Apple has released the second developer beta of iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS Golden Gate, watchOS 27, tvOS 27, and visionOS 27. The update arrives two weeks after beta 1 launched at WWDC on June 8, following the standard two-week cadence Apple has maintained for years.
Build Numbers
- iOS 27 beta 2: 24A5370h
- iPadOS 27 beta 2: 24A5370h
- macOS Golden Gate beta 2: 26A5368g
- tvOS 27 beta 2: 24J5305f
- visionOS 27 beta 2: 24M5306i
- watchOS 27 beta 2: not yet in RSS feed
What’s New in Beta 2
The release notes for Beta 2 are mostly developer-facing API changes, but a few items stand out for regular users.
AirPort Utility is being retired. On iOS and iPadOS 27, AirPort Utility will no longer be available for new downloads from the App Store. If you already have it installed, it stays on your device. On macOS Golden Gate, it won’t be included in clean installs at all, though updaters keep it. AirPort hardware was discontinued years ago, so this is a long time coming.
AirPods Max 2 firmware betas now work. Beta 1 had a bug where AirPods Max 2 firmware updates wouldn’t install. That’s fixed in Beta 2 on both iOS and macOS.
Neural Engine improvements. iOS 27 introduces restrictions on background access to the Neural Engine, similar to how GPU access is managed. Large model loading over 1GB also gets a performance boost, and Neural Engine memory usage is now attributed to the app using it rather than the system, which makes profiling much cleaner for developers.
Known alarm bug. There’s a bug in Beta 2 where you might not be able to stop a ringing alarm from the lock screen without unlocking your device first. The workaround is to unlock, or just say “stop the alarm” to Siri.
What to Watch For
Beta 2 is typically where Apple starts filling in features that weren’t ready for the WWDC build. Beta 1 is usually a foundation release: the OS framework is there, the headline features are in place, but some things shown at the keynote are absent or incomplete. Beta 2 tends to be the first build that gives developers and early testers a more complete picture of what the fall release will look like.
For iOS 27 specifically, the areas to watch include the full rollout of Siri AI features, the refined Liquid Glass behavior, and any updates to the Time Allowances parental controls announced at WWDC. Release notes will be updated as details emerge from the developer community.
Timeline
Apple is expected to release the first public beta of iOS 27 in mid-July. The full public release is on track for September, likely around September 14. The beta cycle will continue on its roughly two-week cadence through the summer, with release candidates typically arriving in late August or early September.
How to Get It
Beta 2 is available now to registered Apple developers. On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings, then General, then Software Update and make sure developer beta updates are enabled. On Mac, open System Settings, then General, then Software Update. Back up your device before updating.