TL;DR
Apple has released iOS 26.2 with feature updates across six first‑party iPhone apps. Changes include an Urgent alarm in Reminders, automatic chapters in Podcasts, tables in Freeform, refinements to the new Games app, offline lyrics in Music, and UI adjustments in News.
What happened
Apple’s iOS 26.2 update brings a set of feature additions focused on its bundled iPhone apps. In Reminders, items with set due times can be flagged as “Urgent,” which triggers an alarm that can be snoozed for nine minutes and is accompanied by Live Activities on the lock screen. Apple Podcasts gains three tools: automatic chapters created by applying podcast transcripts to Apple Intelligence, a system for surfacing episode mentions, and a “From this episode” feature that consolidates referenced links and recommendations. Freeform adds support for tables, matching a familiar table experience from other Apple apps. The Games app receives library filters, improved controller navigation, and live, real‑time challenge score updates. Apple Music can now store lyrics for offline access, and Apple News has redesigned elements — including new quick links on the Today screen and changes to the tab bar such as a dedicated Following tab and Search quick links.
Why it matters
- Notifications tied to tasks (Reminders) aim to reduce missed deadlines by adding an alarm and snooze option.
- Automatic chapters and episode links in Podcasts could make long-form audio easier to navigate and follow up on referenced content.
- Tables in Freeform expand its use as a collaborative workspace, bringing basic spreadsheet‑style organization to shared boards.
- Offline lyrics in Music improve usability when users lack network access, such as on flights or in remote areas.
Key facts
- Reminders: new 'Urgent' flag for reminders with a due time triggers an alarm.
- The Reminders alarm can be snoozed for nine minutes and uses Live Activities for visual reminders.
- Podcasts: three additions — automatic chapters, podcast mentions, and a 'From this episode' links feature.
- Automatic chapters are generated by feeding podcast transcripts into Apple Intelligence models.
- Freeform now supports tables, similar to the table experience found in other Apple apps like Notes.
- Apple Games updates include library filters (e.g., challenges, friends' activity), controller navigation support, and real‑time challenge updates.
- Apple Music adds support for offline lyrics so lyrics display without a network connection.
- Apple News design changes add quick links on the Today screen (Puzzles, Sports, Politics, Food) and update the navigation tab bar with a Following tab and Search quick links.
What to watch next
- How Apple determines which songs' lyrics are downloaded for offline use: not confirmed in the source.
- Whether automatic podcast chapters will appear uniformly across all shows and how accurate chapter boundaries will be: not confirmed in the source.
- If the new Reminders 'Urgent' alarms sync and behave consistently across other Apple devices (iPad, Mac, Apple Watch): not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- Live Activities: A system-level iOS feature that displays ongoing, glanceable information on the lock screen or in the Dynamic Island.
- Transcripts: Text versions of spoken audio created by converting speech to text, often used to enable search, navigation, or accessibility features.
- Apple Intelligence: Apple’s collection of on‑device and cloud‑based machine learning tools and models used to analyze content and generate features.
- Freeform: Apple’s flexible canvas app for notes, sketches, and collaborative boards that can include text, images, and other media.
- Offline lyrics: Song lyrics stored locally on a device so they remain viewable without an internet connection.
Reader FAQ
Can I mark any reminder as Urgent?
You can mark reminders as Urgent when they have a set due time; doing so triggers an alarm and Live Activity prompt.
How are podcast chapters created in iOS 26.2?
Apple uses podcast transcripts processed by its Apple Intelligence models to generate chapters automatically.
Will offline lyrics be available for every song in my Library?
Not confirmed in the source.
Do the Games app controller improvements support all Bluetooth controllers?
Not confirmed in the source.
iOS 26 lets you customize Liquid Glass on your iPhone, here’s how Ryan Christoffel Dec 23 2025 IOS 26.2 iOS 26.2 adds new features in six iPhone apps, details here…
Sources
- iOS 26.2 adds new features in six iPhone apps, details here
- About iOS 26 Updates
- iOS 26.2 Update Brings New Features to Six Built-in …
- iOS 26: Everything We Know
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