Apple Seeds iOS 18.6 Release Candidate to Developers and Public Beta Testers - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Seeds iOS 18.6 Release Candidate to Developers and Public Beta Testers

Apple today seeded release candidate versions of upcoming iOS 18.6 and iPadOS 18.6 updates to developers and public beta testers for testing purposes, with the updates coming a week after Apple seeded the third betas. The release candidates mark the final version of the software that will be provided to the public provided no additional bugs are found.

iOS 18
iOS 18.6 and iPadOS 18.6 can be downloaded from the Settings app on a compatible device by going to General > Software Update.

No notable new features have been found in the iOS 18.6 and iPadOS 18.6 betas, so it's not clear what might be added in the update, though there are some changes to the App Store in the EU due to the DMA. Rumors suggest that Apple wanted to expand Apple Intelligence to China with iOS 18.6, but regulatory hurdles have delayed the launch.

iOS 18.6 and iPadOS 18.6 likely focus on smaller changes and bug fixes, and we'll update this article should anything new be found in the fourth beta.

Apple is winding down work on iOS 18 and is focusing on iOS 26. ‌iOS 26‌ is in beta testing right now and is set to launch in September alongside new iPhone 17 models.

Related Forums: iOS 18, iPadOS 18

Popular Stories

iPhone Handoff Feature

iOS 27 Introduces New 'iPhone Handoff' Feature

Wednesday September 2, 2026 12:35 pm PDT by
Apple has added a new "iPhone Handoff" feature to iOS 27 that will allow you to switch between two iPhones while using the same phone number on each device. This functionality was briefly mentioned during the WWDC 2026 keynote in June, on a slide that listed hundreds of new features coming in iOS 27 and corresponding software updates, but Apple never shared any further details at the time. ...
Dynamic Island iPhone 18 Pro Feature

iPhone 18 Pro Prices Estimated Ahead of Apple Event Next Week

Thursday September 3, 2026 3:41 am PDT by
Less than a week before Apple debuts new iPhone 18 Pro models, research firm TrendForce has estimated the prices of the devices based on the latest hardware cost environment. TrendForce's price estimates compared to last year's models look like this: Model Starting Price Model Starting Price Change iPhone 17 Pro $1,099 iPhone 18 Pro $...
Apple Foldable Thumb

iPhone Ultra's Very High Price and Features Revealed in New Report

Thursday September 3, 2026 7:33 am PDT by
Ahead of Apple's event on Wednesday, September 9, where it is expected to unveil its first-ever foldable iPhone, Taiwanese research firm TrendForce today outlined the device's estimated price range, features, and some other key details. In the U.S., TrendForce estimated that the foldable iPhone will have a starting price of $2,099 to $2,299 and said the highest-end configurations could...

Top Rated Comments

MacUserFella Avatar
15 months ago
WHAT, WHERES IOS 26 BETA 4?!?!
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
klasma Avatar
15 months ago
It would be fun if they released iOS 26 as 18.6 by mistake.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
roncron Avatar
15 months ago
Weirdly, the 18.6 release candidate shows up for me as "iOS 18.6 Beta 4".



Attachment Image
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
15 months ago
Wooo, it's time to get stoked for the BEST, MOST POWERFUL iOS 18 that Apple has ever released. This is the version that is the closest to Apple's true vision for iOS 18 that Apple has ever released. Apple can't wait to see the incredible things customers are able to do with iOS 18.6!
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Sydnxt Avatar
15 months ago
Please dont make me wait another week for Beta 4 Apple
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
klasma Avatar
15 months ago
The only listed change is a new Known Issue. 🤪
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)