Quick answer
Before you install the iOS 27 beta, back up to iCloud, then make an encrypted backup on a Mac or PC and archive it so later backups cannot overwrite it. That archived copy is what you restore if you go back to iOS 26, because a backup made on a beta cannot be restored onto an older iOS version.
Why a pre-beta backup matters
A pre-beta backup is your only clean route back. iPhone backups work forwards, not backwards: a backup made on iOS 26 restores onto iOS 27, but a backup made on any iOS 27 beta will not restore onto iOS 26. It will not restore onto iOS 27.0.1 either, if it was made on the iOS 27.2 beta.
That matters because going back to an older version erases the iPhone. If your newest backup was made on the beta, it is useless after the downgrade, and you set the phone up as new. Anything that lives only on the device, like some app data and photos that are not in iCloud Photos, is gone.
The fix takes about an hour of preparation:
- Make a fresh iCloud backup.
- Make an encrypted backup on a computer.
- Archive that computer backup.
- Check that both backups finished.
Today the current beta is iOS 27.2 beta 4 (build 24B5110a), released on 13 October 2026, and the current public release is iOS 27.0.1 (24A446). If your iPhone is still on iOS 26, your pre-beta backup is an iOS 26 backup. If it already runs iOS 27.0.1, back up on 27.0.1 before you join the 27.2 beta.
iCloud backup or computer backup?
Use both, because each one covers a weakness of the other.
| iCloud backup | Encrypted computer backup | |
|---|---|---|
| Needs a computer | No | Yes, a Mac or Windows PC |
| Can be archived | No, iCloud keeps the latest backup per device | Yes |
| Includes passwords and Health data | Yes | Only when encryption is on |
| Storage it uses | Your iCloud plan | Your computer's drive |
| Restore speed | Depends on your internet connection | Over a cable, usually quicker |
| Role before a beta | Off-device convenience copy | The copy you restore after a downgrade |
The weak point of iCloud is that it does not keep old versions. Once the beta is installed, the next nightly iCloud backup replaces your pre-beta one. The archived computer backup is the one that survives.
How to back up your iPhone to iCloud
An iCloud backup runs over Wi-Fi and takes a few minutes to start. Before you begin, check that you have enough free iCloud storage in Settings › [your name] › iCloud.
- Connect to a Wi-Fi network you trust and plug in the charger.
- Open
Settings › [your name] › iCloud › iCloud Backup. - Make sure Back Up This iPhone is on.
- Tap Back Up Now.
- Stay on Wi-Fi until the progress bar finishes.
- Check that the last successful backup shows today's date and time.
If iCloud says there is not enough space, delete old backups of devices you no longer use from the same screen, or upgrade your iCloud plan for a month. A first backup can take a long time on a slow upload connection. Later ones are quicker because only changes are sent.
How to make an encrypted backup on a Mac
On a Mac, iPhone backups live in Finder. Use a cable you trust and connect directly to the Mac rather than through a hub.
- Connect your iPhone. If it asks whether to trust this computer, tap Trust and enter your passcode.
- Open a Finder window and select your iPhone under Locations in the sidebar.
- In the General tab, choose Back up all of the data on your iPhone to this Mac.
- Turn on Encrypt local backup and create a password. Save it in a password manager.
- Click Back Up Now and keep the iPhone connected until it finishes.
- Check that Latest Backup shows today's date and time.
If Finder offers to update the iPhone, choose Not Now. Back up first.
How to make an encrypted backup on Windows
On a Windows PC, use the Apple Devices app, or iTunes if that is what your PC still runs. The steps are almost the same.
- Install the Apple Devices app from the Microsoft Store if you do not have it.
- Connect your iPhone with a cable, enter your passcode on it and tap Trust.
- Select your iPhone in the app's sidebar.
- Under Backups, choose to back up all of the data on your iPhone to this computer.
- Turn on Encrypt local backup and set a password.
- Click Back Up Now and wait for it to finish.
