The iOS 16 public beta is here and now anyone with a compatible iPhone can now download and try it out on their iPhone. It’s relatively easy to install and it’s also free. If you’re excited to try out any of iOS 16’s new features (like Lock Mode or custom lock screens), your wait is over.
In June, Apple released the iOS 16 developer beta around its developer conference, but not many people were allowed to download and install the software. Developer betas require membership in Apple’s developer program, which is $100 per year, and are also not recommended for everyday use unless you’re a developer testing software because developer betas can be super buggy and make your phone difficult to use.
Apple has now released the public beta for iOS 16, which should be a bit more stable. All you need to do is sign up for the Apple Beta Software program, register your device, and install a configuration profile to get the iOS 16 beta on your device. This is how.
For more, here’s a look at iOS 16’s redesigned and customized lock screen and a few of Apple Maps’ new features.
Before you begin, back up your iPhone
Getting pre-release software can be exciting, but there are precautions you should take before updating. All previously released software, such as iOS 16 beta, may contain bugs and other issues that can make your device more difficult to use, so you should back up your device in case you want to go back to iOS 15.
By default, your iPhone should back itself up whenever it’s connected to power and Wi-Fi during your normal sleeping hours. However, if this backup feature is disabled, you can go to Settings > Your Name > iCloud > iCloud Backup and then tap Back Up Now to back up your device.
You can (and should) also back up your iPhone to your Mac.
Screenshot by Nelson Aguilar/CNET
You can also back up your iPhone through the Finder on your Mac. Simply connect your device to your computer, open Finder, select your device, and then create a backup. Apple also recommends backing up your backup so it doesn’t get overwritten by other backups.
Sign up for Apple’s beta software program
Once your device is backed up, it’s time to sign up for Apple’s beta software program, which allows anyone to try pre-release software for free to provide feedback to Apple about quality, usability, and issues. You can currently test the iOS 16 beta on any compatible Apple device (iPhone 8 and later).
To enroll in Apple’s beta software program:
1. Go to the Apple Beta Software Program website on your iPhone.
2. Tap the blue sign up button at the bottom of the page.
3. Use Face ID or Touch ID to sign in to the Apple ID that’s attached to your iPhone.
4. Read and accept the Apple Beta Software Program Agreement.
On the page that appears next, scroll down to Getting Started and tap Register your iOS device, which should be a hyperlink in the paragraph that appears. This will take you to another page where Apple will lay out everything you need to do to download and install the iOS 16 beta on your iPhone.
Signing up for Apple’s beta software program is free.
Screenshot by Nelson Aguilar/CNET
Install the iOS 16 beta configuration profile
If you scroll down this page, you will see a section called Install Profile. To download and install the iOS 16 beta on your device, you now need to install a configuration profile on your iPhone.
Essentially, a configuration profile allows a third party to manage your device; in this case Apple. You may have concerns about whether or not this is a privacy violation, but rest assured that this configuration profile simply allows Apple to deliver and manage the iOS 16 beta on your device.
To install the configuration profile, press the blue Download Profile button and then tap Allow in the pop-up window that appears. Then exit your web browser, launch the Settings app, and tap Download profile at the top of the page. It should then show you a window for the iOS 16 public beta configuration profile. Tap Install, enter your password, and then tap Install two more times. Finally, tap Restart to get the iOS 16 over-the-air beta update.
You must first download a configuration profile from Apple’s website before you can update to iOS 16 beta.
Screenshot by Nelson Aguilar/CNET
Download and install iOS 16 beta
Once your iPhone has started backup, go to Settings > General > Software Update, tap Download & Install, and enter your passcode to start the update process to iOS 16 beta.
After the configuration profile is downloaded and your phone restarts, you can download and install the iOS 16 public beta.
Screenshot by Nelson Aguilar/CNET
If for some reason you don’t see the Download and Install option, you may need to wait a few minutes or clear your memory to free up space. If you don’t have enough space, you won’t be able to download iOS 16, so clear your memory by deleting large files and offloading large apps.
You should see a loading bar along with a rough estimate of how long the download process will take. Once the download is complete, restart your device and wait for the iOS 16 beta to install. When your iPhone starts up, you should see the iOS 16 beta downloaded to your device.
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