How to Download iOS 27 Beta on iPhone (2026): The Free, Step-by-Step Method

Where the iOS 27 beta stands today

The iOS 27 beta is now on its second cycle. Apple announced iOS 27 at the WWDC 2026 keynote on 8 June and released developer beta 1 the same day. Eight betas and a release candidate later, iOS 27.0 shipped to the public on 14 September 2026, followed by iOS 27.0.1 on 28 September. The beta channel moved straight on to iOS 27.2.

So the question has changed since June. If you just want iOS 27, you no longer need the beta at all: it is a normal update in Software Update. Joining the beta today means testing iOS 27.2 ahead of its public release.

Do you need an iOS 27 beta profile?

No. Apple retired beta configuration profiles in 2023. Enrollment is tied to your Apple Account, and the beta switch lives inside Software Update. Any site still offering an "iOS 27 beta profile" download is out of date at best. Do not install a profile from a third-party site to get a beta.

Is the iOS 27 beta free?

Yes, both tracks are free. The developer beta used to sit behind the paid Apple Developer Program, but that changed in 2023: any Apple Account can now sign in to the free Apple Developer app and get developer betas. The paid membership is only for distributing apps on the App Store. The public beta has always been free through the Apple Beta Software Program.

Which iPhones can install the iOS 27 beta?

Every iPhone that ran iOS 26 can run iOS 27: iPhone 11 and later, plus iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd generation). That is 33 models, from the iPhone 11 up to the iPhone 18 Pro Max. iPhone XS, XS Max, XR and anything older stops at an earlier version and will not see the option.

Apple Intelligence features have a stricter requirement: an A17 Pro chip or newer. That covers iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, every iPhone 16 and 17 model (including iPhone 16e and 17e), iPhone Air, and iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max. iPhone 15 and 15 Plus run iOS 27 but without Apple Intelligence. The full model-by-model list is on our iOS 27 supported devices page.

Developer beta or public beta: which should you pick?

Pick the public beta unless you build apps or want each build the moment it lands. Both are free and both use the same Beta Updates switch. The difference is timing and polish.

Public beta builds are typically recent developer builds released after more testing, and the final release is identical for everyone. You can switch tracks at any time on the same Beta Updates screen.

Before you start

A beta is unfinished software. Expect some app crashes, weaker battery life for a day or two while the iPhone re-indexes, and the occasional broken feature. Banking, authenticator, VPN and work-managed apps are the most likely to misbehave. If your iPhone is your only phone and you depend on it for work or two-factor codes, think hard before installing.

• A supported iPhone (iPhone 11 or later, or iPhone SE 2nd or 3rd generation).
• Your Apple Account, the same one you use for iCloud and the App Store.
• Free space. We suggest about 15 GB free so the download and install have room. Check Settings › General › iPhone Storage.
• Power and Wi-Fi. At least 50% battery, or keep the iPhone on a charger, and a stable Wi-Fi network.
• A backup made before the beta. This is the one you cannot skip.

Step 1: back up your iPhone

Back up first because a backup made on the beta cannot be restored onto an older iOS version. If you ever return to iOS 26, the backup you make now is the only one that will work.

1. Connect the iPhone to a Mac (Finder) or a Windows PC (Apple Devices app).
2. Select the iPhone and choose to back up all of its data to the computer.
3. Tick Encrypt local backup so passwords and Health data are included, then click Back Up Now.
4. When it finishes, archive the backup so a later backup does not overwrite it. In Finder, use Manage Backups, then Control-click the backup and choose Archive.

An iCloud backup (Settings › [your name] › iCloud › iCloud Backup › Back Up Now) is a useful second copy, but iCloud keeps replacing it, so it will not stay an iOS 26 backup for long. The full process, including how to restore, is in our backup and restore guide.

Step 2: enroll your Apple Account

Enrolling is what makes the iOS 27 option appear in Settings. You only do it once per Apple Account.

For the developer beta

1. Install the free Apple Developer app from the App Store.
2. Open it, tap Account and sign in with your Apple Account.
3. Accept the Apple Developer Agreement. There is no payment step; if you see one, you are in the paid program sign-up by mistake.

For the public beta

1. In Safari, go to beta.apple.com.
2. Tap Sign Up (or Sign In) and use your Apple Account.
3. Accept the agreement. Enrollment is instant and nothing is downloaded at this stage.

Step 3: turn on Beta Updates

1. Open Settings › General › Software Update.
2. Tap Beta Updates.
3. Choose iOS 27 Public Beta or iOS 27 Developer Beta, matching the program you joined.
4. Check that the Apple Account shown at the bottom of that screen is the one you enrolled. If not, tap it and change it.
5. Tap Back to return to Software Update.

If Beta Updates is missing or only shows older options, the usual causes are a different Apple Account on the iPhone, an enrollment that has not synced yet, or a device that is managed by a company or school. Our fix for iOS 27 beta not showing up goes through each one.

Step 4: download and install

1. Wait a few seconds on Settings › General › Software Update while it checks.
2. When the iOS 27 beta appears, tap the install button and enter your passcode.
3. Agree to the terms and leave the iPhone on Wi-Fi and power while it downloads and prepares the update.
4. Let it restart. The Apple logo and progress bar can sit there for a while; do not force a restart.
5. Enter your passcode when it boots and give it time. Indexing in the background is why battery and performance can feel off for the first day or so.

Later betas arrive the same way, through Software Update, so you do not repeat Steps 1 to 3. If the install fails or stalls, restart the iPhone, free more space and try again on a different Wi-Fi network.

Can you install the iOS 27 beta with an IPSW file?

Yes. Developers and anyone setting up a device from scratch can restore a beta IPSW from a Mac or PC instead of updating over the air. Every file is on Apple's own CDN, and our iOS 27 beta IPSW download page lists the links for each model with their signing status. The IPSW route erases the iPhone, so it suits spare devices more than your daily phone.

After you install: what to do

• Report problems. Beta builds include the Feedback Assistant app. Our guide on reporting bugs in the iOS 27 beta shows what makes a useful report.
• Give the battery a couple of days. Early drain is often re-indexing. If it persists past that, check Settings › Battery for the app responsible.
• Keep updating. Each new beta fixes problems from the last. Turning on automatic updates in Settings › General › Software Update › Automatic Updates saves you checking.

How to leave the beta or go back to iOS 26

You have two exits, and they are very different.

Stop beta updates. Set Settings › General › Software Update › Beta Updates to Off. Nothing is erased. Your iPhone keeps the build it has and moves to the next public release with a higher version number. If you are on iOS 27.2 beta 4, that means waiting for the public iOS 27.2 release. Our guide to unenrolling without losing data explains the wait.

Go back to iOS 26. Apple is currently signing iOS 26.6.1 RC (23G82) for iPhones. Restoring it from Finder or the Apple Devices app erases the iPhone, after which you restore the backup you made in Step 1. The full walkthrough is in how to downgrade from iOS 27 to iOS 26.

What to do next

If you have not backed up yet, do that before anything else, then come back to Step 2. If you are still deciding whether a beta is worth the risk on your particular devices, our beta risk matrix breaks it down for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Mac.

Frequently asked questions