How to archive the backup so it is not overwritten
Archiving is the step most people skip, and it is the one that saves you. A normal computer backup is replaced the next time you back up the same iPhone. After you install the beta, that next backup is a beta backup.
- In Finder, with your iPhone selected, click Manage Backups in the General tab.
- Find the backup you just made. It shows today's date.
- Control-click it and choose Archive.
- Check that the date and time now appear next to the device name. That marks it as archived.
- Click OK.
A lock icon next to a backup means it is encrypted. If the backup manager in your Windows app does not offer an Archive option, copy the whole backup folder to another drive so a later backup cannot replace it. On a Mac, backups are stored in ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup, and Show in Finder in the backup manager opens the right folder.
What an encrypted backup includes
Encryption decides whether your passwords and Health data come back after a restore.
| Data | Unencrypted computer backup | Encrypted computer backup |
|---|---|---|
| App data, settings, Home Screen layout | Yes | Yes |
| Photos and Messages not stored in iCloud | Yes | Yes |
| Saved passwords | No | Yes |
| Wi-Fi settings | No | Yes |
| Health data | No | Yes |
| Call history and website history | No | Yes |
| Face ID or Touch ID settings, Apple Pay cards | No | No |
Data already stored in iCloud, such as iCloud Photos, contacts and calendars, is not in either backup because it syncs back when you sign in.
How to check that your backups worked
Spend two minutes checking before you install anything.
- iCloud: in
Settings › [your name] › iCloud › iCloud Backup, the last successful backup should be from today. - Computer: in Manage Backups, the backup should show today's date, a lock icon and, once archived, the date beside the name.
- Size: use Show in Finder and check the folder size. A backup far smaller than the data on your iPhone may not have finished.
- Password: confirm the encryption password is saved somewhere you can reach without this iPhone.
With that done, you can turn on Beta Updates. The full sequence is in our guide to downloading the iOS 27 beta, and the wider checklist is in how to prepare your iPhone for the iOS 27 beta.
How to restore a backup
A restore erases the iPhone first and then copies the backup onto it. Which backup you can use depends on the iOS version the iPhone ends up on.
Restore from iCloud
- Go to
Settings › General › Transfer or Reset iPhone › Erase All Content and Settings. - Follow the setup screens until you reach Transfer Your Apps & Data.
- Choose From iCloud Backup and sign in with your Apple Account.
- Pick the backup you want by its date.
- Stay on Wi-Fi while apps and photos download in the background.
Restore from a Mac or PC
- Connect the iPhone and select it in Finder or the Apple Devices app.
- Click Restore Backup.
- Pick your archived backup by its date.
- Enter the encryption password.
- Keep the iPhone connected until it restarts and syncs.
If the restore is refused because the backup is from a newer version of iOS, you are trying to put a beta backup onto an older system. Pick the archived pre-beta backup instead.
How to go back to iOS 26 and restore your pre-beta backup
Going back to iOS 26 means erasing the iPhone and installing the version Apple is signing. Right now that is iOS 26.6.1 RC (23G82) for iPhones. A plain Restore installs the current public release, so to land on iOS 26 you use the iOS 26.6.1 RC IPSW for your exact model from our IPSW download page.
- If the iPhone still works, turn off Find My in
Settings › [your name] › Find My. Either way, have your Apple Account password ready for Activation Lock. - Connect the iPhone to your Mac or PC.
- Put it in recovery mode: press and release Volume Up, press and release Volume Down, then hold the Side button until the recovery screen appears. This works on every iPhone that runs iOS 27.
- In Finder or the Apple Devices app, hold Option on a Mac or Shift on Windows and click Restore iPhone.
- Select the iOS 26.6.1 RC IPSW and confirm.
- When the iPhone reaches the setup screen, choose to restore from a Mac or PC and pick your archived pre-beta backup.
