Apple’s iOS 27 preview is just around the corner, as the company will unveil the new software during the WWDC 2026 keynote. The company is expected to continue improving features introduced with iOS 26, including the new Liquid Glass design, plus better Apple Intelligence features powered by a Google Gemini model. With the iOS 27 beta expected to be available right after the WWDC keynote, as it has been in previous years, you can now get your iPhone ready to be one of the first to try out this new software update, which should be available later this fall.
The process to download the iOS 27 beta on your iPhone is as easy as downloading any software update. Apple changed the way it handles beta releases starting with iOS 16.4, as users only need to be a member of the Apple Developer Program to see the change directly from Software Update in Settings. Once the option is available, users should tap the Software Update button, go to Beta Updates, and choose iOS 27 Developer Beta.
If you are currently enrolled in the iOS 26.6 developer beta test, you should choose the new version of iOS 27, as Apple will not magically offer this update to developers. For public beta testers, a proper trial version will be available later in the summer, probably in mid-July.
Keep this in mind before downloading iOS 27 beta
As usual, the first betas of iOS 27 are focused on developers. The system will be buggy, everyday functions may not work as expected, and even basic apps may have a major bug that will crash the experience every time you try to open them. This could happen for numerous reasons, but most likely the compatibility between the application and the system has been broken. While this could be fixed in upcoming versions, there is also a good chance that everything will work correctly when iOS 27 is properly released.
Therefore, if you plan to download the iOS 27 developer beta, do not install it on your primary device. And if you’re planning to use your primary iPhone 17 Pro Max, be aware that if you also update your Apple Watch to watchOS 27 beta, you won’t be able to downgrade from iOS 27, as the Apple Watch requires the same software version as your iPhone.
On top of that, backups of your WhatsApp chats and other messaging platforms may require you to stay on the OS version you currently have. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to roll back to a stable version of iOS because my work VPN wasn’t working, a crucial app crashed, or I ended up missing important conversations, backups, and more because I didn’t realize something could go wrong.
Wait a little longer for the iOS 27 public beta
Apple usually releases the public beta of its new major operating system update after three releases of the developer beta. While this doesn’t mean the software is stable enough, it is at least slightly better than what was previously available. Still, users should keep in mind that their devices may not work as expected, batteries may drain much faster, etc.
With the iOS 26 public beta, Apple released the first version at the end of July, on July 24. Compared to previous years, this was much later than usual. With iOS 18, Apple launched this public beta on July 15, 2024; iOS 17 had its first public beta on July 12, 2023; The iOS 16 public beta was released on July 11, 2022; and the iOS 15 public beta was released on June 30, 2021.
The reason Apple might have delayed the iOS 26 public beta was likely due to the new Liquid Glass interface and the negative reaction it received from both users and developers in the early days of beta testing. With iOS 27, it’s unlikely it will take that long for Apple to release a public beta to users. However, there is also a possibility that some Apple Intelligence features may be delayed or that Apple may not be ready to release them with the first version of iOS 27.0. In previous years, more complicated features were already being tested during the regular x.0 beta cycle, but instead as x.1.
