Apple distributed Release Candidate 2 for iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5, carrying build identifier 23F77, through its developer portal on May 8, 2026. The shared build number confirms both platforms received an identical binary, following RC 1 seeded on May 4. A second RC typically indicates last-minute bug fixes or carrier/regulatory sign-offs discovered during RC 1 validation. For developers, the arrival of RC 2 signals that the final release is imminent and that any app submissions targeting iOS 26 SDK features should be validated against this build before general availability. Teams running TestFlight betas or performing final regression passes should update test devices to 23F77 to ensure compatibility with the shipping OS.