iOS 26 Beta 1 Download Available Now for iPhone & iPad
Apple announced iOS 26 at WWDC 2025, and if you’re a registered Apple Developer, you can now download and install the first iOS 26 beta onto eligible iPhone models.
iOS 26 includes a new Liquid Glass interface which is basically just more transparent and shinier with a slightly less bleached neon look, and includes various new features as well, including improvements to the Phone app, the Messages app gains customizable backgrounds making it look more like WhatsApp or FaceBook Messenger, there are improvements to Apple Intelligence on compatible devices, improvements to CarPlay, a new Games app, along with various other changes, improvements, and smaller features.
Separately, registered developers can also download and install iPadOS 26 beta, macOS Tahoe 26 beta, watchOS 26 beta, tvOS 26 beta, and visionOS 26 beta.
iOS 26 beta / iPadOS 26 beta is available to download now for registered developers
You must be a registered Apple Developer to be able to access the download for iOS 26 beta. This can be done by anyone by signing up using your Apple ID over at developer.apple.com.
It’s important to remember that early developer betas are the buggiest of a beta cycle, and therefore should only be installed by advanced users, and preferably onto secondary devices. If you’re just a curious casual user and are interested in running iOS 26 beta, a better solution would be to wait for the public beta, which will be more stable and further in the beta development cycle, and is expected to debut next month. Users who want the most stable operating system experience should wait for iOS 26 to be final, which is set to be released this fall.
List of iOS 26 Compatible iPhone & iPadOS 26 Compatible iPad Models
iOS 26 is compatible with all iPhone 16 models, all iPhone 15 models, all iPhone 14 models, all iPhone 13 models, all iPhone 12 models, all iPhone 11 models, and iPhone SE 2nd generation. Newer model iPhones, like the upcoming iPhone 17, will also support iOS 26.
iPadOS 26 is compatible with all M-series iPad Pro, all M-series iPad Air, iPad Pro 11″ 1st gen and newer, iPad Pro 12.9″ 3rd gen and newer, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad A16 and newer, iPad 8th generation and newer, iPad mini A17 Pro and newer, iPad Mini 5th generation and newer.
How to Download & Install iOS 26 Beta 1 / iPadOS 26 Beta 1
Be sure to backup iPhone/iPad to iCloud and your computer before installing any beta system software. Failure to do so may result in permanent data loss. Additionally, backing up before installing a beta gives you the opportunity to downgrade from the beta, should you desire to do so.
- Open the “Settings” app on iPhone or iPad
- Go to “General” and then go to “Software Update”
- Choose “Beta Updates”
- Select “iOS 26 Developer Beta” (or “iPadOS 26 developer beta”)
- Return to Software Update and choose “Update Now” to download and install iOS 26 beta 1 / iPadOS 26 beta 1
Your iPhone or iPad will download, install, and restart into iOS 26 beta. Future beta updates to iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 will arrive through Software Update.
Separately, if you’re a registered developer with Apple, you can also download and install macOS Tahoe 26 beta, watchOS 26 beta, tvOS 26 beta, and visionOS 26 beta.
