Apple just dropped iOS 26.2, and while most people focus on the flashy system app updates, there’s a hidden, quieter change that could actually make a bigger difference in your daily life. In addition to the usual tweaks to Reminders, Podcasts, and Apple Music, this update adds a new option that lets your iPhone use its own screen to scream for your attention.
What happened: iOS 26.2 introduces a new way to view notifications
The update is available now for supported iPhones and brings a number of productivity and media upgrades. You get things like “Urgent” prompts in Reminders, AI that writes your podcast summaries, a cleaner News layout, and finally offline lyrics in Apple Music.
But deep within the menus lies a new accessibility tool. For years, iOS has allowed you to flash the camera’s LED light when a notification arrives – a feature originally designed for people with hearing impairments. With iOS 26.2, Apple expands on this idea by allowing you to flash the actual screen too.
You can find it in Settings > Accessibility > Audio & Visual. In the Flash for Alerts section there is a new toggle specifically for the screen. You can even turn on the back LED and front screen at the same time if you really want to be sure you see them.
Basically, when a text or alert comes in, your display will pulse with bright light for a split second before returning to normal. If you leave your phone face up on your desk and don’t use the always-on display, it’s almost impossible to ignore new notifications.
Why it matters: Who is this feature really intended for and what happens next?
This may sound like a small change, but it solves a real annoyance: missing notifications when your phone is on silent or the room is just too loud. While Apple Watch users touch their wrist, everyone else relies on seeing or hearing the phone. This gives you a massive visual cue that cuts through the noise.
From an accessibility standpoint, it’s a solid win. It offers users with hearing impairments or attention issues a clear way to stay informed without relying on sound.
For the rest of us, it’s just another level of adaptation. Some people may prefer the subtle flashing of the LED on the back, while others may need the flash on the front of the screen to grab their attention. If you have the choice, you can customize the phone to suit your specific habits.
Looking forward, this fits with Apple’s current mindset of refining the fundamentals rather than just delivering gimmicks. By giving us granular control over how our phones interrupt us, iOS is slowly getting better at balancing the need to stay connected with the need to avoid distractions.
