iOS 26.2 Adds AirDrop Codes And Real Alarms In Reminders

Apple just pushed iOS 26.2, and it’s the kind of update that looks small until you realize it fixes a few everyday annoyances and plugs a bunch of security holes while it’s at it.

TL;DR

• AirDrop now supports one-time codes that let you share with non-contacts without opening the “Everyone for 10 minutes” floodgates.
• Reminders can finally trigger real alarms for “urgent” tasks (with snooze + Live Activity support).
• You should update: iOS 26.2 includes a long list of security fixes, including WebKit patches Apple says may have been exploited in highly targeted attacks.

What Happened

Apple released iOS 26.2 to the public today, bringing a handful of quality-of-life features (AirDrop codes, Reminders alarms, Lock Screen customization) plus the usual pile of bug fixes and security patches.

The Important Details

AirDrop Codes Give You 30-Day Sharing With Non-Contacts

This is Apple trying to solve a real problem: you want to AirDrop something to a person right here, but you don’t want to add them as a contact or temporarily set AirDrop to accept from everyone.

In Settings > General > AirDrop, iOS 26.2 adds management for “known” AirDrop sharing via a secure one-time code. Share the code with someone, and you can AirDrop to each other for up to 30 days before it expires.

It’s basically a middle ground between:

• “Contacts Only” (too restrictive for quick sharing), and
• “Everyone for 10 minutes” (too easy to forget you enabled).

Reminders Gets Proper Alarms With An “Urgent” Toggle

The best iOS features are the ones that make you mutter, “wait, why wasn’t this like that already?”

In iOS 26.2, Reminders now has an “Urgent” toggle. Turn it on, grant permission, and Reminders can schedule alarms and timers with more “Clock-style” behavior — including snooze support — so you’re less likely to miss something important.

Liquid Glass Gets A Lock Screen Opacity Slider

If you’re still not in love with Apple’s Liquid Glass aesthetic, iOS 26.2 is Apple admitting the obvious: people want control.

There’s now a slider for the Lock Screen clock opacity, letting you push the time display toward more/less “glass.”

Podcasts And News Get Small But Useful Navigation Upgrades

Two apps got the kind of improvements you only notice when they’re missing.

Podcasts

• Auto-generated episode chapters
• Player + transcript can surface podcasts mentioned in the episode
• A “From This Episode” section can surface links shared in the episode

Apple News

• New top-row buttons (including Food, Politics, Puzzles, Sports)
• Easier navigation and more consistent access to Following/Search depending on your setup

Games, CarPlay, And Other Odds And Ends

A few more notable bits:

• The Games app gets more library tools and new ways to surface events, friends’ activity, and multiplayer/challenge prompts.
• CarPlay adds a separate toggle for pinned Messages rather than strictly mirroring iPhone settings.
• Accessibility adds an option to make the screen flash for alerts.
• Freeform adds tables.

Region-Specific Changes

Not everything in iOS 26.2 is a universal, everyone-gets-it feature.

• Japan: settings can allow launching a third-party voice assistant instead of Siri, and access to alternative app marketplaces, depending on device/account region requirements.
• EU: reports indicate Live Translation for AirPods is included in the broader 26.2 rollout in supported regions.

Security

Even if you don’t care about any of the features above, the security angle is the “hit update” reason.

Apple’s security notes list a substantial number of fixes in iOS 26.2, including WebKit patches that Apple says may have been exploited in extremely sophisticated targeted attacks on older versions.

Why It Matters

iOS point releases rarely have one killer feature. iOS 26.2 is more like: three quality-of-life fixes that make your phone less annoying (AirDrop sharing, Reminders urgency, Lock Screen customization), plus a security patch you shouldn’t ignore.

Tony’s Take

AirDrop codes and Reminders alarms are the kind of changes that feel obvious in hindsight — which is exactly why they’re good.

• AirDrop codes: the 30-day window is a lot. But it’s still better than playing “Everyone for 10 minutes roulette” in a crowded place.
• Reminders alarms: Apple finally letting Reminders act like a serious tool instead of a polite suggestion is long overdue.
• Liquid Glass slider: this is Apple quietly admitting that “one aesthetic for everyone” was never going to land cleanly. Give people knobs.

What You Should Do

1. Update: Settings → General → Software Update.
2. If you use AirDrop with strangers (work, school, events), visit Settings > General > AirDrop and learn where the one-time / known-contact controls live.
3. If you live in Reminders, try the “Urgent” toggle and see if it finally replaces your third-party “nag me” app.