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 iOS 27 Feature

T-Mobile to Charge $5 a Month for iOS 27 iPhone Handoff

Thursday September 10, 2026 3:58 pm PDT by
T-Mobile will charge customers $5 per month to use iPhone Handoff, an e-SIM feature that allows the same phone number to be used on two separate iPhones. iPhone Handoff requires carrier support, and at launch, only T-Mobile users in the U.S. and Deutsche Telekom users in Germany will be able to use it. T-Mobile says customers can use their number across two compatible iPhone models and...
iphone duo

IMAX Reacts to iPhone Duo's 1:1.4 Aspect Ratio Displays

Friday September 11, 2026 4:42 am PDT by
Production theater company IMAX has responded in a mixed way to Apple's embrace of a 1:1.4 aspect ratio on the iPhone Duo's inner and outer displays. The boxier ratio happens to be very close to the classic "full-frame" IMAX 1.43:1 aspect ratio, which comes from the geometry of the company's original 15-perforation/70mm film system. In response to an X post from someone wondering if we'll see...
iOS 27 Feature Dark

Apple Announces iOS 27 Release Date

Wednesday September 9, 2026 10:46 am PDT by
At its event today unveiling the iPhone 18 Pro, AirPods 5, Apple Watch Series 12, and more, Apple announced that iOS 27 will be released later this month. iOS 27 has already been available as a developer beta since June and as a public beta since July, and Apple today said that the update will be released for all users with a compatible iPhone model on Monday, September 14. iOS 27 is...

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)