How to download iOS 18 beta — Apple Intelligence, Home Screen customization, and more

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Download and install iOS 18 beta.

iOS 18 Bento
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1. iOS 18 — what's next for iPhone?
2. iPadOS 18 — will Apple finally unleash the power of iPad?
3. macOS 15 — what's new for Mac?
4. Apple Intelligence — what will it be able to do?

The iOS 18 betas are in full flow and you can install the public beta or the developer beta today. iOS 18 brings loads of new features to iPhone including Home Screen customization, a Control Center redesign, and Apple Intelligence (in a future update). The latest iOS comes to all of the best iPhones and you can install it today.

iOS 18 is set to launch later this year alongside the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro, but for those who love testing new software, you don't need to wait until then.

Here's how to install iOS 18 beta on your iPhone.

iOS 18 beta is here and you can install it now

Beta software, also referred to as a preview, seed, or release candidate, is a version of software that’s still under development and not yet released to the public. This software is intended only for installation on development devices registered under your Apple Developer Program membership. Registered development devices can be upgraded to future beta releases and the public version of the software. Attempting to install beta software in an unauthorized manner violates Apple policy and could render your device unusable and necessitate an out-of-warranty repair. Make sure to back up your devices before installing beta software and install only on devices and systems that you’re prepared to erase if necessary.

iOS 18 brings amazing new additions to your iPhone without the need to purchase a new device. One of the biggest software updates we've ever seen, iOS 18 brings some incredible new features and more customization options to the iPhone than ever before. Later this summer, the iOS 18 beta will add Apple Intelligence, one of the most impressive software additions to Apple devices we've ever seen. While you'll have to wait to get your hands on AI, you can try iOS 18 today by downloading the iOS 18 developer beta. 

How to download and install iOS 18 developer beta

iOS 18

(Image credit: Apple)

Installing iOS 18 on your iPhone is incredibly simple. So simple in fact that you can do it in just a few steps. 

  1. Open Settings
  2. Tap General, then Software Update
  3. Enable Beta Updates
  4. Select iOS 18 developer beta 3

That's all there is to it. Your iPhone will now update to the latest operating system. The process may take a little while to download and install, but you can keep going about your day until the installation process begins.

How to download and install iOS 18 public beta 1

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The iOS 18 public beta is now available and works relatively smoothly on the iPhones we've tested. The public beta is still not a finished product so while you can install it on your main devices, we don't necessarily recommend it.

  1. Open Settings
  2. Tap General, then Software Update
  3. Enable Beta Updates
  4. Select iOS 18 public beta 1

The wonders of iOS 18 await

The next generation of iPhone software is incredibly exciting, and you can already get your hands on the latest software features today using the iOS 18 public beta or the developer beta.

It's worth noting that despite the availability of these betas, you should never install an iOS beta on your primary device and we advise against doing so. If you're adamant that you want to give the new features ago, the public beta is the way to go as it is usually more stable than the developer option.

John-Anthony Disotto
John-Anthony Disotto
How To Editor

John-Anthony Disotto is the How To Editor of iMore, ensuring you can get the most from your Apple products and helping fix things when your technology isn’t behaving itself. Living in Scotland, where he worked for Apple as a technician focused on iOS and iPhone repairs at the Genius Bar, John-Anthony has used the Apple ecosystem for over a decade and prides himself in his ability to complete his Apple Watch activity rings. John-Anthony has previously worked in editorial for collectable TCG websites and graduated from The University of Strathclyde where he won the Scottish Student Journalism Award for Website of the Year as Editor-in-Chief of his university paper. He is also an avid film geek, having previously written film reviews and received the Edinburgh International Film Festival Student Critics award in 2019.  John-Anthony also loves to tinker with other non-Apple technology and enjoys playing around with game emulation and Linux on his Steam Deck.

In his spare time, John-Anthony can be found watching any sport under the sun from football to darts, taking the term “Lego house” far too literally as he runs out of space to display any more plastic bricks, or chilling on the couch with his French Bulldog, Kermit. 

5 Comments Comment from the forums
  • Bla1ze
    Don't do it........... unless it's on a spare device. :D
    Reply
  • Just_Me_D
    Bla1ze said:
    Don't do it........... unless it's on a spare device. :D

    You know me. It’s going on my daily driver…:)
    Reply
  • FFR
    Reply
  • Just_Me_D
    It’s actually quite stable thus far, but the real test will be after I’ve wiped it and then set it up as a new device.
    Reply
  • Just_Me_D
    After wiping the device and setting it up as new, the performance of iOS 18 is quite smooth. All of my apps work and I’ve not yet experienced any glitches other than Tapatalk displaying a message for me to not post a reply with more than 10,000 characters. The reply it was referring to was probably no more than 50 characters. Go figure!
    Reply