Apple releases third betas of iOS 26.5, iPadOS 26.5, macOS Tahoe 26.5, watchOS 26.5, tvOS 26.5, and visionOS 26.5

Apple today seeded developers with the third betas of iOS 26.5, iPadOS 26.5, macOS Tahoe 26.5, watchOS 26.5, tvOS 26.5, and visionOS 26.5.

The updates arrived on Monday, April 20, 2026, roughly one week after Apple released the second betas of the same software.

Registered developers can download the new betas through the Apple Developer portal or over-the-air on enrolled devices:

• On iPhone and iPad: Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
• On Mac: Open System Settings > General > Software Update.
• Similar paths apply to Apple Watch, Apple TV, and Vision Pro.

A free or paid Apple Developer account is required for access. Public beta versions typically follow shortly after developer releases via the Apple Beta Software Program.

As with recent point releases in the iOS 26 / macOS Tahoe 26 family, iOS 26.5 and its companion updates appear focused on bug fixes, performance improvements, and minor refinements rather than major new user-facing features. No specific changes have been highlighted yet for beta 3, consistent with the steady, weekly cadence Apple often follows in the later stages of point-update testing.

Earlier betas in the 26.5 cycle introduced or tested items such as:

• A “Suggested Places” feature in Maps
• Continued work on end-to-end encryption for RCS messaging
• Preparatory messages about upcoming ads in Apple Maps (for the US and Canada)

The third betas continue polishing the software ahead of a likely public release in the coming weeks.

These updates follow the major iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe 26 releases that debuted in 2025 with the new Liquid Glass design language and expanded Apple Intelligence capabilities. The .5 releases typically serve as maintenance updates that improve stability and address issues reported after the initial major versions.

Developers are encouraged to test their apps thoroughly against the new SDKs included with Xcode 26.5 to ensure compatibility.

Beta software can contain bugs and is not recommended for daily-driver devices. Always back up your data before installing.Stay tuned for further details as developers and public beta testers dig into today’s builds and report any new findings.

---

‎

.

Source link: https://macdailynews.com/2026/04/20/apple-releases-third-betas-of-ios-26-5-ipados-26-5-macos-tahoe-26-5-watchos-26-5-tvos-26-5-and-visionos-26-5/