Installing iOS and Mac beta releases

Every year in June, Apple organizes WWDC, their developer’s conference.

On that date they announce their new operating systems and programming language updates.

This means new iOS, new macOS, new iPadOS, watchOS, tvOS. And a new Swift update, along with framework updates and maybe new frameworks too. And a new Xcode release.

The first betas go to developers, then public betas follow. Many betas ship through the summer, until the stable releases land, generally in the fall.

It’s generally recommended to stay away from beta software, especially on your main work device, but of course after you’re shown the wonders of the new releases, you want to see them in action. And perhaps if you have an app idea, you can start working on it. Or you want to update your apps and have them ready for the stable release.

I always skip the initial betas on my production Mac / main iPhone/iPad, just to be sure nothing major happens, but later betas are usually very usable.

How beta install works now

On current systems (iOS / iPadOS 16.4+, macOS Ventura 13.4+), you no longer install a configuration profile from a download page to get betas.

You enroll your Apple Account, then pick the beta channel in Settings → General → Software Update → Beta Updates (on Mac: System Settings → General → Software Update → Beta Updates).

Public betas

1. Sign in at beta.apple.com with the Apple Account you use on the device.
2. Accept the Apple Beta Software Program agreement.
3. On the device, open Software Update and choose the public beta under Beta Updates.
4. Download and install like any other system update.

You do not need a paid Apple Developer Program membership for public betas.

Developer betas

Developer betas use the same Software Update → Beta Updates UI.

1. Sign in to developer.apple.com with your Apple Account and accept the developer agreement. This registration is free.
2. On the device, signed in with that same Apple Account, open Software Update and choose the Developer beta under Beta Updates.

A free developer account is enough to see developer OS betas in Software Update. The paid Apple Developer Program ($99/year) is what you need to distribute apps on the App Store, use TestFlight, and access the other membership tools.

Xcode betas come from the Apple Developer downloads page. A free developer account is enough there too.

Older screenshot note

Older guides (and the screenshots in How to join the Apple Developer Program) show the 2021 flow, with Install Profile buttons and pages about iOS 15, macOS Monterey and Xcode 13. That profile path is gone on current OS versions. Use Beta Updates in Software Update instead.

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