How to Get the iOS 26 Developer Beta on Your iPhone

Apple has released the archetypal iOS 26 beta to developers, but adjacent non-developers person the accidental to download beta bundle updates connected their iPhones for free. Keep speechmaking to larn however it's done.


Traditionally, erstwhile Apple announced a large caller operating strategy update, the archetypal question of betas would lone beryllium disposable to download by paying subscribers to Apple's Developer Program, which costs $99 a year. Public betas would past go disposable to users enrolled successful Apple's Public Beta Software Program aft a hold of a fewer days oregon weeks aft the developer beta has been released. That each changed successful 2023, and these days iPhone users nary longer person to hold for a publically released beta to trial what's new.

Indeed, anyone who signs successful to Apple's developer relationship website with their Apple Account credentials gets entree to developer beta releases arsenic well, adjacent if they are not a paying subordinate of Apple's Developer Program. This means anyone with an Apple Account tin download and instal the caller iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe betas without waiting for the nationalist betas to launch.

Is My iPhone Compatible With iOS 26?

iOS 26 is compatible with the iPhone 11 bid and newer. In different words, the pursuing models are supported:

• iPhone 16e


• iPhone 16


• iPhone 16 Plus


• iPhone 16 Pro


• iPhone 16 Pro Max


• iPhone 15


• iPhone 15 Plus


• iPhone 15 Pro


• iPhone 15 Pro Max


• iPhone 14


• iPhone 14 Plus


• iPhone 14 Pro


• iPhone 14 Pro Max


• iPhone 13


• iPhone 13 mini


• iPhone 13 Pro


• iPhone 13 Pro Max


• iPhone 12


• iPhone 12 mini


• iPhone 12 Pro


• iPhone 12 Pro Max


• iPhone 11


• iPhone 11 Pro


• iPhone 11 Pro Max


• iPhone SE (2nd procreation and later)

Should I Install iOS 26 Developer Beta?

Great question! Before downloading the update, it's worthy noting that Apple does not urge installing iOS 26 beta updates connected your main iPhone, truthful if you person a secondary device, usage that. This is beta software, which means determination are often bugs and issues that popular up that tin forestall bundle from moving decently oregon origin different problems. Apple undoubtedly has plentifulness of fixes to marque earlier the last release.

Make an Archived Backup of Your Device First

Before installing the beta, marque definite to back up your iOS device earlier installing the bundle utilizing the pursuing method, different you won't beryllium capable to revert backmost to iOS 18 if things spell wrong.

1. Plug your iPhone into your Mac utilizing the supplied cable.


2. Allow the accessory to link by clicking Allow successful the dialog prompt.


3. Open a Finder model by clicking the Finder icon successful the Dock.


4. Click your iOS device's sanction successful the sidebar.
   
   
5. If this is the archetypal clip connecting your instrumentality to your Mac, click Trust successful the Finder window.
   
   
6. Tap Trust connected your instrumentality erstwhile prompted, past participate your passcode to confirm.


7. In the General tab, click the ellipse adjacent to wherever it says Back up each of the information connected your iPad to this Mac.


8. If you privation to encrypt the backup, cheque the container adjacent to Encrypt section backup, past participate a password to support your data.


9. If you don't privation to make an encrypted backup, oregon you've already acceptable up encrypted backups, click Back Up Now.
   
   

When the backup is finished, you tin find the day and clip of the past backup successful the General tab, conscionable supra the Manage Backups button. Remember that this backup volition not beryllium overwritten erstwhile you manually oregon automatically backmost up your iPhone successful the future, truthful you tin reconstruct it astatine immoderate clip by utilizing the Restore Backup... enactment successful the aforesaid Finder screen.

How to Download iOS 26 Developer Betas

The enactment to download and instal the iOS 26 Developer Beta is instantly disposable for users who person antecedently enrolled connected Apple's Beta Software Program. If you're presently enrolled to person Public Betas, you tin skip to measurement 6, different travel these steps.

1. Open Safari connected your iPhone and sojourn developer.apple.com.


2. Tap the paper icon successful the top-left country of the page, past pat Account.


3. Under "Sign successful to Apple Developer," participate and taxable your Apple Account credentials utilizing the arrow buttons, past participate the two-factor authentication codification sent to your devices.
   
   
4. Tap the top-left paper icon again, past pat Account.


5. Accept the ineligible presumption of the Apple Developer Agreement by scrolling down the page, checking the box, and tapping I Agree. You'll past beryllium directed to a outgo screen, but you tin discontinue retired of your browser from present – you don't request to wage anything.
   
   
6. Make definite your iPhone is moving iOS 16.4 oregon aboriginal by going to Settings -> General -> Software Update. If it is, and you person conscionable completed steps 1-5 to registry a developer account, restart your iPhone. If it isn't, download and instal the latest update to your device, past hold for it to restart.


7. Now spell backmost to Settings ➝ General ➝ Software Update.


8. Tap Beta Updates. If you don't spot the option, effort switching disconnected Download iOS Updates (Automatic Updates ➝ Download iOS Updates), past pat Back and it should appear.


9. Select iOS 26 Developer Beta successful the list, past pat Back.


10. Wait for the Software Update surface to cheque Apple's servers. When the iOS 26 Developer Beta appears, pat Download and Install, past travel the instructions and hold for installation to complete.
    

iOS 26 Features

iOS 26 introduces a striking system-wide redesign built astir Liquid Glass, a translucent worldly that reflects and refracts ambient contented and dynamically responds to idiosyncratic input. The caller aesthetic applies crossed the Lock Screen, Home Screen, toolbar controls, navigation elements, app icons, and widgets.

The update besides brings caller Apple Intelligence features. With Live Translation disposable successful Messages, FaceTime, and Phone, conversations crossed languages are present seamless and wholly on-device to guarantee privacy. New Visual Intelligence capabilities mean you tin inquire questions astir surface content. There are besides smarter Shortcuts with intelligent actions to marque automation easier.

Communication apps summation astute upgrades too. The revamped Phone app present combines Favorites, Recents, and Voicemails successful 1 view, adds Call Screening, and includes a clever Hold Assist feature. Messages gains filtered inboxes for chartless senders, typing indicators successful radical chats, customized backgrounds and polls, and Apple Cash transfers.

CarPlay gets a ocular refresh aligned with the Liquid Glass plan and present includes compact telephone notifications, tappable Message reactions, pinned conversations, widgets, and Live Activities support.

Apple has besides updated immoderate of its cardinal apps: Apple Music adds Lyrics Translation and Pronunciation positive AutoMix DJ-style transitions; Maps introduces privacy-protected "Visited Places" and smarter way preferences; Wallet supports installment/rewards payments, refreshed boarding passes with Live Activities, and deeper integrations with Maps and Find My. Lastly, a caller Games app debuts arsenic a cardinal hub for mobile gaming, featuring a unified library, Apple Arcade support, lawsuit tracking, and person presumption updates.

For a afloat breakdown of what's new, beryllium definite to cheque retired our dedicated iOS 26 roundup.
This article, "How to Get the iOS 26 Developer Beta connected Your iPhone" archetypal appeared connected MacRumors.com

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