15 Cool New Things Your iPhone Can Do With iOS 26.2

What is iOS 26.2 — and why it’s worth the update

iOS 26.2 is the latest point update for iPhones, rolled out as the second major revision of iOS 26. It brings a host of new features, refinements, and customization options that enhance usability, accessibility, and convenience.

Whether you use your iPhone for productivity, entertainment, or just everyday tasks, iOS 26.2 delivers several handy upgrades worth checking out.

Top 15 New Features in iOS 26.2 — What Changes For You

Here are 15 of the most useful new additions coming with iOS 26.2.

Reminder alarms: You can now set true alarms for items in the Reminders app. Select the “Urgent” option — and your iPhone will sound a full alarm (not just a notification) when the reminder is due.

Customisable Lock-screen clock look: The “Liquid Glass” design gets a new slider allowing finer control over the clock’s transparency — from nearly invisible to frosted-glass style — for more personalization.

AirDrop files to non-contacts: Now you can share via AirDrop with people not saved in your contacts by generating a one-time code — valid for 30 days. Great for quick file sharing with someone you just met.

Offline lyrics in Apple Music: Lyrics for songs are now downloadable and viewable even without internet — handy for offline listening or when data is limited.

Better sleep scoring: If you use an Apple Watch to track sleep, the sleep-quality scoring tiers have been adjusted — now more closely aligned with typical sleep patterns.

Automatic podcast chapters: In the Apple Podcasts app, episodes can now get auto-generated chapter markers and enhanced transcripts (with tappable links), making navigation easier.

Manage excluded-password sites: The Passwords app now offers a section where you can view and manage websites for which you’ve chosen not to save login credentials.

Live translation on AirPods in EU: Users in the European Union now get access to the AirPods Live Translation feature — ideal for real-time translation during conversations.

Screen flash alerts for notifications: Beyond the rear LED flash, you can now choose for your screen itself to flash when you get a notification, improving visibility of alerts (especially useful for accessibility).

Faster navigation in Apple News: The app now lets you jump quickly into key sections like sports, business, food, puzzles, etc., rather than scrolling endlessly.

Improved safety alerts: A new “Enhanced Safety Alerts” section brings together critical alerts (e.g. earthquakes, imminent threats) and offers improved alert-delivery based on location settings.

Sort games by size: In the built-in Games app library, you can now sort games by file size — useful if you want to quickly identify and delete large games to free up storage.

Option to disable pinned messages in CarPlay: If you use CarPlay in your car, iOS 26.2 lets you turn off the pinned-messages preview in Messages — making the interface simpler while driving.

Third-party voice assistant option (Japan only): For iPhone users registered in Japan, the Side button can now be remapped to a third-party voice assistant (instead of Siri), giving more flexibility.

Better multitasking on iPad: If you use an iPad, iPadOS 26.2 (paired with iOS 26.2) restores more flexible multitasking — letting you drag apps from Library, Dock, or Spotlight into Split View or Slide Over windows.

Who Should Care — and When to Update

If you use your iPhone for reminders, music, podcasts, or often share files — the new features make life a bit easier. The update is especially useful if you:

Use Reminders for tasks and want alarms instead of silent alerts.

Listen to music or podcasts offline frequently.

Share files occasionally with people not in your contacts.

Want more control over the look and feel of your iPhone (lock-screen style, alert visuals).

Use CarPlay, or value improved accessibility and usability features.

Given that the update tweaks both visual design (through the “Liquid Glass” theme) and core functionality (alerts, sharing, multitasking), it’s a strong case for installing — as long as your iPhone is compatible (iPhone 11 or newer for iOS 26).

In Short — iOS 26.2 is a Smart, Useful Update

With iOS 26.2, Apple doesn’t just add flashy features — it improves everyday usability and accessibility across music, productivity, sharing, and system-wide design. The update is especially compelling if you want more personalization, better alerts, and smoother multitasking.