The first public betas for iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 are rolling out now, and if you can’t wait for the official release to get your hands on those fun lockscreen customization options, you can download them today — at your own risk, of course. Here’s how to install the beta software on your iPhone or iPad once it’s available for your device.
Before we begin, a word of warning: beta software is inherently unfinished and may contain bugs. While Apple’s public betas are generally quite stable, you should think twice before installing them on a device you depend on. They may not include all the features that will be in the final release. Your experience may be different from others depending on the apps you use. And finally, if you decide to install, we recommend that you backup your device’s data in case things go wrong.
What new features are coming with iOS 16?
iOS 16 comes with a wealth of new features, including the ability to customize your lock screen with new fonts, colors, and widgets; the ability to link your lock screen to your Focus app; rolling notifications; some important updates to Messages, including the ability to edit a text after you’ve sent it; Live text for videos and a host of other features and updates.
Which devices support iOS 16?
The iOS 16 beta should work on the following devices:
- iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Mini, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max
- iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max
- iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max
- iPhone X, iPhone XR
- iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus
- iPhone SE (second generation or later)
How to install the iOS 16 beta
- Go to Apple’s beta software portal in your phone’s Safari browser and sign in or sign in with your Apple ID.
- Enroll your iOS device if you haven’t already enrolled it. This means that you agree to a long series of terms and conditions. Did we mention this is at your own risk?
- After you’ve signed up, scroll down to a reminder to make sure you’ve backed up your phone’s contents in case you need to revert to a previous status.
- Keep scrolling down until you find a button that says Download profileand tap it. This displays a warning that the website is attempting to download a configuration profile. Select Allow† You will get a pop-up window informing you that you can set up the new profile via the Settings app.
- Open the Settings app. A new section called Profile downloaded should be added at the top. Select it and you can access the beta software download.
- Select to install in the upper right corner. You will need to re-enter your password and agree to the usual very long statement of consent by tapping to install again.
- You may need to restart your phone to activate the profile.
- Once that’s all done, you can update your software as you normally would: skip to . to go Settings > General > Software Update† You should see the iOS 16 update there; select Download and install and follow the instructions from there.
What new features are coming with iPadOS 16?
The new version of iPadOS includes a redesigned Home app, a new whiteboard app, support for Passkeys in Safari, and some exciting new features. However, one of the biggest deals is only available if you have an iPad with an M1 chip: Stage Manager, which allows apps to appear as overlapping windows and lets you drag and drop windows to other screens.
Which devices support iPadOS 16?
Here’s the list:
- iPad Pro (all models)
- iPad Air (3rd generation and later)
- iPad (5th generation and later)
- iPad mini (5th generation and later)
How to install the iPadOS 16 beta
- Go to Apple’s beta software portal from your iPad’s Safari browser. Sign in or sign in with your Apple ID.
- Click on the text with iPadOS. Doing so will remind you to create a backup first in case you need to restore your operating system to a previous state.
- Scroll down until you find a button that says Download profileand then select it. This may cause a warning that the website is attempting to download a configuration profile. Select Allow† You will get a pop-up window telling you that you can set up the new profile from the Settings app.
- Open the Settings app, and a new section called Profile downloaded should be added at the top. Select it and you should be able to access the beta software download. You may need to restart your iPad first.
- Finally, if nothing prompts you to get started with the download, open the Settings app, go to Generalthen find software update to install the beta software.
Update July 11, 2022, 1:45 PM ET: Updated to acknowledge that the betas are rolling out and may not be available to everyone immediately.
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