Want to try out the latest version of iOS ahead of release later this year? Now's your chance: Apple's just kicked off the public beta program for iOS 15.
To try out the new version of Apple's mobile operating system, follow these steps:
- Go to Apple's beta software portal on your iPhone or iPad in Safari and click Sign Up
- Select Enrol Your Devices from the menu at the top
- Select iOS for iPhone, or iPadOS if you're using an iPad
- Scroll down until and click Download profile and then tap Allow
- Open the Settings app and tap the Profile Downloaded section below your Apple ID banner
- Tap Install and follow the prompts
- Once you've installed the profile, go back to the main Settings menu, tap General, and tap Software Update. You'll be able to install the beta from here.
The beta download will be a couple of gigabytes, so you'll want to do it on WiFi. Once done, your iPhone or iPad will restart and install iOS 15. As with a typical iOS update, you won't lose any apps or files as part of the upgrade.
Apple recommends that you avoid installing iOS 15 on your primary device, as the operating system may still exhibit stability issues. In addition, beta operating systems can increase battery drain and result in compatibility issues with unoptimised apps.
If you want to take the plunge and install the iOS 15 beta on your main iPhone or iPad, you can always roll back to an earlier version of iOS if anything goes wrong. This does however require wiping your phone and reinstalling iOS 14, so make sure you take a backup before you upgrade to the iOS 14 beta.
Announced earlier this month, iOS 15 will bring new features including a FaceTime overhaul, "Focsues" that show and hide apps and notifications based on what you're doing and the time of day, and Google Lens-like Live Text and Visual Lookup functionality.
While new versions of iOS typically sees Apple axe support for at least one iPhone or iPad, any iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch running iOS 14 will be able to upgrade to iOS 15. This means iPhones as old as the iPhone 6S will see Apple's latest mobile operating system.
iPadOS 15 will be compatible with every iPad already running iPadOS 14. This includes all 12.9-inch iPad Pro models, all 11-inch iPad Pro models, the 10.5-inch iPad Pro, the 9.7-inch iPad Pro, the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th generation iPad, the 5th generation iPad mini, iPad mini 4, the 3rd and 4th generation iPad Air, and the iPad Air 2.
We're expecting to see the final version of iOS 15 launch in September alongside new iPhones.
Alex Choros
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