iOS 26 is on its way. Apple first announced the latest update for iPhones during WWDC 2025, revealed new features, such as “liquid glass” redigine, first major overhall for camera app over years, and live translation for all supported apple devices.
Apple is not planning to release iOS 26 to the public until this decline for some time. However, you can try it now, if you have a compatible iPhone, by installing the iOS 26 public beta (not being confused with developer beta). The thing is, I would not advise you to try it.
Two types of iOS Betas
Apple runs two types of bets: a developer beta, and a public beta. Developer Beta, which has been running since WWDC in June, is to install and test their apps with iOS 26, especially for software developers. In this way, they can update their own app to work well with new OS updates, and report to Apple back to any OS-level issues. These sons come out first, and usually, the largest version of iOS is going to happen anytime.
Then, the public beta, which Apple has launched today. This beta is for the general public who is interested in trying new features and changes before launching in the fall. The thing is that, this developer comes after a month after the test of beta: iOS 26 Public Beta 1 is technically iOS 26 Developer Beta 4, which means that this first preview for public examiners is actually the fourth time when testing a version of iOS 26 on Apple beta.
You probably should not install iOS 26 Public Beta
It attracts, given all the new features and changes, Apple added this year to install iOS 26 bet on its iPhone, but I usually advise against it. By his nature, son, are incomplete software. The entire point of beta is to test a new update to look for bug, instability and incompatibility. The developers corrected those issues before issuing software to the public on a large scale.
By installing iOS 26 beta, you are offering an unstable version of iOS in your iPhone. You can find it difficult to use your iPhone, or, in the worst condition, impossible to use. And if you need to wipe the beta from your iPhone, you will need to install a clean version of iOS 18, resulting in data loss if you generally rely on backup.
A warning: If you are going to run beta, then you are now better than running public beta that it is here. Whereas whoever registers his Apple account as a developer, he can run the developer beta, this son becomes a bugly, because Apple leaves the first gods before opening them to public examiners. At least if you are driving public beta, then you are running software that goes through some initial test, so there is very little chance for the horrific bug.
How to install iOS 26 beta
Credit: Lifehacker
While I do not advise you that you do this, you have your choice between iOS 26 developer beta, or iOS 26 Public Beta. Apple’s developer Betas used to be exclusive to developers with a payment $ 99 license. This stopped most of the people of the public from trying it quickly, although some received downloads on the Internet anyway. But in recent years, Apple independent to sign up to become at least one developer, which you now need to reach Dev Beta. Now that the public beta is out, Apple will probably release Dev beta 24 hours before its public counterpart, so you can consider it the “initial” version of each beta.
To install the developer beta, you have to enroll your Apple account in the Apple Developer Program. Sign in with your Apple ID hereAnd agree with any conditions. From here, open the setting app, go again General> Software Update> Beta UpdateHere, you should have the option to select “iOS 26 developer beta” after you are available. Kill Back On the top left, allow iOS to load beta, then hit update Now,
What do you think so far?
To install public beta, you have to enroll in your Apple account Apple beta software programOnce you do, open Settings> General> Software Updates> Beta UpdateChoose “iOS 26 Public Beta”, then tap BackiOS will load beta, and you will be able to hit update Now When it is ready.
Which iPhones are compatible with iOS 26?
Of course, to install iOS 26, your iPhone needs to be compatible with it. Unfortunately, Apple axed the iPhone XS, XS Max and XR from this year’s update. This means that the following iPhones are compatible with iOS 26:
What’s new with iOS 26?
Apple announced a host of new features for this software update. There is a new design called “liquid glass”, which is based on the way light and the objects appear through the glass. It can show off, but, to be honest, I dig the design: it is minimal, and seems to have some great attention on expansion. Apple has gone through some design changes for liquid glass in this beta cycle, and I am eager to test this one.
Live translation can translate audio and text equally, so you can have bilingual conversations without knowing another language. Visual Intelligence, which lets you analyze topics with your camera, now works on your iPhone screen, making the feature even more useful. Genmoji and image playground now allow you to add two AI images to one, and the shortcut now has Apple Intelligence Support.
The phone app gets a redesign, as well as some new features, which should be cut on spam: call screening, which asks the callers for their information before patching through you, and catch the aid, which tells you when the live agent is available on the call. You can also screen texts in the message app, and apply custom backgrounds and generate choices. Group chat now supports typing indicators. While taking a photo for the first time in iOS 26, you will also see a redsigned camera app.
