How to download and install the iOS 27 beta, step by step

Do you need the beta at all?

iOS 27 is no longer beta-only. It launched publicly on 14 September 2026, and the current release is iOS 27.0.1 (24A446). If you simply want iOS 27, open Settings › General › Software Update and install it like any other update.

The beta is for people who want the next version early. Right now that is iOS 27.2:

Is your iPhone supported?

The iOS 27 beta runs on every iPhone that ran iOS 26: iPhone 11 and later, plus iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd generation). iPhone XS, XS Max, XR and older cannot install it.

Apple Intelligence is a narrower list. It needs an A17 Pro chip or newer, which means iPhone 15 Pro and later. iPhone 15 and 15 Plus run iOS 27 but do not get Apple Intelligence. To check your exact model, open Settings › General › About, or see our full list of iOS 27 supported devices.

What you need before you start

• A supported iPhone, from the list above.
• Free storage. Software Update shows the update size for your iPhone. The full iOS 27.2 beta 4 restore file is 10.88 GB to 13.72 GB depending on the model, and an over-the-air install needs room to unpack as well. Our iOS 27 beta storage guide has the figure for each iPhone.
• An archived computer backup, covered in the next section.
• At least 50% battery, or the iPhone on a charger.
• A stable Wi-Fi connection.
• Your Apple Account password and access to your two-factor authentication.

Developer beta or public beta?

Both are free, and both are installed from the same Beta Updates screen. The difference is how early you get each build and how rough it may be.

If this is your only iPhone, the public beta is the safer choice. Our comparison of the developer beta and public beta goes into more detail.

Back up before you do anything

This step matters more than any other. A backup made while your iPhone runs the beta cannot be restored onto iOS 26. If you ever want to go back, you need a backup made before you installed the beta, and it must not be overwritten by a later one.

1. Connect the iPhone to a Mac (Finder) or a Windows PC (Apple Devices app).
2. Tick Encrypt local backup so passwords and Health data are included.
3. Click Back Up Now and wait for it to finish.
4. On a Mac, click Manage Backups, Control-click the new backup and choose Archive, so later backups do not replace it.
5. Check the date and time beside the backup before you continue.

An iCloud backup from Settings › [your name] › iCloud › iCloud Backup is a useful extra, but it gets replaced by newer backups once you are on the beta. The full process is in our guide to backing up before the iOS 27 beta.

Enrol your Apple Account (free)

For the developer beta

1. Install the free Apple Developer app from the App Store.
2. Open it and sign in with your Apple Account.
3. Accept the agreement. No payment is needed.

For the public beta

1. Go to beta.apple.com and tap Sign up.
2. Sign in with your Apple Account and accept the agreement.

There is no profile to download. Configuration profiles for betas were retired in 2023; once your account is enrolled, the beta simply appears under Beta Updates.

How to install the iOS 27 beta

1. Open Settings › General › Software Update › Beta Updates.
2. Choose iOS 27 Public Beta or iOS 27 Developer Beta. If you have more than one Apple Account, check the one shown at the bottom of the screen is the one you enrolled.
3. Go back one screen to Software Update.
4. When iOS 27.2 beta 4 appears, tap Download and Install and enter your passcode.
5. Leave the iPhone on power and Wi-Fi while it installs. It restarts during the process.
6. Finish the welcome screens, then check that calls, mobile data, Wi-Fi and your most-used apps work.

Do not interrupt the install once it has started. An interrupted update can leave the iPhone needing a restore from a computer.

Troubleshooting the install

The beta is not showing up

• Check that the Apple Account selected on the Beta Updates screen is the one you enrolled.
• Make sure Beta Updates is set to an iOS 27 track, not Off.
• Restart the iPhone and check again. The list can take a minute to refresh.
• Confirm your iPhone is on the supported list.

Our guide to fixing the iOS 27 beta not showing up covers every cause.

The download is stuck or fails

• Delete the partial download in Settings › General › iPhone Storage, where it is listed as an iOS update.
• Restart the iPhone and try again on a stable Wi-Fi network.
• Free up more storage if Software Update says there is not enough room.

Battery drain or heat after updating

Some extra drain and warmth in the first day or two is normal while the iPhone re-indexes photos, files and search in the background. If it does not settle, restart the iPhone and check Settings › Battery for an app using more than its share. Report real bugs with the Feedback Assistant app, which is installed with the beta.

How to go back to iOS 26

You have two options, depending on how soon you want out.

Leave at the next public release

Open Settings › General › Software Update › Beta Updates and choose Off. Your iPhone keeps the current beta and moves to the next public release with a higher version number. Nothing is erased. Our guide to leaving the iOS 27 beta without losing data explains the timing.

Go back to iOS 26 now

Apple is currently signing iOS 26.6.1 RC (23G82) for iPhones. Downgrading erases the iPhone.

1. Connect the iPhone to a Mac or PC and put it into recovery mode.
2. In Finder or the Apple Devices app, choose Restore to install iOS 26.6.1. You can also download the file for your model from our IPSW library.
3. When the restore finishes, set up from the archived backup you made before the beta.

The full walkthrough is in our guide to downgrading the iOS 27 beta to iOS 26.

Frequently asked questions