Want to try out the latest version of iOS or iPadOS ahead of release later this year? Now's your chance: the public betas for iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 are now both now live.
To try out the new version of Apple's mobile operating system, you'll need to register your Apple ID through Apple's beta software portal.
If you're on a device running iOS 16.4 or iPadOS 16.4 or later, you'll then simply be able to follow these steps on your device:
- Open the Settings app
- Tap General and then Software Updates
- Choose the public beta and follow the prompts
If you're not running iOS 16.4 or iPadOS 16.4, the easiest way to install the beta is to update to the latest version of iOS 16 or iPadOS 16 first through the software updates menu.
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 17 or iPadOS 17, respectively. As with a typical iOS update, you won't lose any apps or files as part of the upgrade.
As always, you probably shouldn't install iOS 17 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. From our testing, iOS 17 is reasonably stable, but does use more battery life than iOS 16. We've also experienced minor glitches in some apps.
If you're feeling brave and want to install the iOS 17 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 16, so make sure you take a backup before you upgrade to the iOS 16 public beta.
Announced early last month, iOS 17 includes news features such as improved communication functionality across Messages and AirDrop, a journaling app, and a standby mode that effectively turns your iPhone into a smart display when it's not being used. On the iPad front, iPad will get customised lock screens, similar to what iOS 16 brought to iPhone last year.
The iPhone XS and newer will be able to upgrade to iOS 17. This means the iPhone X, iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 Plus will be stuck on iOS 16.
You can install iOS 17 on the following iPhones:
iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 13, Phone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone SE (2022), iPhone 12, Phone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone SE (2020), iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR
Meanwhile, these are the oldest iPad models that will support iPadOS 17: 6th generation iPad, 5th generation iPad mini, 3rd generation iPad Air, 2nd generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro, 1st generation 10.5-inch iPad Pro, and 1st generation 11-inch iPad Pro.
We're expecting to see the final version of iOS 17 launch in September alongside new iPhones.
In addition to new iPhone and iPad operating systems, public betas for the latest version of macOS, watchOS, and tvOS are also available.
Alex Choros
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