macOS Big Sur 11.2 RC 3 Released for Testing

Apple has released yet another macOS Big Sur 11.2 release candidate, this time versioned as macOS 11.2 RC 3.

Users who are enrolled in the public beta and developer beta programs can find the latest RC 3 build available to download now.

macOS Big Sur 11.2 RC 3 comes to Mac beta testers several days after iOS 14.4 and iPadOS 14.4 updates were made available to all iPhone and iPad users.

For Mac hardware participating in the beta testing programs, macOS Big Sur 11.2 RC 3 is available to download now as a software update through the Software Update mechanism within System Preferences.

There are no significant features or changes expected in macOS Big Sur 11.2, and instead it’s likely the update focuses on bug fixes and feature enhancements. The release notes specifically mention some improvements to Bluetooth reliability, an issue with external displays on M1 Mac minis, a resolution to an iCloud Drive bug, a resolution to a bug within System Preferences where authentication did not function as intended, and a fix for the globe/fn key not summoning Emoji as expected.

Release candidates are often a final build or indicate the approach of an impending final build, but with macOS 11.2 RC 3 now being the latest version, it’s as if the RC builds are functioning as an extended beta period to further refine the macOS 11.2 update before a release to the general public.

Due to the increased pace of RC releases, it’s reasonable to expect the final version of macOS Big Sur 11.2 to be available sometime in the near future.