Apple releases iOS 18.5 beta. What's new and how to download it now.
Apple released the first beta of iOS 18.5 on Wednesday. It's not super exciting, but there is a helpful Mail app feature for people who don't like change.
As expected, not much is new. Most of the promised iOS 18 features have already been shipped. Plus, as Apple gears up for WWDC on June 9, the company's focus has turned to the upcoming iOS 19 announcement.
So that's left us with a few minor features for the iOS 18.5 beta. That said, versions of the incumbent iOS always continue to be released up until the next iOS takes over, so there's still a chance we might see some noteworthy new features in the 11th hour.
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But for now, here's what's new.
It's easier to revert back to the old Mail interface
With the iOS 18.5 beta, you can toggle on or off the display of Contact Photos. There's also a quick way to turn on or off Mail categorization.
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In the iOS 18.2 update a new feature automatically sorted emails into categories based on priority: Primary, Transactions, Updates, and Promotions. Now by tapping the three dot icon in the upper righthand corner, you can revert back to the previous interface by turning off Group by Sender, or by selecting List View instead of Categories.
AppleCare is front and center
AppleCare, its warranty and technical support program, is now featured more prominently in two places. When you tap on AppleCare and Warranty from General, there's a banner at the top of the page with an option to learn more about the coverage.
If you're an AppleCare subscriber, when you go to Device Info from the Apple Account setting, there's a new AppleCare section that you can tap into and manage your plan from there.
How to install the iOS 18.5 developer beta
If you want to explore the new iOS 18.5 updates for yourself, you can install the developer beta by enrolling in the Beta Software Program. Once you do that, you'll be able to install the update from the Software Update page.
But make sure to backup your phone first and be aware that it might be buggy since betas are for testing purposes. Here's a detailed guide on how to install the iOS 18 beta.
Cecily is a tech reporter at Mashable who covers AI, Apple, and emerging tech trends. Before getting her master's degree at Columbia Journalism School, she spent several years working with startups and social impact businesses for Unreasonable Group and B Lab. Before that, she co-founded a startup consulting business for emerging entrepreneurial hubs in South America, Europe, and Asia. You can find her on X at @cecily_mauran.
