Back up your iPhone before enrolling
Joining the Apple Beta Program lets you install a public beta of iOS before the regular public release. The enrollment itself is quick, but you should make an iCloud backup first. Beta software can have bugs, and the video points out an important limitation: if you want to return to the current public version of iOS after installing a beta, you will need to factory reset your iPhone.
An up-to-date iCloud backup gives you a copy of your data before you change your iPhone software. Take care of that first, then sign up for the program and enable beta updates.
Video Tutorial
Create an iCloud backup
Start this part while your iPhone has a reliable internet connection. The backup can take a little time, especially if you have not backed up recently.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Select the first option at the top of Settings, which opens your Apple Account settings.
- Select iCloud.
- Scroll down and select iCloud Backup.
- Select Back Up Now.
If you see a message about your backup, you can manage the apps included in the backup from the iCloud settings. You can also select Continue if that option appears. Wait for the iCloud backup to finish before moving on.
This backup matters if you later decide that the beta is not right for you. Returning from an iOS beta to the current public iOS version requires a factory reset, so you want your current information saved first.
Sign up for the Apple Beta Software Program
After your backup is complete, use the browser on your iPhone to enroll with the Apple Account you use on that device. Apple provides beta software for more than iOS, so you may also see information about beta versions for other Apple operating systems on the program site.
- Open a browser on your iPhone and go to beta.apple.com.
- Scroll down the Apple Beta Software Program page and select Sign Up.
- Select Sign In when prompted.
- Sign in with your Apple Account.
- Read the agreement shown on the page.
- Select Agree to complete enrollment.
Read the agreement instead of skipping past it. Beta releases arrive before the final public software release, so they can behave differently from the version most iPhone users have installed. Apps, battery life, and normal phone features can be affected while you are running a beta.
Once you agree, the site may show details about the latest beta software. Enrollment is complete at that point, but your iPhone will not download a beta until you turn on beta updates in Settings.
Turn on iOS beta updates
The next setting tells your iPhone which beta release it can receive. In the video, the available selection is iOS 27 Public Beta. Choose that option to make the iOS 27 beta appear on the Software Update screen.
- Open Settings.
- Scroll down and select General.
- Select Software Update.
- Wait a moment for the page to load, then select Beta Updates.
- Select iOS 27 Public Beta.
- Select the back button to return to the Software Update page.
After you return to Software Update, your iPhone should display the iOS 27 update. If it does not appear immediately, give the screen a moment to refresh. Your Apple Account must be enrolled in the Apple Beta Software Program for the public beta option to be available.
Download and install the public beta
When the iOS 27 beta is listed, review the update details and make sure you are ready to install it. You can choose Update Now to begin the download and installation process, or choose Update Tonight if you prefer to install it later.
Your iPhone downloads the beta and installs it after you choose an update option. Once installation is complete, you will be running the early iOS 27 public beta rather than waiting for the regular public release.
Keep your completed iCloud backup in mind while testing the beta. If you need to go back to the current public iOS version, the process requires factory resetting the iPhone. That is why backing up before enrollment is the first step, not something to leave until after the beta is installed.
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