iOS 27 developer beta: how to download and install it for free

What the iOS 27 developer beta is

The developer beta is the earliest channel Apple uses to ship pre-release iOS builds. It exists so app makers can test their apps against new system behaviour and APIs before the public gets the update. Apple released the first iOS 27 developer beta on 8 June 2026, the same day it announced iOS 27 at the WWDC 2026 keynote.

That first cycle is finished. iOS 27.0 shipped to everyone on 14 September 2026 (build 24A437), and iOS 27.0.1 followed on 28 September (24A446). The developer beta has moved on to iOS 27.2, which is where new features and fixes are being tested now. If you enroll today, you install iOS 27.2 beta 4, not the June build.

You no longer need to pay for access. Since 2023, any Apple Account can install developer betas, and the old configuration profiles are gone. The paid Apple Developer Program, at $99 a year, is only needed to publish on the App Store, distribute through TestFlight and use the other services that come with membership.

Current iOS 27 developer beta builds

The latest developer build is iOS 27.2 beta 4, build 24B5110a, from 13 October 2026. Every iOS 27 build Apple has released for iPhone so far is below, with the beta builds alongside the public releases they led to.

The same 27.2 beta 4 build, 24B5110a, is also the current iPadOS 27 developer beta.

Developer beta or public beta: which should you install?

Install the developer beta if you build or test apps and need each new build the day it lands. Pick the public beta if you simply want to try new features on a phone you rely on. Both cost nothing and both sit in the same menu.

The longer comparison, including how to switch from one track to the other, is in our guide to the iOS 27 developer beta vs public beta.

Which iPhones can run the iOS 27 developer beta?

Any iPhone that runs iOS 27 can run the developer beta: iPhone 11 and later, plus iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd generation). That is every iPhone that ran iOS 26. The iPhone XS, XS Max, XR and anything older cannot install it.

Apple Intelligence needs an A17 Pro chip or newer. The full list, with iPad and Mac models, is on the iOS 27 supported devices page.

Before you install: three things to do

Make a computer backup first, because a backup made on a beta cannot be restored onto an older iOS version. If you ever want to return to iOS 26, the backup you make now is the one you will need.

1. Connect your iPhone to a Mac (Finder) or a Windows PC (Apple Devices app), select it and choose to back up all data to the computer. Turn on Encrypt local backup so passwords and Health data are included.
2. Copy or archive that backup somewhere safe so a later backup does not replace it.
3. Free up storage, aiming for around 10 GB, and charge the battery or keep the iPhone plugged in.

The full checklist is in how to back up and restore before installing iOS 27 beta.

How to install the iOS 27 developer beta over the air

The over-the-air route is the easiest and keeps your data. It takes a few minutes of setup and then a normal software update.

1. Install the free Apple Developer app from the App Store and sign in with the Apple Account you use on the iPhone. You only need to do this once.
2. On the iPhone, open Settings › General › Software Update.
3. Tap Beta Updates.
4. Choose iOS 27 Developer Beta.
5. Tap Back to return to Software Update and wait for the beta to appear.
6. Tap Update Now or Download and Install, enter your passcode and leave the iPhone on Wi-Fi and power until it restarts.
7. When it is done, confirm the build in Settings › General › About.

If the Beta Updates option is missing or does not list iOS 27, the cause is almost always the Apple Account. Make sure the account signed in under Settings › [your name] is the one you used in the Apple Developer app, then restart the iPhone. Our fix guide for iOS 27 beta not showing up covers the other causes.

How to install the developer beta with an IPSW file

An IPSW restore installs the beta from a computer and erases the iPhone. Use it when an over-the-air update keeps failing or when you want a clean install with no old data.

1. Download the iOS 27 beta IPSW for your exact model from our iOS 27 beta IPSW page. Every file links to Apple's own CDN.
2. Connect the iPhone to your Mac or PC with a cable and open Finder or the Apple Devices app.
3. Put the iPhone in recovery mode: press and release Volume Up, press and release Volume Down, then hold the Side button until the recovery screen appears.
4. Hold Option on a Mac or Shift on Windows and click Restore iPhone.
5. Select the IPSW you downloaded and confirm.
6. Keep the cable connected until the iPhone shows the setup screen, then sign in and restore your data.

A wrong file is the most common reason a restore fails, so match the IPSW to your exact model before you start.

Using the developer beta to test your apps

If you build apps, pair the beta on your test iPhone with the matching Xcode beta from developer.apple.com/download. Build your project against the new SDK, run your main user flows on the device and note new warnings and visual changes. Use #available(iOS 27.0, *) checks around new APIs so the app keeps working for people still on iOS 26.

Keep your deployment target where it is unless you have a reason to raise it. Test on a real iPhone as well as the simulator, since performance, battery use, camera and sensor behaviour only show up properly on hardware. When something breaks in the system rather than in your code, file it with Apple through Feedback Assistant at feedbackassistant.apple.com or with the Feedback Assistant app on the iPhone.

For what Apple added in iOS 27 itself, see the iOS 27 features list.

Common developer beta problems and fixes

Most problems on a fresh beta come from storage, the network or apps that have not caught up yet.

The update is stuck on preparing or verifying

1. Check free space in Settings › General › iPhone Storage and clear room if needed.
2. Force restart: press Volume Up, press Volume Down, then hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears.
3. Join a different Wi-Fi network and try again.
4. If it still fails, use the IPSW method above.

Battery drains faster than usual

Heavier battery use for the first few days after a major update is normal while the iPhone reindexes photos, messages and search. If it continues after that, check Settings › Battery for the app responsible. Turning off Background App Refresh for apps you rarely use also helps.

An app crashes on launch

Check the App Store for an update, then delete and reinstall the app. If a critical app stays broken, report it to its developer and consider staying off the beta on the phone you depend on.

How to leave the developer beta

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

To downgrade, restore the signed iOS 26.6.1 RC IPSW from Finder or the Apple Devices app using the same recovery-mode steps as above, then restore the backup you made before installing the beta. The step-by-step version is in how to downgrade iOS 27 beta to iOS 26.

What to do next

If you have not installed yet, start with the backup, then follow the over-the-air steps above. For a walkthrough that covers the public beta as well, read how to download the iOS 27 beta.

Frequently asked questions