How to install the iOS 17 public beta
Apple has released the public beta for iOS 17, which means iPhone users can now test out the latest version of the operating system.
Announced at WWDC 2023, iOS 17 was initially released as a developer beta. In years past, that meant you had to be a paying member of its developer program. However, this year Apple made it free and available for anyone to install, which somewhat diminishes the hype since many Apple fans have been testing it out for over a month.
But Apple has already updated iOS 17 with bug fixes and functionality improvement, so the public beta is much closer to the finished product that will officially released this fall. If you're interested in exploring the new features for yourself, here's how to install and and give feedback.
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- 30 minutes or less depending on your internet connection
- Your iPhone and a hard drive or cloud backup system
Step 1: Update and back up your iPhone
You can only install the iOS 17 public beta if your current OS is updated to iOS 16.4 or higher. Make sure your iPhone is up to date going to Settings > General > Software Update. Next, make a backup of your current iPhone data. As with any beta software, there might be bugs and glitches, so you'll want to have everything saved if you want to revert to iOS 16.
Step 2: Enroll in the Beta Software Program
If you haven't installed a beta update before, you'll need to sign up for Apple's beta program. Enroll your iPhone by going to https://beta.apple.com/ and signing in with your Apple ID. This involves accepting the terms and conditions of joining an Apple pre-release program. Once you've enrolled, you'll get a notification on your iPhone that the public beta is available. If you're already enrolled, skip on down to the next step.
Step 3: Open Software Update
Open Settings > General and tap on Software Update. On this page, you should see a button for Beta Updates. Tap this option and select iOS 17 Public Beta.
Step 4: Download and install the iOS 17 public beta
Then go back to the Software Update page, where you'll find the update available to download and install.
Step 5: How to give feedback
By enrolling in the iOS 17 public beta, you're entitled to giving feedback about any issues you run into. When you install the beta, you can launch Apple's Feedback Assistant app, which will appear on the second page of your Home screen, and submit feedback there.
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.
