What’s New in iOS 26 Public Beta
What’s New in iOS 26 Public Beta
Apple has made the first public beta versions of its upcoming operating systems available to testers. Users can now download iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS 26 Tahoe after these systems spent several months in Apple’s Developer Beta program.
New Branding Strategy
Those who missed Apple’s WWDC 2025 announcements should know that the company has changed how it labels its operating systems. Instead of incremental version numbers, all Apple systems now use a single version number representing the current year. This explains why Apple jumped from iOS 18 directly to iOS 26, with similar jumps occurring across iPadOS, watchOS, tvOS, and macOS.
How to Install the Beta
Users with compatible Apple devices can enroll in the public beta program through Apple’s official website. The process requires signing in with an Apple ID and downloading a configuration profile. After installation, the update can be found through Settings > General > Software Update.
Lists of compatible devices are available for iPhones supporting iOS 26, iPads supporting iPadOS 26, and Mac computers supporting macOS 26 Tahoe.
Important Considerations
While public betas are typically more stable than developer versions, these are still pre-release software that may experience stability issues, increased battery consumption, and unfinished features. This caution is particularly relevant given this year’s introduction of Apple’s new “Liquid Glass” design language, which received significant adjustments during early developer testing following initial user feedback.
Users interested in trying the beta should backup important data and be prepared to restore their devices to iOS 18 if problems occur. Some testers have reported significant issues, including nearly bricking devices during the installation process.
Release Timeline
Apple plans to release iOS 26 and related operating systems in September or October 2025, coinciding with the launch of new iPhone models and other Apple hardware products.