Anything you created while on the beta and that is not in iCloud, like new app data, is lost in this process. The full walkthrough, including fixes for common restore errors, is in our guide to downgrading from the iOS 27 beta to iOS 26.
If you do not need iOS 26 right away, there is a gentler option. Turn off Beta Updates and stay on your current build. The iPhone moves to the next public release with a higher version number, and nothing is erased. Our guide to leaving the iOS 27 beta without losing data explains when that is the better choice.
Troubleshooting backup problems
iCloud backup will not finish
- Check free iCloud storage and delete backups of old devices.
- Move closer to the router or switch to a more reliable Wi-Fi network.
- Restart the iPhone and tap Back Up Now again.
- If the network itself misbehaves, try
Settings › General › Transfer or Reset iPhone › Reset › Reset Network Settings. You will need to rejoin Wi-Fi networks afterwards.
The computer does not see the iPhone
- Try another cable and another USB port, connected directly to the computer.
- Enter your passcode on the iPhone and tap Trust when asked.
- Restart both the iPhone and the computer.
- On Windows, update the Apple Devices app.
Not enough space on the computer
Delete backups you no longer need in Manage Backups, or clear space on the drive. Do not delete the archived pre-beta backup until you are sure you will stay on iOS 27.
What to do next
Once your archived backup is verified, read the step-by-step iOS 27 beta install guide and turn on Beta Updates. Keep the archived backup until you are settled on a public iOS 27 release.
Frequently asked questions
Can I restore an iOS 27 beta backup to iOS 26?
No. A backup made on a beta cannot be restored onto an older iOS version, and iOS 26 is older than any iOS 27 build. The same rule applies inside iOS 27: a backup made on iOS 27.2 beta will not restore onto iOS 27.0.1. If you want a clean way back, you need a backup made on your current public version before you installed the beta, and it must be archived so it is not overwritten.
What does archiving a backup do?
Archiving locks a computer backup so the next backup of the same iPhone does not replace it. Without it, the first backup you make after installing the beta overwrites your pre-beta copy, and that pre-beta copy is the only one you can restore after a downgrade. On a Mac, open Manage Backups in Finder, Control-click the backup and choose Archive. Archived backups show the date and time next to the device name.
Should I use iCloud backup or a computer backup before the beta?
Use both. An iCloud backup is quick and gives you an off-device copy, but iCloud keeps only the latest backup for each device, so it gets replaced after you install the beta. An encrypted computer backup can be archived, which makes it the copy you rely on if you go back to iOS 26. Make the iCloud backup first, then the archived computer backup.
Why should I encrypt my iPhone backup?
An encrypted computer backup includes data that an unencrypted one leaves out: saved passwords, Wi-Fi settings, website history, Health data and call history. Restore from an unencrypted backup and you sign in to apps again and may lose Health history that is not synced elsewhere. Turn on Encrypt local backup in Finder or the Apple Devices app and store the password somewhere safe, because Apple cannot recover it.
What if I forgot my encrypted backup password?
The backup cannot be opened without it, and Apple has no way to recover it. Check your password manager first. If it is gone, you can reset the password on the iPhone with Settings › General › Transfer or Reset iPhone › Reset › Reset All Settings. That keeps your data but returns settings such as network, location and privacy to their defaults, and lets you make a new encrypted backup. Older backups made with the lost password stay locked.
What is not included in an iPhone backup?
Backups skip data that already lives in iCloud, such as iCloud Photos and Messages in iCloud, because it syncs back after you sign in. They also leave out content synced from a computer, Face ID or Touch ID settings, Apple Pay information and Apple Mail data. After a restore you set up Face ID and add cards to Wallet again. Everything else comes back from the backup.
Do I lose data if I leave the beta without restoring a backup?
No. Turning off Beta Updates in Settings › General › Software Update › Beta Updates keeps your current build and all your data. Your iPhone then moves to the next public release that has a higher version number. You only need the archived backup if you want to go back to iOS 26 right away, because that downgrade erases the iPhone.