at the time of writing.
Apple deploys new developer betas of iOS and iPadOS nearly every week or two, and we'll likely see additional features and changes with subsequent software releases.
