Beta 5 of iOS 12 & MacOS Mojave Released for Testing

Apple has released iOS 12 beta 5 to iPhone and iPad users enrolled in the developer beta testing program, along with macOS Mojave beta 5 for Mac users participating in the Mac developer beta program. The accompanying public beta release builds typically arrive soon after.

Additionally, Apple has released tvOS 12 beta 5 and watchOS 5 beta 5 to users testing beta software on their Apple TV and Apple Watch.

iPhone and iPad users who are currently running iOS 12 beta can find the latest update available now from the Software Update mechanism of iOS Settings.

Mac users currently running macOS Mojave beta can also find the beta 5 update available to download now from the Software Update section of System Preferences (MacOS Mojave has returned software updates back to System Preferences from the Mac App Store).

Typically Apple releases the developer beta builds first, and then follows soon after with the same version as a public beta release. The versions are thus iOS 12 beta 5 for developers, and iOS 12 beta 4 for public beta users.

While technically anyone can install iOS 12 developer beta (and the Mojave developer beta), there is little point doing so because of the concurrent public beta program. Thus, more advanced users who are interested in running the beta releases of Apple system software should instead choose to install the macOS Mojave public beta or install the iOS 12 public beta on their eligible devices. Beta system software is notoriously less stable and less reliable than regular builds, so it is generally only recommended for advanced users to try beta system software, and ideally on non-primary hardware. As usual, always backup any device before installing any system software.

Apple has said the release date for iOS 12 along with the release date for macOS Mojave are set to be sometime this fall.

MacOS Mojave includes an all new dark mode theme option, improvements to the Finder and desktop experience, Dynamic Desktops which change the wallpaper throughout the day, the inclusion of several apps from the iOS world on the Mac, and a variety of other new features and changes.

iOS 12 is said to focus on performance improvements, but the software update also includes new Emoji, new Animoji characters, the ability to create a customized Memoji Animoji, group FaceTime video chat, a new Screen Time feature that helps you keep track of what you’re doing on your device and how much time you spend doing specific tasks (for example, using Facebook for 18 hours a day), and a variety of other improvements and changes to the iPhone and iPad operating system.