Apple Releases iOS 8 Beta 2 to Developers

by

Apple today released the second beta of iOS 8 to developers, just over two weeks after unveiling the new operating system at its Worldwide Developers Conference. The update, build number 12A4297e, is available through Apple's over-the-air updating system on iOS devices and will also be available via the iOS Dev Center.

ios_8_beta_2
MacRumors forum users are tracking new changes and features found in Beta 2 in this thread.

Apple has also released Xcode 6 beta 2, new beta software for the Apple TV (for 3rd gen (+ rev a) only), and OS X Yosemite Update 1.0.

iOS 8 introduces a range of new features, including improved integration with OS X through Continuity, a Health app, Family Sharing features, interactive notifications, a new QuickType Keyboard and improvements to several apps like Safari, Mail, and Messages.

iOS 8 is only available to developers at the current point in time, but it is expected to be released to the public this fall after several additional beta iterations. Based on past history, iOS 8 will likely be released alongside new iPhones, and possibly the much-rumored iWatch.

The second iOS 8 beta includes several tweaks to the operating system, such as a permanent Podcasts app that now comes pre-installed and QuickType for the iPad. Safari is also able to block ads that redirect to the App Store, and there's a new iCloud Photos popup that replaces Photo Stream when the Photos app is opened for the first time. For a full list of changes to iOS 8 in beta 2, make sure to check out our beta 2 tidbits post.

Direct links
(You must be a paid registered Apple developer to access these links.)

- iPad Air (Model 1474)
- iPad Air (Model 1475)
- iPad Air (Model 1476)
- iPad mini (Model A1489)
- iPad mini (Model A1490)
- iPad mini (Model A1491)
- iPad (4th generation Model A1458)
- iPad (4th generation Model A1459)
- iPad (4th generation Model A1460)
- iPad mini (Model A1432)
- iPad mini (Model A1454)
- iPad mini (Model A1455)
- iPad Wi-Fi (3rd generation)
- iPad Wi-Fi + Cellular (model for ATT)
- iPad Wi-Fi + Cellular (model for Verizon)
- iPad 2 Wi-Fi (Rev A)
- iPad 2 Wi-Fi
- iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G (GSM)
- iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G (CDMA)

- iPhone 5s (Model A1453, A1533)
- iPhone 5s (Model A1457, A1518, A1528, A1530)
- iPhone 5c (Model A1456, A1532)
- iPhone 5c (Model A1507, A1516, A1526, A1529)
- iPhone 5 (Model A1428)
- iPhone 5 (Model A1429)
- iPhone 4S

- iPod touch (5th generation)

Related Forum: iOS 8

Popular Stories

Apple Logo Zoomed

Tim Cook Teases Plans for Apple's Upcoming 50th Anniversary

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:54 pm PST by
Apple turns 50 this year, and its CEO Tim Cook has promised to celebrate the milestone. The big day falls on April 1, 2026. "I've been unusually reflective lately about Apple because we have been working on what do we do to mark this moment," Cook told employees today, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "When you really stop and pause and think about the last 50 years, it makes your heart ...
Read Full Article • 148 comments
wwdc sans text feature

Apple Rumored to Announce New Product on February 19

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:22 pm PST by
Apple plans to announce the iPhone 17e on Thursday, February 19, according to Macwelt, the German equivalent of Macworld. The report, citing industry sources, is available in English on Macworld. Apple announced the iPhone 16e on Wednesday, February 19 last year, so the iPhone 17e would be unveiled exactly one year later if this rumor is accurate. It is quite uncommon for Apple to unveil...
Read Full Article
Finder Siri Feature

Why Apple's iOS 26.4 Siri Upgrade Will Be Bigger Than Originally Promised

Friday February 6, 2026 3:06 pm PST by
In the iOS 26.4 update that's coming this spring, Apple will introduce a new version of Siri that's going to overhaul how we interact with the personal assistant and what it's able to do. The iOS 26.4 version of Siri won't work like ChatGPT or Claude, but it will rely on large language models (LLMs) and has been updated from the ground up. Upgraded Architecture The next-generation...
Read Full Article • 154 comments
iOS 26

iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Tuesday February 3, 2026 7:47 am PST by
While the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate is now available ahead of a public release, the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a week away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public in March or April. Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 features so far. iOS 26.3 iPhone to Android Transfer Tool iOS 26.3 makes it easier...
Read Full Article • 37 comments
iphone 17 pro dark blue 1

iPhone 18 Pro Max Rumored to Deliver Next-Level Battery Life

Friday February 6, 2026 5:14 am PST by
The iPhone 18 Pro Max will feature a bigger battery for continued best-in-class battery life, according to a known Weibo leaker. Citing supply chain information, the Weibo user known as "Digital Chat Station" said that the iPhone 18 Pro Max will have a battery capacity of 5,100 to 5,200 mAh. Combined with the efficiency improvements of the A20 Pro chip, made with TSMC's 2nm process, the...
Read Full Article • 107 comments

Top Rated Comments

GenesisST Avatar
GenesisST
152 months ago
I will go start the "When will iOS 8 beta 3 be released" thread...
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
haydn! Avatar
haydn!
152 months ago
Before it get's posted.

The Photo's icon HAS NOT changed.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Reason077 Avatar
Reason077
152 months ago
According to the release notes, Safari will now block ads from automatically redirecting to the App Store without user interaction.
OMG! Finally!! This is very much needed - thank you Apple.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Rudy69 Avatar
Rudy69
152 months ago
Does beta 2 include iPhone 6?

No just the iPhone 6S :rolleyes:
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
C DM Avatar
C DM
152 months ago
Hmmm, and I was full of it according to everyone on here
None of the AirDrop stuff you mentioned was in the release notes. You mentioned FaceTime fixes for things like landscape view, yet the release notes point out that those are known existing issues (that weren't fixed). So while you seem to have some sort of info, it doesn't quite seem to match up in at least some if not a lot of cases.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
chr1s60 Avatar
chr1s60
152 months ago
So how's it going? I held off on installing the first beta because there were no compelling features I wanted to immediately start playing with, and I figured I'd try it out a little later. Is iOS 8 decently stable? What are your favorite new features?

As someone that has used the betas from iOS 5 and up, I think the iOS 8 beta is probably the least buggy initial beta that I have seen. Most apps run in it pretty smoothly and there are not many freezes and crashed. That said, it is still a beta and does occasionally force itself to restart or crash an app, but the frequency is far lower than the betas in years past.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments