Sharing files with conference strangers shouldn’t require handing over your phone number, but iOS has always made you choose between privacy and convenience. AirDrop Codes in iOS 26.2 beta 3 finally solves this ridiculous tension by generating temporary sharing keys that work for 30 days without exposing your contact info. You generate a one-time secure code, pair with unfamiliar devices, and maintain that connection for a month without reauthorizing. Apple positions this as privacy-preserving convenience for conferences and group projects, with full management controls in Settings.
iPad Users Get Their Multitasking Mojo Back
Drag-and-drop app launching returns to iPadOS after user outcry.
Remember when you could drag apps straight from the dock into Split View? That workflow disappeared in iOS 26, leaving iPad power users fumbling through menus like it was 2018. Beta 3 reinstates the gesture, letting you drag apps directly from the dock or Spotlight into Slide Over and Split View. It’s a small change that makes multitasking feel natural again—something Apple should have never broken in the first place. The feature mirrors popular workflows from iPadOS 18, responding directly to significant user feedback.
Your Sleep Score Just Got More Honest
Health app ditches overly optimistic ratings for realistic assessments.
Apple’s sleep tracking has been handing out “Excellent” scores like participation trophies, making the feature feel about as useful as a horoscope. The updated algorithm replaces “Excellent” with “Very High” and adjusts thresholds across all categories, according to 9to5Mac. Your sleep quality hasn’t changed, but now you’ll get feedback that actually reflects whether you’re getting restorative rest or just lying in bed scrolling TikTok. The changes address user criticism that previous ranges were too broad and overly optimistic.
Reminders That Actually Remind You
Important alerts can now break through Focus modes with alarm-level urgency.
Nothing says “modern productivity” like missing your doctor’s appointment because iOS decided your reminder wasn’t important enough to interrupt your work Focus mode. Beta 3 lets critical reminders trigger full alarms that cut through any Focus setting. Finally, your phone understands the difference between “remember to water plants” and “pick up kids from school.”
The beta drops ahead of December’s expected public release, when AirPods Live Translation also hits EU markets. These aren’t revolutionary features, but they fix real frustrations—which might be more valuable than another AI-powered emoji generator.
Last modified: November 18, 2025
About the Author: Eric L.
