iOS 26.1 Beta 1 Now Available To Developers

With the iPhone 17 series now available, Apple is restarting the beta cycle with iOS 26.1 beta 1. At the moment, we're just starting to dig in to see what's new in the first beta for this upcoming operating system update. That said, Apple did delay a few features ahead of the launch of iOS 26 that could start to make their way into the software during this beta cycle.

Unlike in previous years, we don't know much about Apple's plans for iOS 26. That's because the company chose to only discuss the features that it could deliver at launch when it officially announced iOS 26 at WWDC 2025. After last year's delay of Apple Intelligence and the eventual postponement of the all-new Siri, Apple decided to play it safe this time around.

That said, we expect some tweaks to the Liquid Glass UI and other refinements, as millions more people are now actually using iOS 26 on devices that range from the iPhone 11 to the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Here's what you can expect from iOS 26.1 beta 1.

Apple wants to let users add their U.S. passports to their Wallet app by creating a digital ID on their iPhones. The company says this will enable seamless and secure identity verification at TSA checkpoints for domestic travel, while also adding in-person ID verification wherever required. The ability to create a digital ID should become available before the end of 2025.

Besides that, Apple is waiting for Sony to add a firmware update for the PlayStation 5's DualSense controllers so that they will be able to automatically pair and connect to the iPhone via the USB-C port. In addition, the company has promised more languages for AirPods' Live Translation feature, including Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese.

Alongside the first beta of iOS 26.1, Apple is also releasing beta 1 of iPadOS 26.1, macOS Tahoe 26.1, watchOS 26.1, tvOS 26.1, and visionOS 26.1. Once we figure out what's new in these updates, we'll be back with a complete roundup of new features.