How to download the iOS 26 public beta — follow these steps

How-to
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This is what you need to do to get iOS 26 right now

iOS 26 logo on top of the interface of an iPhone
(Image credit: Tom's Guide / Shutterstock / Apple)

The iOS 26 public beta arrives a month-and-a-half after WWDC 2025 where Apple first previewed its new release. In that time, Apple's issued a developer beta for iOS 26, and all the different iteration of that software have led to this publicly available version.

If you're mulling over a download of the iOS 26 public beta, keep in mind that this is unfinished software. Some features aren't fully available yet, and others might be buggy. There's also a chance that installing the beta may impact the battery life of your iPhone. Basically, Apple is putting out this beta now to solicit feedback on the new release and fine tune it ahead of the full launch in the fall.

Once you've accepted that fact, you're ready to proceed — provided you've got a compatible phone. iOS 26 requires an iPhone 11 or later, and it will also work on the 2020 and 2022 models of the iPhone SE. Essentially, the only iOS 18-compatible phones that are on the outside looking in are the iPhone XR, iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max. Those phones all arrived in 2018.

With those formalities out of the way, here's how to download the iOS 26 beta — right after you've backed up your iPhone, of course. (Keeping an archived backup allows you to go back to the old iOS version should the beta prove too unstable for your liking.)

1. Enroll in the Apple Beta program

(Image: © Future)

Grab the iPhone that you're planning to use with iOS 26, and launch your browser app of choice. Head to Apple's beta site and enroll in the beta program using your Apple ID and password. From there, tap on the Enroll Your iOS Device bar and follow Apple's instructions to turn on beta updates on your iPhone.

You can skip this step if you're already enrolled in the program.

2. Check for software updates

(Image: © Future)

Launch the Settings app on your phone. Select General then Software Update.

3. Select the iOS 26 beta

(Image: © Future)

This step may not appear, but if you don't see the iOS 26 public beta as an option, tap Beta Updates and select the public beta from the dropdown list. Then select Back in the upper left corner.

4. Download the beta

(Image: © Future)

iOS 26 public beta will appear, and you can tap Update Now to install right away. (Update Tonight will install the beta at a later time.) You'll be prompted to enter your passcode to confirm, and then the beta will start downloading. When it's done, tap Install to install iOS 26 public beta right away.

iOS 26 is a big update — 9.02GB, according to my phone, though file size can vary. You may need to clear up space on your iPhone to get the beta to download — for example, I had to free up 19GB of space for the public beta download to start.

Wondering what awaits you once the software is installed? Check out my iOS 26 public beta first look for a guide to what's new.

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Philip Michaels
Philip Michaels

Philip Michaels is a Managing Editor at Tom's Guide. He's been covering personal technology since 1999 and was in the building when Steve Jobs showed off the iPhone for the first time. He's been evaluating smartphones since that first iPhone debuted in 2007, and he's been following phone carriers and smartphone plans since 2015. He has strong opinions about Apple, the Oakland Athletics, old movies and proper butchery techniques. Follow him at @PhilipMichaels.

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