iOS 26.1 alarm feature: Apple’s latest iOS 26.1 beta 2 introduces a small but helpful change to how iPhone alarms work, designed to make it harder to accidentally turn them off, as per a report.

iOS 26.1 Beta 2: Swipe to Turn Off Alarms, Tap to Snooze

Previously, in iOS 18, both snoozing and turning off an alarm could be done with a single tap, a setup that sometimes led to oversleeping, as per a Tom's Guide report.

With the new beta, turning off an alarm now requires a swipe, while tapping will only snooze it, as per the report. The swipe-to-turn-off option also applies to timers.


Apple has kept the new slide button the same size as the snooze button for a seamless look, but slightly larger than before to reduce accidental taps, as per the Tom's Guide report.

Beyond the alarm update, iOS 26.1 also includes some visual tweaks. The Phone app has been redesigned to match Apple’s Liquid Glass design, and the Photo app features a new pill-shaped video scrubber, as per the report.

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Expanded Language Support In iOS 26.1

Apple Intelligence support has also expanded, adding eight more languages, while the Live Translate feature for AirPods now supports five additional languages, including Chinese, Japanese, and Korean, as reported by Tom's Guide.

Apple's Siri Updates Delayed

Fans hoping for a major Siri update will have to wait longer. Apple has confirmed that features like personal context awareness, on-screen awareness, and in-app action won’t arrive until at least 2026, as per the Tom's Guide report.

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How to Try iOS 26.1 Beta 2

Those interested in trying the iOS 26.1 beta can sign up on Apple’s beta software page and access it through their iPhone’s settings, as per the report. Apple warns beta users to back up their devices first, as some apps or features may not work perfectly, as per the Tom's Guide report.

FAQs

What’s new in iOS 26.1 beta 2?
It makes turning off alarms harder to do by accident and includes some visual updates to the Phone and Photo apps, as per the Tom's Guide report.

How do I turn off alarms in iOS 26.1 beta 2?
You now need to swipe the display, while tapping only snoozes the alarm.