With the launch of the first public beta of iOS 26, Apple lets us try out the system’s new features and redesign before its official release to the general public. The first public beta of the iPhone’s operating system is now available through Apple’s Beta Software Program, and, as every year, it’s a very appealing opportunity for the most curious among us. Let’s take a look at how to install this version and what we need to keep in mind to make the most of it.
Compatible devices and considerations
Before we begin, let’s check whether our iPhone is compatible with iOS 26. It’s available from the iPhone 11 onwards, which excludes the iPhone XR, XS and XS Max, as well as older models. However, it is supported on second-generation iPhone SE devices and newer.
Next, we should remember that this is a beta version, which means it contains bugs, minor issues or unexpected behaviour from the system. That’s why the official recommendation is to install it on a secondary device, although, with the right precautions, we can use it on our main iPhone.
Create an archived backup to be able to roll back
The first step before diving into the iOS 26 beta is to ensure we have a fully updated and archived backup of our iPhone. This is what will allow us to go back to iOS 18 without losing our data if things don’t go as expected. We can create this backup from a Mac —which also allows us to archive it so it doesn’t get overwritten by future backups— by following these steps:
- Connect the iPhone to the Mac using its cable.
- Tap Allow when the window appears asking for permission.
- Open a Finder window and select the iPhone from the sidebar.
- Tap Trust if it’s the first time connecting it, then enter the unlock code on the iPhone.
- In the General tab, tick the option “Back up all of the data on your iPhone to this Mac.”
- If we want to encrypt the backup —which is always recommended to protect health data, passwords and more— activate Encrypt local backup and set a password.
- Finally, tap Back Up Now.
Once the backup is complete, we’ll see the date and time of the last one just above the Manage Backups button. This backup won’t be automatically overwritten, meaning we’ll be able to use it whenever we want to revert, even if we install other beta versions later on.
How to install the iOS 26 Public Beta step by step
Alright. With preparations done, the installation process is actually quite simple. Apple has streamlined the way we sign up for the public beta programme. Here’s how we’ll do it:
- Go to the official Apple Beta Software Program site and sign in with our Apple ID.
- On our iPhone, go to Settings > General > Software Update.
- Tap Beta Updates. If it doesn’t appear, go back and re-enter or restart the iPhone.
- Choose iOS 26 Public Beta and return to the previous menu.
- Wait a few seconds for the update to appear, then tap Download and Install.
The installation process may take several minutes depending on our connection speed and iPhone model. Once installed, we’ll have access to all the new features in iOS 26.
So, what can we try now?
With iOS 26, Apple introduces the new Liquid Glass design — a translucent and dynamic effect that changes depending on content and interactions. It’s a new design applied across the entire system: from the lock screen to apps, widgets, icons and controls.
Beyond design, iOS 26 brings several improvements powered by Apple Intelligence, such as real-time translation in Messages, Phone and FaceTime, the end of SMS spam and the ability to ask questions about what’s on screen using Visual Intelligence through a screenshot.
The Phone app has been redesigned to bring together Favourites, Recents and Voicemail in a single view, and includes new functions like Hold Assist and spam call detection. In Messages, we can now create polls, set conversation backgrounds and much more.
Apple Music now translates lyrics into other languages and, with its new mixing system, plays and links tracks like a real DJ. Among many other new features, we can try the new Games app, which brings together our App Store and Apple Arcade games library in one place.
Installing the iOS 26 public beta lets us explore all its features in advance, and, with our feedback in the Feedback app, we can help Apple refine and improve the system before its official launch.
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