Quick answer
To join the Apple Beta Software Program, go to beta.apple.com, sign in with your Apple Account and accept the agreement. It is free. Then on iPhone open Settings › General › Software Update › Beta Updates, pick iOS 27 Public Beta and install. The same enrollment covers your iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Apple TV.
What the Apple Beta Software Program is
The Apple Beta Software Program is Apple's free scheme for letting anyone try pre-release versions of its operating systems. Members can install public betas of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS and visionOS, and send feedback to Apple through the Feedback Assistant app.
Enrollment is tied to your Apple Account, not to a device. Once you have accepted the agreement, every compatible device signed in with that account can switch on beta updates. Configuration profiles are no longer part of the process; Apple retired them in 2023.
Right now the program is testing the 27.2 releases. iOS 27.0 reached the public on 14 September 2026 and iOS 27.0.1 on 28 September, so a public beta today means iOS 27.2, not the original iOS 27.0 betas from the summer.
Public beta or developer beta: which one to join
Most people should join the public beta. It is built for people who want new features early, and its builds arrive after the developer betas, once Apple considers them steadier. The developer beta gets builds first and is aimed at people testing apps.
| Public beta | Developer beta | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Free (paid membership only needed to publish apps) |
| Where you sign up | beta.apple.com | Apple Developer app, signed in once |
| When builds arrive | After the developer builds | First |
| Stability | Steadier | Rougher, especially early builds |
| Best for | Enthusiasts and everyday users | App developers and testers |
Both appear in the same Beta Updates menu, and you can switch between them. Our guide to the iOS 27 developer beta vs public beta goes through the trade-offs in more detail.
What you need before you join
You need an Apple Account, a device that supports the current release and a computer backup you will not overwrite.
- Apple Account: the same one signed in on your device, with two-factor authentication.
- A supported iPhone: iOS 27 runs on iPhone 11 and later plus iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd generation). iPhone XS, XS Max, XR and older cannot install it.
- A supported iPad: 23 iPad models get iPadOS 27. The iPad (8th generation), iPad Air (3rd generation), iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation) and iPad mini (5th generation) stop at iPadOS 26.
- A supported Mac: macOS 27 runs on Apple silicon Macs, from the M1 models onward.
- Free space and power: clear some storage and keep the device on its charger during the install.
Every model is listed on our iOS 27 supported devices page.
How to back up before installing a beta
Make an archived, encrypted backup on a computer before you install anything. A backup made on a beta cannot be restored onto an older iOS version, so the backup you make now is your only way back with your data.
On a Mac
- Connect the iPhone with a cable and select it in the Finder sidebar.
- Tick Encrypt local backup and set a password you will remember.
- Click Back Up Now and wait for it to finish.
- Click Manage Backups, Control-click the new backup and choose Archive.
On a Windows PC
- Open the Apple Devices app and connect the iPhone.
- Turn on Encrypt local backup and click Back Up Now.
- Copy the finished backup folder somewhere safe so a later backup does not replace it.
An iCloud backup from Settings › [your name] › iCloud › iCloud Backup › Back Up Now is a useful extra, but it is not a substitute for an archived copy. The full process is in how to back up and restore before installing iOS 27 beta.
How to enroll at beta.apple.com
Enrollment takes a couple of minutes and you only do it once per Apple Account.
- Open beta.apple.com in any browser.
- Tap Sign Up, or Sign In if you have enrolled before.
- Sign in with the Apple Account you use on your devices and enter the two-factor code.
- Read and accept the Apple Beta Software Program Agreement. It covers confidentiality, the pre-release nature of the software and the diagnostic data Apple collects.
- Choose the platform tab you want, such as iOS or macOS, to see Apple's instructions for that device.
Only enroll through beta.apple.com. Sites that offer beta profiles or "beta installers" are outdated at best and a security risk at worst.
How to install the public beta on iPhone and iPad
After enrolling, the beta is a normal software update on iPhone and iPad.
- Open
Settings › General › Software Update. - Tap
Beta Updates. - Choose iOS 27 Public Beta (on iPad, iPadOS 27 Public Beta).
- Tap Back and wait for the beta to appear.
- Tap Update Now or Download and Install and enter your passcode.
- Keep the device on Wi-Fi and power until it restarts.
Installing overnight on the charger is the easy option. If the beta never shows up, our fix for iOS 27 beta not showing up in Settings covers each cause. For a walkthrough with more detail on the iPhone side, see how to download the iOS 27 beta on iPhone.
How to install the public beta on a Mac
On a Mac, beta updates live in System Settings.
- Open
Apple menu › System Settings › General › Software Update. - Click the info button next to
Beta Updates. - Choose macOS 27 Public Beta and click Done.
