You’ll be able to obtain the iOS 26 developer beta totally free — proper now. You will get a take a look at the thrilling new Liquid Glass design coming to the iPhone earlier than the replace is shipped to everybody. The iOS 26 developer beta additionally comes with a brand new Digital camera and Telephone app, new Apple Intelligence options, 3D photographs and extra.
In fact, there are some things you must look out for. Beta software program is buggy and may result in knowledge loss or apps that don’t work. This specific beta is a tough one, with a number of damaged animations and options. Quite a lot of apps you employ in all probability received’t work accurately. I strongly suggest that you just at the least watch for the general public beta — it’ll be accessible beginning in July.
If you wish to strive it out, you must be sure to have a backup of your most vital knowledge with two copies of your photograph library earlier than you strive putting in. I’ll present you ways.
How you can obtain the iOS 26 developer beta
Desk of contents: How you can obtain the iOS 26 developer beta
- Examine that you’ve got an iCloud backup
- Examine that your photograph library is backed up
- Swap to permit beta software program updates
- Set up the replace
1. Examine that you’ve got an iCloud backup
Screenshot: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
Earlier than you obtain the iOS beta, you must guarantee that your telephone is backed up. Should you lose vital knowledge, if the software program replace is unsuccessful or if you wish to roll again to the secure model of iOS after making an attempt out the beta, this backup will save your pores and skin.
Double examine in Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup. Proper below the button that claims “Backup Now,” you must see small textual content that claims, “Final profitable backup”. When you’ve got it arrange correctly, it’ll in all probability say it final backed up in a single day.
If not, you must make a backup. To take action, faucet Again Up Now.
Should you don’t again up over iCloud, you possibly can again up your telephone by plugging it right into a Mac or PC.
2. Examine that your photograph library is backed up
Subsequent, open Pictures and faucet in your icon within the higher proper nook. If it says “Synced to iCloud,” you’re golden. In any other case, faucet Sync Now to be sure to don’t lose something.
When you’ve got a Mac with sufficient storage (or with an exterior drive) you must have one other copy of your photograph library, too. Backing as much as iCloud will assist if one thing occurs to your telephone, but when a bug corrupts your photograph library and people modifications are synced to iCloud, a separate copy will be sure to have a protected copy.
In your Mac, go to Finder and open the Residence folder along with your title (⇧⌘H). Open Footage. It is best to see a file known as Photograph Library.
Make an area copy by clicking File > Duplicate (⌘D), or copy it to an exterior drive by clicking and dragging it over. Then, rename it one thing descriptive, like Photograph Library (Backup).
3. Swap to permit beta software program updates
Screenshot: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
Go to Settings > Common > Software program Replace. After it checks for updates, you’ll see the choice seem for Beta Updates. If this selection doesn’t seem, open this hyperlink to enroll within the developer program. Faucet Begin your enrollment, check in utilizing your Apple ID and conform to the phrases. After that, you must have the ability to see the “Beta Updates” part in Software program Replace.
In Beta Updates, you’ll see the choices at the moment accessible: Off, iOS 26 Developer Beta, iOS 18 Public Beta and iOS 18 Developer Beta.
- The iOS 26 public beta is a safer method to benefit from the prerelease software program. Updates will exit on the identical tempo of each two to a few weeks, however launched a couple of day later to ensure there aren’t any important bugs within the software program. The general public beta shall be accessible in July.
- The iOS 26 developer beta is the quick observe, supposed for app builders to check performance and implement new options. These betas are launched a bit early, however have the next danger of bugs.
Faucet iOS 26 Developer Beta to get the flashy (however very buggy) new design.
4. Obtain the iOS beta replace
Swipe again and also you’ll see the iOS 26 replace accessible. Faucet Replace Now to obtain the iOS beta and Set up Now when it’s prepared. It might take longer than a typical software program replace.
On the finish, you’ll reboot into the shiny new beta working system! You’ll be able to count on to get a brand new software program replace about each few weeks. If I can’t cease you from putting in iOS 26 now, I at the least suggest switching over to the general public beta when that’s accessible in July.
We initially printed this text on the right way to obtain the iOS beta on June 11, 2024. We up to date it with the most recent data on June 10, 2025.
