Apple releases iOS 16.6 and iPadOS 16.6 Beta 5 for developers

Apple Releases Fifth Beta Versions of iOS 16.6 and iPadOS 16.6 to Developers

Significant Progress Expected in iMessage Contact Key Verification

Apple has today distributed the fifth beta versions of the upcoming iOS 16.6 and iPadOS 16.6 updates to developers for testing. The software is made available two weeks after the release of the fourth betas.

Registered developers can sign up for the betas by opening the Settings app, going to "Software Update," tapping on the "Beta Updates" option, and activating the iOS 16 Developer Beta. Note that an Apple ID linked to a developer account is required to download and install the beta.

iOS 16.6 and iPadOS 16.6 could lay the groundwork for iMessage Contact Key Verification. The feature is expected to allow owners of Apple devices to verify that they are communicating with the intended individuals rather than a malicious person who intercepted a message or eavesdropped on a conversation.

In the initial beta version, hints of iMessage Contact Key were available, but the option was not fully enabled yet and the hints have since been removed. It remains unclear if we will see this in iOS 16.6.

In a nutshell:

Apple has distributed the fifth beta versions of iOS 16.6 and iPadOS 16.6 to developers. These versions could introduce the iMessage Contact Key Verification feature, allowing users to verify the authenticity of a message.

For more information:

Apple Seeds Fifth Betas of iOS 16.6 and iPadOS 16.6 to Developers