RC of MacOS Sequoia 15.2, iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, Released for Testing

Apple has issued the release candidate build for iOS 18.2, MacOS Sequoia 15.2, and iPadOS 18.2, for all users that are involved in the beta testing programs for Apple system software. RC, or Release Candidate builds, are typically the final version of a beta before it gets released to the general public, indicating the final releases of iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and MacOS Sequoia 15.2 are imminent.

Aside from the usual bug fixes and security enhancements, these upcoming software updates are focused on bringing new Apple Intelligence features to compatible devices, including Image Playground AI image generation capabilities, and ChatGPT integration. This will be the second route of AI features introduced to the Apple operating systems, with a variety of handy writing tools and summarization features being available at the moment.

Some other new features will be included as well, including the ability to share devices in Find My, a weather widget for the Mac menu bar is available, iPhone Mirroring can be used with Personal Hotspot, and a handful of other small changes and adjustments.

How to Install iOS/iPadOS 18.2 RC

If you’re already in the beta program for iOS/iPadOS, you will find getting the RC build is simple:

1. Open “Settings”, and then go to “General”
2. Select “Software Update”
3. Choose to update to iOS 18.2 / iPadOS 18.2

How to Install MacOS Sequoia 15.2 RC

If you’re enrolled in the Mac beta testing program, the RC build is available in Software Update as usual:

1. Go to the  Apple menu, then go to “System Settings”
2. Select “General”, then go to “Software Update”
3. Select to “Update Now” to install MacOS Sequoia 15.2

When will iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and MacOS Sequoia 15.2 be released for everyone?

This is the RC build for beta users, which typically indicates a final version will be available to all users in the near future, possibly this week or next. Of course nobody knows the exact release cycle except for Apple, but this is a reasonable guess.

MacOS Sequoia 15.2 release notes

Release notes included with the RC build of Sequoia 15.2 are as follows:

This update introduces new features powered by Apple Intelligence, the personal intelligence system that unlocks powerful new ways to communicate, work, and express yourself, all while protecting your data with an extraordinary step forward for privacy in AI. New features include Image Playground which lets you create delightful, fun images, ChatGPT support integrated right into Siri and Writing Tools, and more. This release also includes enhancements to Photos and Safari, as well as other features, bug fixes, and security updates for your Mac.

Apple Intelligence (Mac with Apple silicon)
•
Image Playground
• A new app that lets you use concepts, descriptions, and people from your photo library to create fun, playful images in multiple styles
• Swipe through previews and choose from as you add concepts to your playground
• Choose from animation and illustration styles when creating your image
• Create images in Messages and Freeform, as well as third party apps
• Images are synced in your Image Playground library across all your devices with iCloud
ChatGPT support
• ChatGPT from OpenAI can be accessed right from Siri or Writing Tools
• Compose in Writing Tools allows you to create something from scratch with ChatGPT
• Siri can tap into ChatGPT when relevant to provide you an answer
• A ChatGPT account is not required and your requests will be anonymous and won’t be used to train OpenAI’s models
• Sign in with ChatGPT to access your account benefits, and requests will be covered by OpenAI’s data policies
Additional Apple Intelligence features
• Describe your change in Writing Tools allows you to suggest how you’d like something rewritten, for example as a poem
Photos
• Favorites album appears in the Utilities collection in addition to Pinned Collections
• Recently Viewed and Recently Shared album history can be cleared
Safari
• New background images to customize your Safari Start Page
• HTTPS upgrade tries to use secure HTTPS on all websites
• Simplified import and export for history, bookmarks, and passwords

This update also includes the following improvements and bug fixes:
• Share Item Location in Find My helps you locate and recover misplaced items by easily and securely sharing the location of an AirTag or Find My network accessory with trusted third parties, such as airlines
• Natural language search in Apple Music and Apple TV app lets you describe what you’re looking for using any combination of categories like genres, moods, actors, decades, and more
• Favorite Categories in Podcasts allows you to choose your favorite categories and get relevant show recommendations that you can easily access in your Library
• Personalized Search page in Podcasts highlights the most relevant categories and editorially curated collections tailored to you
• Sudoku for News+ Puzzles provided in three difficulty levels and available for News+ subscribers
• Presenter preview lets you choose what to share — an app or your whole screen — before you share it when connecting to an external display or using AirPlay
• Pre-market price quotes in Stocks lets you track NASDAQ and NYSE tickers prior to market open
• Weather in menu bar allows you to get current weather conditions from the menu bar on your Mac and click through to quickly access detailed forecasts

Some features may not be available for all regions, or on all Apple devices.
For detailed information about the security content of this update, please visit: https://support.apple.com/100100

The most recently available versions of system software are currently iOS 18.1.1, iPadOS 18.1.1, and MacOS Sequoia 15.1.1.