Apple unveiled iOS 26 (not iOS 19) at WWDC 2025, and it’ll (in all probability) arrive on iPhones in September 2025. However Apple’s beta program is right here now, so you possibly can check out the brand new software program options within the developer beta in the event you’re feeling courageous. Though perhaps it is best to first examine why we advise in opposition to putting in the iOS beta.
A little bit time later, these signed up for the (sometimes extra secure) public beta will be capable of begin testing the brand new model of the iPhone working system. This may arrive forward of its full launch, which is anticipated in September with the iPhone 17 vary.
If you wish to be part of the beta, or are already signed up and simply wish to know when the primary developer beta of iOS 26 shall be accessible, or the primary public beta of iOS 26, learn on.
Up to date June 13: Apple up to date beta 1 for builders on June 13, although the model quantity has solely modified the final letter (from 23A5260n to 23A5260u). That is nonetheless “beta 1” and there are probably no new options, only a crucial bug or safety flaw fastened.
iOS 26 beta launch date: Developer beta
- June 9, 2025
- Up to date June 13, 2025
As anticipated, Apple opened its Worldwide Builders Convention with a keynote the place it revealed the brand new options coming in iOS 26 (a part of a brand new unifying annual naming system together with the likes of iPadOS 26 and macOS 26).
The developer beta grew to become accessible for these registered for this system on June 9. The primary replace got here on June 13.
iOS 26 beta: What’s within the newest beta
The primary beta launch of iOS 26 on June 9 had all the things Apple demonstrated in its WWDC keynote: Liquid Glass, the new Cellphone app and options, the brand new Digicam and Images expertise, and extra.
On June 13, Apple up to date beta 1 for builders. The model quantity has solely modified the final letter (from 23A5260n to 23A5260u). That is nonetheless “beta 1” and there are probably no new options, only a crucial bug or safety flaw fastened.
Karen Kahn / Foundry
iOS 26 beta launch date: Public beta
The general public beta often comes a month later, across the starting of July. In 2024 the primary public beta of iOS 18 arrived on July 15, whereas in 2023 the primary public beta of iOS 17 arrived on July 12. We anticipate that the general public beta will arrive within the week commencing July 14.
iOS beta: Developer vs Public beta
Apple all the time runs an iOS beta-testing program all through the summer time months with the intention to produce a extra polished launch for the autumn launch, and to provide builders an opportunity to check and replace their apps. There’s additionally a public beta, which is aimed toward a broader viewers who’re simply keen on testing new options.
Every stage of iOS’s growth cycle is rolled out to builders first, after which to public beta testers afterwards. Should you’re a developer and wish to check your apps in opposition to essentially the most up-to-date model of iOS doable, that is the model to run.
The developer model of a beta often comes a number of days earlier than the equal public beta model (with greater than a month between the preliminary developer and public betas). Due to this lag the general public beta is more likely to be extra secure than the developer beta.
That’s to not say that operating the general public beta is threat free. Even the general public beta has the potential to brick your iPhone, so we advocate that you simply don’t use your predominant iPhone and that you simply additionally again up the telephone earlier than operating any updates!
get the iOS Developer Beta
Anybody with an Apple developer account can get entry to the developer beta. It’s not essential to be a paid-up member of the Apple Developer Program, you possibly can create a free Apple Developer account utilizing your Apple ID.
You should utilize the Xcode app, the Apple Developer app on iOS, or on Apple’s web site to get your free Apple Developer account. We expect that utilizing the Apple Developer app is the best means – simply log in together with your Apple ID. We clarify find out how to get a free Apple developer account in turn into an Apple beta tester.
If you wish to promote functions to the App Retailer and promote them you’ll have to pay $99/£79 per yr for a developer account. Join the Apple Developer Program (right here) or by means of Apple’s Developer App. You possibly can register as a person or an organization. You may be required so as to add numerous bits of data and comply with this system license settlement, then enter your fee particulars (it’s an annual subscription that you may finish as much as a day earlier than it renews). It may well take a number of days to confirm you and make the account dwell. You possibly can examine the free and paid accounts right here.
