Before Apple releases software updates for everyone to install on theiriPhoneoriPad, it seeds an early version to developers and also allows the public to opt-in and test the updates first. If you want to access these and try new features before everyone else, then here is how to install the latest iOS and iPadOS public betas - which areiOS 17andiPadOS 17- on your iPhone and iPad, respectively.
Just keep in mind betas are not finished software. They may be loaded with bugs, so it’s probably wise to test them on your secondary devices if you have them.
you may install the latest public betas ofiOS 17andiPadOS 17in just a few minutes (though they take a while to download) and it’s much easier than it used to be too. In the past, it was a much longer process, but now you can get the betas to downloading directly from your phone or iPad.
How to leave an iOS or iPadOS public beta
To stop receiving iOS 17 or iPadOS 17 betas, go to Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates > Off.
Is it free to test an iOS public beta?
Yes. It is free to test Apple’s public betas for iOS and iPadOS.
What are the latest iOS and iPadOS public betas to try?
Between major iOS and iPad OS updates, which release every autumn, Apple typically rolls out smaller so-called “dot” updates. For instance, iOS 16 rolled out in September 2022, but we are now on iOS 16.5.1 in July 2023, having had 13 other updates in between. Some of these included some exciting features, while others fix bugs. However, the latest public betas are now iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 which are expected to rollout globally later this year.
You’ll need an iPhone XS or newer to run the iOS 17 public beta. See below for the list of compatible iPhones that can run the iOS 17 beta:
For iPadOS 17, you will need one of the following iPads to run the public beta:
