Release Candidate builds of iOS 26.1, macOS Tahoe 26.1, and iPadOS 26.1, are now available for users participating in the beta testing programs for Apple system software. Release Candidate (RC) builds are typically the final version in a beta period, absent any major bugs, and the release of an RC build indicates the final versions will be made available to the general public soon. We therefore might reasonably expect the release date of iOS 26.1, macOS Tahoe 26.1, iPadOS 26.1, watchOS 26.1, and tvOS 26.1, to be as soon as sometime this week, or more likely, next week.
iOS 26.1, macOS Tahoe 26.1, and iPadOS 26.1 all include new toggles for the Liquid Glass appearance to switch between “Clear” and “Tinted” appearances, with the latter toning down some of the transparency a bit. These settings are found within the Display section of Settings, and are separate from the Accessibility setting for Reduce Transparency that many users have relied on to tone down the Liquid Glass interface if they have found issues with usability or readability. Liquid Glass has been somewhat controversial because of legibility issues on iPhone, iPad and Mac, and some users perceived performance reductions as well. iPadOS 26.1 also reintroduces the Slide Over feature as an optional multitasking capability again. The 26.1 updates also include a few other new features and bug fixes.
Mac users who were hoping for major bug fixes to issues like Spotlight’s random inability to find local files on the Mac, memory leaks in Safari on the Mac, or significant battery life reductions, may or may not find those solutions in this update, at least according to the release notes accompanying the RC builds, which are brief and don’t mention much specifically in terms of bugs aside from an issue with FaceTime audio quality. It’s also possible those issues have been resolved in these updates but are simply not mentioned in the release notes, which are repeated further below.
How to Download MacOS Tahoe 26.1 Release Candidate
For any Mac actively enrolled as a beta testing device, the RC build is available now:
- From the Apple menu go to “System Settings”
- Select “General” and then select “Software Update”
- Choose to ‘Update Now’ for MacOS Tahoe 26.1 RC
How to Download iOS 26.1 Release Candidate / iPadOS 26.1 RC
For any iPhone or iPad enrolled as beta testing devices, the RC builds are found via:
- Open the “Settings” app on your device
- Go to “General” and then go to “Software Update”
- Choose to “Download & Install for iOS 26.1 / iPadOS 26.1
macOS Tahoe 26.1 Release Notes
Release notes accompanying the RC build for Tahoe 26.1 are not particularly lengthy, but as follows:
This update includes the following features and enhancements:
– Liquid Glass setting gives you the option to choose between the default clear look or a new tinted look which increases opacity of the material in apps and notifications on the Lock Screen
– Apple Music AutoMix support over AirPlay
– Improved FaceTime audio quality in low-bandwidth conditions
– Communication Safety and Web content filters to limit adult websites are enabled by default for existing child accounts for ages 13-17 (Age varies by country or region)
For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit: support.apple.com/100100.
Some features may not be available in all regions or on all Apple devices. To learn more, please visit: apple.com/macos/feature-availability.
Software updates, like this one, add new features and improvements that may affect performance and/or battery life. To learn more, please visit: support.apple.com/125039.
The current stable builds of the OS 26 suite are iOS 26.0.1, iPadOS 26.0.1, and macOS Tahoe 26.0.1.