iOS 17 Beta 7 & iPadOS 17 Beta 7 Available to Download
The 7th beta versions of iOS and iPadOS for iPhone and iPad, respectively, have been released to users participating in the developer beta programs.
Apple will usually release a developer beta first, which is soon followed by the same build being released to users enrolled in the public beta. The build number for iOS 17 beta 7 is 21A5319a.
While beta system software is intended for advanced users and developers, technically speaking any curious user who has a compatible device can install iOS 17 beta onto iPhone or iPadOS 17 beta onto iPad by joining the free Apple developer program, or by joining the public beta program.
iOS 17 for iPhone features interactive Home Screen widgets, FaceTime Video Voicemail, Standby mode which makes your iPhone into a display clock when its charging and in landscape position, support for Live Voicemail, customizable Contact Posters, support for Safari Profiles, minor changes to the Messages interface, new predictive typing capabilities, NameDrop contact sharing, and more.
iPadOS 17 for iPad features a customizable lock screen, interactive Home Screen widgets, support for Safari profiles, support for FaceTime Video Voicemail, NameDrop contact sharing, improvements to Stage Manager, changes to Messages, improvements for predictive typing, and more.
Apple has also released new beta builds for macOS Sonoma beta 6, along with beta 7 for watchOS 10, tvOS 17, and HomePod, and a release candidate beta build for macOS Ventura 13.6.
How to Download iOS 17 Beta 7 & iPadOS 17 Beta 7
For users already running beta versions of iOS 17 or iPadOS 17 beta, updating is the same as installing any other software update:
- Open the “Settings” app on your iPhone or iPad
- Choose “General”
- Go to “Software Update”
- Choose to “Download and Install” for iOS 17 Beta 7 or iPadOS 17 Beta 7, depending on your device
Your iPhone or iPad will need to restart to finish installation.
Beta system software is notoriously buggy compared to final versions of system software, and the same applies to iOS 17 betas and iPadOS 17 betas. If you haven’t yet installed the betas and are considering doing so, be sure you make a full backup of your iPhone or iPad to a computer (as well as iCloud), so that you have the possibility of downgrading from iOS 17 beta if you choose to.
Apple runs through multiple beta versions of system software before issuing final versions to the general public, and though a precise timeline is not known, Apple has said that the iOS 17 release date will be in the fall, along with iPadOS 17.
