Apple's iOS 26.6 RC adds Spotlight indexing to ready devices for iOS 27

Apple released the release candidate for iOS 26.6 along with companion updates, noting in the official release notes that the build "optimizes the Spotlight index to prepare for iOS 27." The update also contains standard bug fixes and security patches.

The inclusion of Spotlight indexing is intended to address the lengthy indexing periods observed by developers during the iOS 27 beta, which sometimes lasted a week or longer. By performing much of the indexing work in iOS 26.6, Apple aims to reduce the impact on users when iOS 27 launches later this year.

"This update includes bug fixes, security updates and optimizes the Spotlight index to prepare for iOS 27," the release notes state.

Users who install iOS 26.6 may notice their devices performing Spotlight indexing, a step that Apple says will support the new Siri and Spotlight features planned for iOS 27.