Skip to main content

iOS 18.6 now available in beta, plus macOS 15.6, more [U: Public betas]

Last week Apple debuted its major new software versions coming this fall, including iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and more. But it isn’t finished with the current software cycle just yet, as the first betas for iOS 18.6, macOS 15.6, and more have now arrived.

Update 6/18/25: Public beta versions are now rolling out too, a couple days after the developer releases arrived.

New Apple software likely final updates in current cycle

Inside Apple, the vast majority of software engineers’ time has been dedicated, likely for a while now, to preparing iOS 26 and the other new OS versions.

However, the company isn’t quite done with the current OS lineup.

iOS 18 and its companion releases are due for at least one more update—though it’s probably their last.

Today Apple released new x.6 betas across its array of software platforms.

This includes iOS 18.6, macOS 15.6, visionOS 2.6, tvOS 18.6, and more.

These new updates aren’t expected to introduce much by way of new features. However, they will hopefully offer a variety of bug fixes and performance improvements that make Apple’s software more stable.

Performance and stability are always important, of course. But typically at this late stage in a software version’s development, Apple is able to provide some of its most reliable, bug-free updates.

If you’re interested in installing these new betas though, just know that while the likes of iOS 18.6, tvOS 18.6, watchOS 11.6, and so on will hopefully be very stable by launch day, right now in their beta 1 state, that’s unlikely to be the case.

Have you noticed anything new in beta 1 for iOS 18.6 or the other updates? Let us know in the comments.

Best iPhone accessories

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Comments

Author

Avatar for Ryan Christoffel Ryan Christoffel

Ryan got his start in journalism as an Editor at MacStories, where he worked for four years covering Apple news, writing app reviews, and more. For two years he co-hosted the Adapt podcast on Relay FM, which focused entirely on the iPad. As a result, it should come as no surprise that his favorite Apple device is the iPad Pro.