iOS 16.2 Release Candidate is now available to developers and public beta testers. Apple has been testing iOS 16.2 for over a month now. And finally, it is going to release to the public next week. The latest RC arrives at the right time as we predicted in our story. This is going to be a treat from Apple for the holidays.
iOS 16.2 is a major update just like iOS 16.1. And the new update includes many important features and changes. This will be the last iOS 16 update for iPhones this year.
Along with iOS 16.2 RC, Apple also released iPadOS 16.2 RC, tvOS 16.2 RC, iOS 15.7.2 RC, iPadOS 15.7.2 RC, macOS Ventura 13.1 RC, macOS Monterey 12.6.2 RC 4, macOS Big Sur 11.7.2 RC 3, and watchOS 9.2 RC.
iOS 16.2 Release Candidate and iPadOS 16.2 Release Candidate come with build number 20C65. The latest RC is available at around 5GB but it may change depending on the previous update and iPhone model.
Now coming to changes and new features, it has all the features that Apple has been testing in beta builds. This includes a new Freeform app, AOD without wallpaper, SharePlay support in the game center for multiplayer games, and more.
iOS 16.2 RC Changelog
Freeform
- Freeform is a new app for working creatively with friends or colleagues on Mac, iPad and iPhone
- A flexible canvas lets you add files, images, stickies, and more
- Drawing tools let you sketch anywhere on the canvas with your finger or Apple Pencil (iPad)
Apple Music Sing
- A new way to sing along with millions of your favorite songs in Apple Music
- Fully adjustable vocals let you duet with the original artist, sing solo, or mix it up
- Newly enhanced beat-by-beat lyrics make it even easier to follow along with the music
(FOR IPAD ONLY)
Stage Manager
- External display support with resolutions up to 6K available on iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation and later), iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation and later), and iPad Air (5th generation)
- Drag and drop files and windows from your compatible device to your connected display, and vice versa
- Support for using up to 4 apps on the iPad display and 4 on the external display
Advanced Data Protection for iCloud
- New option expands the total number of iCloud data categories protected using end-to-end encryption to 23 โ including iCloud Backup, Notes, and Photos โ protecting your information even in the case of a data breach in the cloud
Lock Screen
- New settings allow you to hide wallpaper or notifications when Always-On display is enabled on iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max
- Sleep widget lets you view your most recent sleep data
- Medications widget lets you view reminders and quickly access your schedule
Game Center
SharePlay support in Game Center for multiplayer games so you can play with the people you are on a FaceTime call with
Activity Widget allows you to see what your friends are playing and achieving in games right from your Home Screen
Apple TV
- Live Activities for Apple TV app let you follow your favorite teams with live scores right on your Lock Screen or in Dynamic Island on iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max
Home
- Improved reliability and efficiency of communication between your smart home accessories and Apple devices
This update also includes the following improvements and bug fixes:
- Improved search in Messages allows you to find photos based on their content, like a dog, car, person, or text
- Turn Off Hide IP Address setting enables iCloud Private Relay users to temporarily disable the service for a specific site in Safari
- News articles in Weather display information relevant to the weather in that location
- Participant Cursors in Notes allow you to see live indicators as others make updates in a shared note
- AirDrop now automatically reverts to Contacts Only after 10 minutes to prevent unwanted requests to receive content
- Crash Detection optimizations on iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models
- Fixes an issue that causes some notes not to sync with iCloud after updates are made
The new iOS 16.2 Release Candidate is available for iPhone users who have installed the iOS 16 beta profile or already on a iOS 16.2 Beta build. Next week the same update will be available to the public with same build number. So it is the stable build for beta testers. To manually check the update, go to Settings > General > Software Update > Download and Install.
Before updating your iPhone to iOS 16.2 Release Candidate, make sure to back up important data and charge it to at least 50% to avoid interruption.
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