The best way to set up the iOS 26 public beta

Computer and Internet


The most recent model of iOS will arrive formally this fall, however you don’t want to attend to begin testing the software program in your iPhone, because of Apple’s public beta rollout. Right here’s every little thing that you must find out about organising the iOS 26 beta, together with the respective betas for iPadOS 26 and watchOS 26, which Apple additionally revealed in its WWDC 2025 keynote.

Earlier than we get began:, no, you haven’t by chance slept by means of eight variations of main Apple OS updates. In case you missed the information, any further all the firm’s varied working techniques might be named after years to maintain every little thing aligned and simple to observe. So moderately than iOS 19, we’re getting iOS 26 this 12 months, which refers back to the 12 months after every replace rolls out. Presumably that’s as a result of we’ll be utilizing it for longer in 2026 than what is going to stay of this 12 months as soon as the complete model is within the wild.

It’s additionally necessary to understand that any beta is software program in a pre-release state, that means it is extra probably you’ll encounter bugs, crashes and different points with apps and basically use, which Apple and third-party builders will try to repair earlier than the ultimate model rolls out to customers worldwide.

Set up any beta at your individual threat and think twice earlier than doing so with the gadget you employ on daily basis. It’s additionally essential that you simply again up any gadget you wish to check software program on earlier than you obtain it.

iOS 26 is supported on a variety of iPhones — however not all of them. You’ll want one of many following fashions:

In case your iPhone isn’t listed above, that most likely means it’s too outdated to run iOS 26, so that you’ll must improve to one of many listed fashions.

Putting in betas was once a fiddly course of, nevertheless it’s very simple nowadays. If it’s your first time putting in an iOS public beta, you’ll must first go to the Apple Beta Software program Program web site and join utilizing your Apple credentials.

After that, navigate to Settings > Common > Software program Replace in your appropriate iPhone, and select “iOS 26 public beta”. You need to then see the choice to obtain and set up the beta software program.

You possibly can examine our first experiences with iOS 26 right here.

Listed here are the supported fashions for the iPadOS 26 beta

  • iPad Professional (M4)

  • iPad Professional 12.9-inch (third era or later)

  • iPad Professional 11-inch (1st era and later)

  • iPad Air (M3)

  • iPad Air (M2)

  • iPad Air (third era and later)

  • iPad (A16)

  • iPad (eighth era and later)

  • iPad Mini (A17 Professional)

  • iPad Mini (fifth era and later)

Like with iOS above, you’ll must first go to the Apple Beta Software program Program web site and join utilizing your Apple credentials when you’ve by no means taken half in a single earlier than.

After that, navigate to Settings > Common > Software program Replace in your supported iPad, and select “iPadOS 26 public beta”. You need to then see the choice to obtain and set up the beta software program within the Software program Replace display.

You possibly can examine our experiences with iPadOS 26 right here.

Whereas Apple Watch customers also can take part in beta packages in the identical manner as iOS and iPadOS testers, doing so carries larger threat. That’s as a result of when you’re not having fun with the expertise and determine you wish to downgrade to watchOS 11, properly, you’ll be able to’t. Apple doesn’t permit it. And when you downgrade your watch’s paired iPhone to iOS 18, your Apple Watch gained’t work accurately together with your cellphone till it’s again on the brand new software program model. You possibly can, nevertheless, depart your Apple Watch on watchOS 11 when your cellphone is on the iOS 26 beta.

Be extraordinarily positive, then, that you simply’re snug with the potential of ready it out for a couple of months with an Apple Watch plagued with points earlier than downloading the watchOS 26 beta. For most individuals, it probably isn’t definitely worth the trouble.

You’ll want certainly one of these fashions to run the watchOS 26 beta

For those who’ve assessed the dangers in your Apple Watch and nonetheless select to put in the watchOS 26 beta, you’ll first must have already up to date your paired iPhone to the iOS 26 beta (see above).

After that, be certain that your Apple Watch is paired to your iOS 26-running iPhone and open the Watch app in your iPhone. Then, navigate to Common > Software program Replace, and select the watchOS 26 public beta. After doing that, you must be capable to obtain the beta software program.



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