How to install iOS 18 public beta on your iPhone and get an early look at the upcoming features

Public beta is usually considered to be more stable than developers beta, but it is still not advised to install it on a primary device.

iOS 18 will be available for over 20 iPhones later this year (Express Photo)

Apple released the first public beta of iOS 18 just a few weeks after its unveiling at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2024. Currently available for over 20 different iPhones, the iOS 18 public beta build is aimed at enthusiasts who are interested in getting an early sneak peek at the upcoming features.

The first public beta of iOS 18 is now out. (Image credit: Vivek Umashankar/The Indian Express)

Besides, Apple has also seeded the third developer beta of iOS 18, which, despite being not as stable as the public beta, will have newer features. Not just for iOS 18, Apple has also released the first public beta of iPadOS 18, macOS Sonoma, tvOS 18, watchOS 11, and HomePod Software 18.

Also read | iOS 18 and iPadOS 18: Key features and complete list of eligible devices

Users interested in checking out the iOS 18 public beta need to sign up for the same from beta.apple.com. Once registered for the public beta program, go to your iPhone > Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates > and select the iOS 18 Public Beta.

One needs to sign-up to install iOS 18 public beta. (Image credit: Vivek Umashankar/The Indian Express)

Now, if you are on iOS 16.4 or a newer version, check for a new software update, and you should be able to spot the iOS 18 public beta. Click on the “Update Now” button to install the update or select the “Update Tonight” button, which will install the update during nighttime.

Similarly, if your iPhone is on iOS 16.3 or a previous version, you need to download the configuration profile from beta.apple.com/profile, tap on the profile, and follow the on-screen instructions to install the iOS 18 public beta on your iPhone.

While installing the iOS 18 Public Beta won’t erase any personal data, just to be on the safer side, make sure to back up all your data to iCloud or locally via the Finder app on a Mac. If you ever feel like rolling back to the stable version, this backup file can be used to restore or go back to the previous stable version.