Apple Releases Third Public Betas of iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2 With Freeform App, Stage Manager External Display Support and More

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Apple today seeded the third betas of upcoming iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2 updates to public beta testers, providing the software to the general public. Today's beta comes one week after Apple released the second public betas.


Public beta testers who have signed up for Apple's free beta testing program can download the ‌iOS and iPadOS 16.‌2 betas over the air after installing the proper certificate from the Public Beta website.

iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2 introduce the Freeform app, which can be used for jotting down notes, sketching, drawing, brainstorming ideas, creating mood boards, and more. Multiple people can work on the same Freeform board, with changes synced for all participants in real time.

For the iPad, the update brings external display support to the Stage Manager multitasking feature, allowing up to eight apps to be used at once. External display support is available for the M1 and M2 ‌iPad‌ models.

ipados stage manager external display
There is a new Home app architecture coming in iOS and iPadOS 16.2, which Apple says is designed to bring faster, more reliable performance, especially in homes with a lot of smart home accessories. The new architecture requires the HomePod 16.2 beta software, and it causes the Home app not to work with devices updated to iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, or macOS Ventura 13.1.

Unintentional Emergency SOS calls can be reported to Apple in iOS 16.2, and the latest beta added options to turn off notifications and wallpaper when using always on display on the iPhone 14 Pro models. There are several other changes that can be found in our iOS 16.2 feature guide.

Related Forum: iOS 16

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Top Rated Comments

spaceman_spiff Avatar
spaceman_spiff
26 months ago

Read it three times and still confused.
I assume it's supposed to say "it causes the Home app not to work with devices NOT updated to iOS 16.2," because that would make sense.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
_Spinn_ Avatar
_Spinn_
26 months ago
Look forward to the final release.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Realityck Avatar
Realityck
26 months ago

Public release non-beta is imminent. Sweet!
Not to Monday Dec 12th as I been saying, based on the last two years occurred Monday Dec 13th, Monday Dec 14th.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Lounge vibes 05 Avatar
Lounge vibes 05
26 months ago

Why would the app no longer work correctly on non-iOS 16.2 devices? Peculiar...
Because it’s a brand new architecture.
From what I understand it’s completely rewritten from the ground up.
When you update to 16.2 and open the Home app, you’re presented with a screen to install the new architecture on your devices.
Since you can’t install the new architecture on the older versions of any of Apple‘s operating systems, you have to have everything up-to-date and on the new architecture.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Eldaerenth Faexidor Avatar
Eldaerenth Faexidor
26 months ago
Public release non-beta is imminent. Sweet!
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
WilliamG Avatar
WilliamG
26 months ago

Is this a typo? If you update HomePod to 16.2 beta, it breaks compatibility on your other devices that are also on 16.2 beta?
Read it three times and still confused.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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