Apple has seeded the sixth public betas of iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26 (Tahoe), and tvOS 26. These builds arrive shortly after developer beta 9 and are part of the final testing cycle before the official rollout in September, expected to align with the launch of the iPhone 17 lineup.
The public betas give non-developers access to the same software that developers have been testing, making it possible to explore upcoming changes while also providing Apple with valuable feedback. While public beta 6 itself does not introduce major new features, it continues to refine the changes that have been in testing throughout the summer, with a focus on stability, bug fixes, and performance improvements.
Across iOS 26 and iPadOS 26, Apple has been previewing its new Liquid Glass design, which updates the look of menus, icons, and navigation with translucent effects and smoother animations. Apple Intelligence, Apple’s on-device AI framework, is another key part of this release cycle, bringing writing assistance, smarter search, and new tools such as Genmoji and Image Playground to compatible devices. iPadOS adapts these same features for larger displays alongside new multitasking enhancements, improved dock, Mac-like menubar, and much more.
On macOS 26, also known as macOS Tahoe, the same Liquid Glass aesthetic extends to the desktop with changes to the Dock, Control Center, and menus. The Journal app is now available on Mac, complementing the iPhone and iPad versions, and Apple Intelligence tools are integrated into system apps like Mail, Messages, and Notes.
tvOS 26 has seen a quieter testing cycle focused mainly on stability and performance enhancements. The sixth public beta continues this work, preparing the Apple TV platform for its final release later this month.
Users already enrolled in Apple’s Beta Software Program can update their devices through the Software Update section in Settings on iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV, or in System Settings on Mac. As always, Apple advises caution when running beta software, as some apps and features may not function as expected.
