iOS 26.2 is here: Here's what it brings for iPhone users 

iOS 26 update

iOS 26.2 is now rolling out, and while most attention sits on the headline features for Reminders, Podcasts, Apple News and Apple Music, Apple has also slipped in a small but meaningful change to how your iPhone alerts you. The update adds a new option that makes the entire display flash brightly when a notification arrives, offering an additional layer of visibility for users who regularly miss alerts or prefer a visual cue over sound and vibration.

The feature sits under Accessibility settings and builds on the long-standing LED Flash alert, a tool commonly used by the hard of hearing and anyone who wants a more noticeable notification pattern. In iOS 26.2 you can now toggle a new Screen option that briefly floods the display with a burst of white light before returning to your set brightness. It is surprisingly effective, especially on devices where the always on display is inactive. Apple also lets you combine both flash methods if you want even more certainty that nothing slips past you.

This sits alongside a broader set of upgrades in iOS 26.2, including urgent alarms in Reminders, automatically generated chapters in Podcasts, redesigned layouts in Apple News, and offline lyrics support in Apple Music. None of these drastically change the platform, but together they bring a steady lift in usability. The new notification flash fits that same pattern. It is not a feature everyone will need, although it is one of those small additions that becomes invaluable if it aligns with how you use your phone.

To enable it, open Settings, navigate to Accessibility, select Audio and Visual, and then tap Flash for Alerts. You will see the existing LED option and the new Screen choice, each of which can be toggled independently. For users who do not wear an Apple Watch and rely solely on their phone for notifications, the new flash effect may offer the right balance between subtlety and visibility without resorting to loud tones or repeated vibrations.

The release of iOS 26.2 also comes with a long list of security fixes across multiple components. Apple has patched issues in the App Store, Messages, FaceTime, Foundation, the kernel and WebKit, closing vulnerabilities that could expose sensitive user data, reveal hidden photos, grant root privileges, spoof caller IDs or cause crashes when processing malicious content. Several of these were identified by security researchers at ByteDance, Google, Meta, Trend Micro and independent contributors, highlighting the level of scrutiny Apple’s platforms face.

The fixes range from tighter permission checks to improved bounds validation and updated memory handling. Some issues affected how apps could read payment tokens or installed app lists, while others allowed access to Safari history or sensitive data in Messages. WebKit, a recurring target in every cycle, received multiple patches to address type confusion, buffer overflows and use after free vulnerabilities.

Every supported iPhone from iPhone 11 onwards receives the update, and Apple recommends installing it promptly. With Privacy and security now as critical to the platform as new features, this release reinforces how Apple continues to refine the underlying behaviour of iOS while adding small but meaningful tools that make everyday use smoother. The new screen flash is a good example of how a minor setting can make a noticeable difference for the group that needs it most.