iPadOS 27 beta download: how to install the beta on your iPad, step by step

Where the iPadOS 27 beta stands in October 2026

iPadOS 27 is out of its first beta cycle and into the next one. Apple announced the 27-series software at the WWDC 2026 keynote on 8 June 2026, shipped developer betas through the summer and released the finished version in September. The beta you install now is iPadOS 27.2.

That matters for one practical reason. If your iPad is already on iPadOS 27.0.1, the beta adds whatever Apple is testing for 27.2. If your iPad is still on iPadOS 26, turning on Beta Updates jumps it straight to the 27.2 beta.

Which iPads can run the iPadOS 27 beta

Any of the 23 iPads that run iPadOS 27 can install the beta. The oldest supported models are the iPad (9th generation), iPad mini (6th generation), iPad Air (4th generation) and the 2020 iPad Pro models.

Five iPads that ran iPadOS 26 stop there: iPad (8th generation), iPad Air (3rd generation), iPad mini (5th generation), iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation) and iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation). They will not see an iPadOS 27 option under Beta Updates.

Apple Intelligence is a separate question. It needs an iPad with an M1 chip or later, or the iPad mini (A17 Pro), so models such as the iPad (A16) and iPad (10th generation) run iPadOS 27 without it. Our full list of iPadOS 27 supported iPads goes model by model.

Public beta or developer beta

For an iPad you use every day, pick the public beta. Both tracks are free and both install from the same menu. The developer beta gets new builds first and is aimed at people testing apps; the public beta follows once Apple is happier with a build. If you are unsure, our comparison of the developer beta and public beta explains the trade-offs.

• Developer beta: sign in once in the free Apple Developer app with your Apple Account.
• Public beta: enroll your Apple Account at beta.apple.com.

Neither needs a paid developer membership or a configuration profile. Apple retired beta profiles in 2023.

What to do before you install

Make a backup you can actually go back to. A backup created while the iPad is on a beta cannot be restored onto an older iPadOS version, so the backup you make today is your only route back to iPadOS 26 with your data intact.

• Computer backup: connect the iPad to a Mac and select it in Finder, or use the Apple Devices app on Windows. Choose to back up all data, tick Encrypt local backup so passwords and Health data are included, and click Back Up Now.
• Archive it: in Finder, open Manage Backups, Control-click the new backup and choose Archive. An archived backup is not overwritten by later backups made on the beta.
• iCloud backup: useful as a second copy. Go to Settings › [your name] › iCloud › iCloud Backup and tap Back Up Now.
• Space and power: free up storage under Settings › General › iPad Storage, keep the iPad on Wi-Fi and plug it in.
• Accessories: if you rely on an Apple Pencil or keyboard for work, be ready for the odd beta glitch.

Our guide to backing up and restoring before a beta walks through each option in more detail.

How to install the iPadOS 27 beta over the air

The Settings route is the easiest and keeps everything on your iPad. No computer is needed.

1. Check that you are signed in with your Apple Account under Settings › [your name].
2. If you want the public beta, enroll that Apple Account at beta.apple.com first. For the developer beta, sign in once in the Apple Developer app.
3. Open Settings › General › Software Update.
4. Tap Beta Updates.
5. Choose iPadOS 27 Public Beta or iPadOS 27 Developer Beta.
6. Tap Back to return to Software Update and wait for the beta to appear.
7. Tap Download and Install (or Update Now) and enter your passcode.
8. Leave the iPad on power until it restarts into the beta, then confirm the build in Settings › General › About.

Do not force a restart while the progress bar is moving. The install can look stalled for a while near the end and still finish normally.

How to install the iPadOS 27 beta with an IPSW file

An IPSW lets you install from a Mac or PC instead of the iPad itself. It helps when the over-the-air download keeps failing, or when you want to set up several iPads from one file. Every file lives on Apple's own servers, and our iOS and iPadOS 27 beta IPSW downloads page lists them with signing status.

Update and keep your data

1. Download the IPSW that matches your exact iPad model. A file for a different model will fail.
2. Connect the iPad with a USB-C or Lightning cable and tap Trust if asked.
3. Select the iPad in Finder on a Mac, or in the Apple Devices app on Windows.
4. Hold Option on a Mac or Shift on Windows and click Check for Update.
5. Choose the IPSW file and confirm. Click Update, not Restore.
6. Keep the cable connected until the iPad shows the Lock Screen again.

Clean install (erases the iPad)

A restore wipes the iPad and installs a fresh copy. Use it only when an update fails repeatedly or you want a clean start.

1. Connect the iPad to your computer.
2. Put it in recovery mode. On an iPad without a Home button, press and release the volume button nearest the top button, press and release the other volume button, then hold the top button until the recovery screen appears. On an iPad with a Home button, hold the Home and top buttons together until you see the recovery screen.
3. Hold Option (Mac) or Shift (Windows) and click Restore iPad.
4. Select the iPadOS 27 beta IPSW and wait for the restore to finish.
5. Set the iPad up as new, or restore a backup.

If the beta does not show up or will not install

Most failed installs come down to the Apple Account, storage or a stuck download. Work through these in order.

• No iPadOS 27 option under Beta Updates: confirm the iPad is on the supported list, that the Apple Account in Settings is the one you enrolled, and that you are on Wi-Fi. Signing out and back in, then restarting, often brings the option back. Our guide to fixing a missing iOS 27 beta option covers the rest.
• Download stuck or failed: delete the partial update from Settings › General › iPad Storage, restart, free more space and try again, or install with an IPSW from a computer.
• Stuck on the Apple logo: give it time first. If nothing changes for a long time, force restart. On an iPad without a Home button, press volume up, press volume down, then hold the top button. If it still will not start, restore from recovery mode.
• Apps crashing: update them from the App Store, then delete and reinstall any that still fail.
• Stage Manager misbehaving: turn it off and on again from Control Center, then restart the iPad.
• Apple Pencil not responding: forget it under Settings › Apple Pencil or in Bluetooth settings, then pair it again and charge it.

Battery life and heat are often worse in the first day or two after a big install while the iPad reindexes. If a problem persists, file it with Feedback Assistant; our guide to reporting beta bugs to Apple shows what to include.

How to leave the beta or downgrade to iPadOS 26

You have two exits, and they behave very differently.

To downgrade, download the iPadOS 26.6.1 RC IPSW for your model, put the iPad in recovery mode, hold Option or Shift and click Restore iPad, then choose the file. When setup starts, restore the archived backup you made before installing the beta. Our step-by-step guide to downgrading from the 27 beta to 26 covers Find My, activation and the common error messages.

What to do next

If you have not installed yet, start with the backup and archive step, because it is the one you cannot do afterwards. Then check your model on the iPadOS 27 compatibility list and install from Settings.

Frequently asked questions