Apple has released the fourth developer betas of iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1, macOS Tahoe 26.1, watchOS 26.1, tvOS 26.1, and visionOS 26.1. These updates are available to registered developers through the Apple Developer Center or as over-the-air downloads on supported devices. They arrive one week after the third beta versions were rolled out.
On iPhone and iPad, iOS 26.1 and iPadOS 26.1 beta 4 include a new Liquid Glass transparency control in Settings that lets users fine tune how the effect appears. Previous beta also included a new swipe gesture in Apple Music for changing tracks. Apple has made visual adjustments in core apps including Calendar, Safari, and Photos to keep interface details consistent with the broader iOS 26 design language.
For Mac, macOS Tahoe 26.1 beta 4 is available through System Settings for developer enrolled devices. Apple frames this build as a maintenance release within. The emphasis is on performance and stability as testing continues, and there are no new user facing features called out beyond the same Liquid Glass customization that is now part of this round of platform updates.
watchOS 26.1 beta 4 and tvOS 26.1 beta 4 are also part of today’s seeding. These builds are iterative and focus on reliability and performance. Apple has not highlighted any new user facing changes for Apple Watch or Apple TV with this beta. Developers can install them from the Software Update section on devices that are already enrolled with a developer Apple ID.
For Apple Vision Pro, visionOS 26.1 beta 4 is now available to developers. No specific new features are listed for this release, and testing remains focused on core experience quality and compatibility as apps iterate for 26.1.
As with prior releases, developers should back up devices before installing and validate app behavior against the latest SDKs. Public beta builds that correspond to today’s developer versions typically follow, but timelines can shift based on testing feedback. If no new issues emerge, these late cycle betas usually precede a release candidate.
Today’s beta 4 updates collectively advance with a notable user facing addition on iPhone, iPad, and Mac via the Liquid Glass transparency control. Elsewhere, the emphasis is on visual fit and finish in stock apps and on ongoing stability improvements across watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS. This aligns with expectations for a point release focused on refinement rather than major features.
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