Quick answer
You cannot download the iOS 17 beta today. On iPhones running iOS 16.4 or later it installed from Settings › General › Software Update › Beta Updates with no profile, Apple retired beta profiles in 2023, and the iOS 17 beta builds are no longer signed. For the current beta, follow the iOS 27 guide instead.
Looking for the current beta? This is a historical guide. Today's beta is iOS 27.2 beta 4 (24B5110a), released on 13 October 2026. It is free with any Apple Account, and our iOS 27 beta download guide walks through the install.
How the iOS 17 beta was installed
iOS 17 arrived at WWDC in June 2023, at the point when Apple changed how betas work. iOS 16.4 had added a Beta Updates menu to Software Update, and in 2023 Apple made developer betas free to anyone with an Apple Account and retired configuration profiles.
- Update the iPhone to iOS 16.4 or later.
- Sign in to the Apple Developer program with a free account, or enroll in the public beta at beta.apple.com.
- Open
Settings › General › Software Update › Beta Updates. - Choose iOS 17 Developer Beta or iOS 17 Public Beta.
- Go back and install the update.
Developers could also restore an iOS 17 beta IPSW with Finder on a Mac or iTunes on Windows. Both routes needed Apple to be signing the build at the time.
Why an iOS 17 beta profile does not work
Older guides, including an earlier version of this page, offered an iOS 17 "beta profile" to download. It was never needed on iOS 16.4 or later, and today it is useless for two reasons:
- Profiles are gone. Since 2023, beta access is tied to your Apple Account and the Beta Updates menu.
- iOS 17 betas are unsigned. An iPhone can install only a build Apple is currently signing. The iOS 17 betas stopped being signed after the final release shipped.
We no longer offer an iOS 17 profile, and you should not install profiles from sites that still do.
Which iPhones support iOS 17?
iOS 17 dropped the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X, which stop at iOS 16. Everything from the iPhone XS and XR onwards got it.
| iPhone | iOS 17 | iOS 27 |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR | Yes | No |
| iPhone 11 series | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone 12, 13 and 14 series | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone 15 series | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd generation) | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X | No | No |
The full current list, including the iPhone 16, 17 and 18 models, is on our iOS 27 supported devices page.
Can you still install iOS 17 today?
In practice, no, not on an iPhone. Apple generally signs only the newest release for each model, and every iPhone that ran iOS 17 can run a later version. That means:
- Restoring iOS 17 from an IPSW fails when Finder or the Apple Devices app checks the signature with Apple.
- Updating to iOS 17 over the air is not offered, because Software Update offers newer versions.
- iOS 17 beta builds are not signed for any device.
If you need to leave a beta today, the version Apple signs for iPhones is iOS 26.6.1 RC (23G82). Our guide to downgrading from the iOS 27 beta to iOS 26 covers the restore step by step.
Back up before you change versions
A backup made on a newer iOS version cannot be restored onto an older one. Before any beta or restore, make an encrypted backup on a Mac or PC and archive it in Manage Backups so later backups do not overwrite it. Our backup and restore guide explains each step for Finder and the Apple Devices app.
What iOS 17 introduced
iOS 17 is mostly remembered for these features, which later versions kept:
- StandBy. A full-screen clock, widgets and photos when the iPhone is charging on its side.
- Contact Posters. A personalised card that appears on the other person's screen when you call them.
- NameDrop. Sharing contact details by bringing two iPhones together.
- Interactive widgets. Widgets that respond to taps on the Home Screen and Lock Screen without opening the app.
Common problems from the iOS 17 beta era
Stuck on "Update Requested"
This happened often with betas. If the update sits on Update Requested for a long time, restart the phone and try again. If the phone freezes, follow the steps to force restart your iPhone: press and release volume up, press and release volume down, then hold the side button.
Beta option missing
The Beta Updates menu appears only on iOS 16.4 or later and only after the Apple Account on the iPhone is enrolled. The same rules apply to the iOS 27 beta today.
What to do next
If you came here wanting to test new iPhone software, the modern process is the same one iOS 17 introduced, just with iOS 27. Follow the iOS 27 beta installation guide to enroll and install iOS 27.2 beta 4.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an iOS 17 beta profile?
Not one that does anything today. iOS 17 was the first major beta Apple delivered through the Beta Updates menu, added in iOS 16.4, instead of a configuration profile. Apple retired beta profiles altogether in 2023. Any iOS 17 profile still offered online will not make a download appear, and the iOS 17 beta builds are no longer signed, so they cannot be installed.
Which iPhones support iOS 17?
iOS 17 runs on iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, the iPhone 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 series, and iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd generation). It dropped the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X, which stop at iOS 16. Every iPhone that ran iOS 17 can also run a later version.
Can I downgrade from iOS 18 or later to iOS 17?
In general, no. A downgrade only works while Apple still signs the older version for your model, and Apple usually signs just the newest release for each device. Because every iOS 17 iPhone supports later versions, iOS 17 restores fail when the computer checks with Apple. Today Apple signs iOS 26.6.1 RC (23G82) as the downgrade target for iPhones leaving the iOS 27 beta.
Can I restore an iOS 18 backup to an iPhone on iOS 17?
No. A backup made on a newer version of iOS cannot be restored onto an older one. If you ever moved back to an older version, you would need an archived backup made while the phone was on that version, or you would set the iPhone up as new and let iCloud sync photos, contacts and other data back.
How do I get the current iOS beta instead?
On an iPhone 11 or later, enroll for free at beta.apple.com for the public beta, or sign in once in the Apple Developer app for the developer beta. Then go to Settings › General › Software Update › Beta Updates, choose iOS 27 Public Beta or iOS 27 Developer Beta, and install. The current build is iOS 27.2 beta 4 (24B5110a).