How to install the iOS 18 public betas
Image: Samar Haddad / The Verge
People with Apple developer accounts have had all the fun with the iOS 18 betas so far, but now that the public betas are out, anyone can try the new features. Setting up the public beta is slightly less involved than setting up the developer beta but just as free. And if you’re looking for help with the iPadOS 18 beta, you’re in the right place: the setup process is the same.
You should understand what you’re getting when you try a beta, though. For one, you won’t get all of the new features at once; many of them will come down the road. Also, the fun of trying features early comes with the potential thrill of stability issues and excessive battery drain. And it’s rare these days, but Apple’s betas can break things or potentially brick your phone, so be sure to back it up before installing the beta.
What new features does iOS 18 have?
The splashiest update coming to iOS 18 is the Apple Intelligence suite of AI features. These include AI photo editing and features that provide writing help. There’s also an on-device “semantic index” that carries out requests with the context of personal data, like knowing to scan your messages, emails, and calendars for details when you vaguely ask, “What time is dinner with Mom?”
Those features won’t be available in beta until this fall, though. Other new features include an overhaul of Photos along with a much more customizable Control Center and homescreen.
Which devices support iOS 18?
With the exception of Apple Intelligence features — which are only supported on the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max as well as iPads with M1 chips and up — iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 will work with these devices:
iPhone
iPhone 15
iPhone 15 Plus
iPhone 15 Pro
iPhone 15 Pro Max
iPhone 14
iPhone 14 Plus
iPhone 14 Pro
iPhone 14 Pro Max
iPhone 13
iPhone 13 Mini
iPhone 13 Pro
iPhone 13 Pro Max
iPhone 12
iPhone 12 Mini
iPhone 12 Pro
iPhone 12 Pro Max
iPhone 11
iPhone 11 Pro
iPhone 11 Pro Max
iPhone XS
iPhone XS Max
iPhone XR
iPhone SE (second-gen or later)
iPad
iPad Pro (M4)
iPad Pro 12.9-inch (third-gen and later)
iPad Pro 11-inch (first-gen and later)
iPad Air (M2)
iPad Air (third-gen and later)
iPad (seventh-gen and later)
iPad Mini (fifth-gen and later)
How to install the iOS 18 public beta
Getting set up to run the beta is a straightforward process. (And as mentioned at the top, all of these steps work for iPadOS 18, too.)
First, make sure you’re on at least iOS / iPadOS 16.4 by going to Settings > General > About and checking your iOS version.
You’ll need to be signed up for the Apple beta program. If you’re not, visit this link and click Sign up — and be sure to use the same Apple ID as the device you want to run the beta on. Once you’ve signed up, you can click on the tab for the OS you want to run a beta of (in this case, 18), and you’re see details on doing so.
Screenshots: Apple
What you can expect to see when trying to download and install iOS beta updates.
Next, you’ll need to start the update. Visit Settings > General > Software Update. If you’re not new to beta updates, you may immediately see the iOS 18 Beta (or iPADOS 18 Public Beta) selection, in which case, you can skip the next two steps. Otherwise…
Look for a new Beta Updates option and tap it. Check for the list of updates for your Apple ID — if you don’t see the one you want, tap the ID and pick Use a different Apple ID.
Choose iOS 18 Public Beta (or iPadOS 18 Public Beta).
Then go back to the previous screen and tap Update Now (or Update Tonight if you’d rather wait).
And you’re done!
Image: Samar Haddad / The Verge
People with Apple developer accounts have had all the fun with the iOS 18 betas so far, but now that the public betas are out, anyone can try the new features. Setting up the public beta is slightly less involved than setting up the developer beta but just as free. And if you’re looking for help with the iPadOS 18 beta, you’re in the right place: the setup process is the same.
You should understand what you’re getting when you try a beta, though. For one, you won’t get all of the new features at once; many of them will come down the road. Also, the fun of trying features early comes with the potential thrill of stability issues and excessive battery drain. And it’s rare these days, but Apple’s betas can break things or potentially brick your phone, so be sure to back it up before installing the beta.
What new features does iOS 18 have?
The splashiest update coming to iOS 18 is the Apple Intelligence suite of AI features. These include AI photo editing and features that provide writing help. There’s also an on-device “semantic index” that carries out requests with the context of personal data, like knowing to scan your messages, emails, and calendars for details when you vaguely ask, “What time is dinner with Mom?”
Those features won’t be available in beta until this fall, though. Other new features include an overhaul of Photos along with a much more customizable Control Center and homescreen.
Which devices support iOS 18?
With the exception of Apple Intelligence features — which are only supported on the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max as well as iPads with M1 chips and up — iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 will work with these devices:
iPhone
iPhone 15
iPhone 15 Plus
iPhone 15 Pro
iPhone 15 Pro Max
iPhone 14
iPhone 14 Plus
iPhone 14 Pro
iPhone 14 Pro Max
iPhone 13
iPhone 13 Mini
iPhone 13 Pro
iPhone 13 Pro Max
iPhone 12
iPhone 12 Mini
iPhone 12 Pro
iPhone 12 Pro Max
iPhone 11
iPhone 11 Pro
iPhone 11 Pro Max
iPhone XS
iPhone XS Max
iPhone XR
iPhone SE (second-gen or later)
iPad
iPad Pro (M4)
iPad Pro 12.9-inch (third-gen and later)
iPad Pro 11-inch (first-gen and later)
iPad Air (M2)
iPad Air (third-gen and later)
iPad (seventh-gen and later)
iPad Mini (fifth-gen and later)
How to install the iOS 18 public beta
Getting set up to run the beta is a straightforward process. (And as mentioned at the top, all of these steps work for iPadOS 18, too.)
First, make sure you’re on at least iOS / iPadOS 16.4 by going to Settings > General > About and checking your iOS version.
You’ll need to be signed up for the Apple beta program. If you’re not, visit this link and click Sign up — and be sure to use the same Apple ID as the device you want to run the beta on. Once you’ve signed up, you can click on the tab for the OS you want to run a beta of (in this case, 18), and you’re see details on doing so.
Screenshots: Apple
What you can expect to see when trying to download and install iOS beta updates.
Next, you’ll need to start the update. Visit Settings > General > Software Update. If you’re not new to beta updates, you may immediately see the iOS 18 Beta (or iPADOS 18 Public Beta) selection, in which case, you can skip the next two steps. Otherwise…
Look for a new Beta Updates option and tap it. Check for the list of updates for your Apple ID — if you don’t see the one you want, tap the ID and pick Use a different Apple ID.
Choose iOS 18 Public Beta (or iPadOS 18 Public Beta).
Then go back to the previous screen and tap Update Now (or Update Tonight if you’d rather wait).
And you’re done!