Apple Seeds Fifth Betas of iOS 16.6 and iPadOS 16.6 to Developers [Update: Public Beta Available]

Apple today seeded the fifth betas of upcoming iOS 16.6 and iPadOS 16.6 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming two weeks after the release of the fourth betas.

iOS 16
Registered developers can opt in to the betas by opening up the Settings app, going to Software Update, tapping on the “Beta Updates” option and toggling on the iOS 16 Developer Beta. Note that an Apple ID associated with a developer account is required to download and install the beta.

iOS 16.6 and iPadOS 16.6 may lay the groundwork for iMessage Contact Key Verification. The feature is meant to let Apple device owners verify that they are messaging with the people they intend to message rather than a malicious entity that has intercepted a message or is eavesdropping on a conversation.

In the first beta, hints of iMessage Contact Key were available, but the option was not fully enabled and the references have since been removed, so it remains unclear if this is something we can expect to see in iOS 16.6.

Related Forum: iOS 15

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Top Rated Comments

Realityck Avatar
26 months ago
To devs today, still some issues as no RC yet

* iOS 16.6 beta 5 (20G5070a) - July 10, 2023
* iPadOS 16.6 beta 5 (20G5070a) - July 10, 2023
* macOS 13.5 beta 5 (22G5072a) - July 10, 2023
* watchOS 9.6 beta 5 (20U5570a) - July 10, 2023
* tvOS 16.6 beta 5 (20M5571a) - July 10, 2023
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
hovscorpion12 Avatar
26 months ago
Thank you so much @Realityck!!

Looks like GMs/final builds could some soon. I suspect public release end of July
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Scott H Avatar
26 months ago
16.6 has been working great!
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
zorinlynx Avatar
26 months ago
This is a long beta period for a minor update especially since iOS 17 is in beta too. I wonder what they are changing that requires so much testing.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Ilde Avatar
26 months ago
Hi,

There is also a security update to iOS 16.5.1

Attachment Image
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Unregistered 4U Avatar
26 months ago
At some point in the future, there will be those that were unaware that Public Betas would normally come out days or weeks after the developer beta. To those folks, this maddening 3 hour wait will be inexcusable and they’ll be calling for the head of Tim Apple. :)
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)