All set together with your Apple developer account? Okay! Now to put in the beta…
set up the iOS developer beta
- Again up your iPhone (as a result of this can be a beta you might be testing!)
- Open the Settings app.
- Faucet Basic.
- Faucet Software program Replace.
- Within the Beta Updates part, choose the iOS Developer Beta.
- Now wait some time whereas the beta installs.
Foundry
Builders can select to get the Public Beta as a substitute by deciding on iOS Public Beta within the Software program Replace display.
Previous to iOS 16.4, it was essential to obtain and activate a beta profile in your machine. From iOS 16.4 onwards, Apple will merely test to see in case your Apple ID is a registered developer and supply entry within the Software program Replace menu. You could have to restart your iPhone for the choice to look.
get the iOS Public Beta
Should you aren’t a developer, however are eager to check out the brand new options, we advocate ready for the general public beta—the primary developer beta releases are typically fairly buggy and unreliable. Simply beware that any beta, public or developer, is more likely to be buggy and trigger points together with your iPhone, so our recommendation is to not run it on a secondary iPhone or have some backup plan in place.
Beta testers will proceed to obtain beta updates even after the ultimate model launches. Should you don’t wish to proceed to get the beta, or have a problem with the beta, learn: take away iOS beta.
The developer beta is, because the title suggests, supposed for builders solely, however Apple does supply a beta testing program for members of the general public who wish to check out new options and discover bugs. Starting with iOS 16.4, you not have to obtain and activate a profile to get the beta. You merely have to enrol and choose the beta from the software program updates part in Settings.
set up the iOS public beta
You possibly can set up the iOS public beta utilizing the next directions.
- Click on Signal Up on the Apple Beta web page and register together with your Apple ID.
- Log in to the Beta Software program Program.
- Click on Enroll your iOS machine.
- Open the Settings app, faucet Basic, then Software program Replace.
- Within the Beta Updates part, choose the iOS Public Beta.
Foundry
If you wish to uninstall the beta and cease receiving beta updates learn this: take away an iOS beta out of your iPhone.
The beta features a Suggestions app that you should use to submit bug stories and damaged options. Make use of it! It’s one of the best ways for Apple to get well-documented, reproducible bug stories on to builders, together with issues like telemetry and screenshots that make it straightforward for them to determine what’s fallacious. Utilizing the Suggestions app each time you encounter an issue is one of the best ways to ensure the ultimate launch of iOS 26 is a clean improve for everybody.
Dangers and precautions of the iOS beta
Be aware to start with that betas are check variations of upcoming software program. They’re by definition unfinished, and whereas they need to embrace most or all the options within the completed product, there shall be beauty variations and, inevitably, some glitches and issues that may have to be fastened. The glitches and issues are why Apple bothers to beta-test iOS within the first place.
In different phrases, don’t anticipate an ideal consumer expertise. Particularly, don’t anticipate present apps (together with ones that you could be depend on) to work completely with the brand new model. In excessive instances, chances are you’ll even discover that your machine is bricked by the beta, and can’t be used till the subsequent beta comes alongside and hopefully fixes the issue. It’s not unusual for early beta software program to exhibit extreme battery drain, too.
The nearer we get to the ultimate launch, the extra polished and feature-complete the betas turn into. The counter to that, in fact, is there shall be much less time left to attend for the official launch, so that you gained’t achieve a lot by putting in a beta.
Assuming you resolve to go forward, we will’t stress sufficient how necessary it’s to again up your iPhone prior to installing an iOS beta, or higher nonetheless, use a secondary machine moderately than your predominant iPhone. You gained’t lose all the things if one thing goes fallacious whereas the beta is putting in, and also you’ll be capable of return to the final model must you discover that you simply don’t like the brand new software program in any case, or that it’s too buggy.