Apple seeds release candidates for iOS 18.6, iPadOS 18.6

Apple’s current-gen beta track has issued release candidate builds for iOS 18.6, iPadOS 18.6, macOS 15.6, watchOS 11.6, tvOS 18.6, and visionOS 2.6.

Release candidates are what Apple considers the final builds of its operating system updates, with few or no changes anticipated before seeding the final release.

Apple has a beta-testing track for its milestone update versions, putting iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26 to the test. However, it’s also got a second track for testing updates to its current-gen operating systems too.

• iOS 18.6 and iPadOS 18.6 RC is build 22G84, replacing 22G5073b
• macOS Sequoia 15.6 RC is build 24G84, replacing 24G5074c
• tvOS 18.6 RC is build 22M84, replacing 22M5074b
• watchOS 11.6 RC is build 22U84, replacing 22U5074b
• visionOS 2.6 RC is build 22O783, replacing 22O5773b

As Apple is focusing more on the milestone betas, the content of the current-gen betas is more to do with compatibility and stability. They will most likely consist of performance and security updates, rather than feature changes.

As well as release candidates for the current-gen operating systems, Apple has also issued RC builds for older operating systems too. This includes iPadOS 17.7.9 (21H446) and macOS 13.7.7 (22H722).

AppleInsider and Apple itself strongly advise that users do not install beta operating systems or other software being tested on what they consider “mission-critical” or primary hardware, due to the ever-present danger of bugs and issues that could result in the loss of data. As always recommended, testers should use secondary or non-essential devices, and to make sure there are sufficient backups available of their data.

Find any changes in the new builds? Reach out to us on Twitter at @AppleInsider or @Andrew_OSU, or send Andrew an email at andrew@AppleInsider.com.