- Wait for Software Update to check again, then click Upgrade Now.
- Enter your password and restart when asked.
A Mac also lets you install a beta on a separate APFS volume or an external drive, which keeps your main system untouched. That setup is covered in our macOS 27 beta installation guide.
How to install the watchOS beta on Apple Watch
Think twice before installing a watchOS beta. An Apple Watch cannot be restored to an older watchOS at home, so once you are on a beta you stay on betas until the public release catches up.
- Make sure your paired iPhone is running the matching iOS beta.
- On the iPhone, open the
Watchapp and go toGeneral › Software Update › Beta Updates. - Choose watchOS 27 Public Beta.
- Put the watch on its charger, keep the iPhone nearby on Wi-Fi and tap Download and Install.
- Leave the watch on the charger until the install finishes.
Our watchOS 27 beta guide has more on what to expect.
How to install the tvOS beta on Apple TV
Apple TV is the lowest-risk device to test on, since it holds little personal data.
- On the Apple TV, open
Settings › System › Software Updates. - Turn on Get Beta Updates and sign in with your enrolled Apple Account if asked.
- Select Update Software and then Download and Install.
What to expect once you are on a beta
Expect the device to work, but not perfectly. Early builds in a cycle are the roughest; later builds and the release candidate are close to the final version.
- Some apps may crash or behave oddly until their developers update them.
- Battery life is often shorter for the first few days while the device reindexes.
- Features can change or disappear between builds.
- New builds arrive in Software Update. As of 13 October 2026 the latest is iOS 27.2 beta 4 (24B5110a).
When you find a bug, report it in the Feedback Assistant app or at feedbackassistant.apple.com. Reports with clear steps to reproduce are the ones Apple can act on.
How to leave the Apple Beta Software Program
You can stop beta updates in a few seconds, and nothing is erased.
- Open
Settings › General › Software Update › Beta Updates. - Choose Off.
Your iPhone keeps the build it has now and moves to the next public release with a higher version number. Turn the setting off on each device that is enrolled.
If you want off the beta straight away, restore the signed public release from a computer. For iPhone that is currently iOS 26.6.1 RC (23G82), restored from Finder or the Apple Devices app, followed by your pre-beta backup. The no-erase route is explained in how to unenroll from iOS 27 beta without losing data.
What to do next
Once you are enrolled and backed up, install the public beta on the device you care least about first. If it behaves, move on to the next one.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Apple Beta Software Program free?
Yes. Joining at beta.apple.com costs nothing and works with any Apple Account. The developer betas are free too: since 2023 you no longer need the $99 yearly Apple Developer Program to install them, only a one-time sign-in in the free Apple Developer app. The paid membership is for publishing apps on the App Store and TestFlight, not for beta access.
How do I join the Apple Beta Software Program?
Go to beta.apple.com, sign in with the Apple Account you use on your device and accept the agreement. Then on iPhone open Settings › General › Software Update › Beta Updates, choose iOS 27 Public Beta, tap Back and install the update. No profile or download from any other site is involved.
Why don't I see beta updates in Settings after enrolling?
The usual cause is an Apple Account mismatch. The account you enrolled at beta.apple.com must be the one signed in under Settings › [your name]. Check that, restart the device and open Software Update again. Also confirm the device supports the current release; an iPhone XR, for example, cannot run iOS 27, so no iOS 27 beta appears.
How do I leave the Apple Beta Software Program?
Set Settings › General › Software Update › Beta Updates to Off. The device keeps its current beta and moves to the next public release with a higher version number. Going back to an older version straight away requires a restore from a computer.
Is it safe to install a public beta on my main iPhone?
It is safer than it used to be, but it is still pre-release software. Expect the odd app crash, shorter battery life and features that change between builds. Make an archived computer backup first, because a backup made on a beta cannot be restored onto an older iOS version. If you depend on the phone for work or banking apps, use a spare device.
Can I install the watchOS beta and go back later?
Not at home. Unlike an iPhone, an Apple Watch cannot be restored to an older watchOS from a computer, so once a watchOS beta is installed you stay on betas until the public release catches up. Turning off Beta Updates stops new betas but does not roll the watch back. Only install watchOS betas on a watch you can live with if something breaks.
Which beta is Apple testing right now?
As of 19 October 2026, Apple is testing iOS 27.2 and iPadOS 27.2, with beta 4 (build 24B5110a) released on 13 October. macOS 27.2, watchOS 27.2 and visionOS 27.2 are also at beta 4, and tvOS 27.2 is at beta 3. The current public release for iPhone is iOS 27.0.1.