iPadOS 14 public beta: The ultimate guide

iPadOS 14 Search
iPadOS 14 Search (Image credit: Joseph Keller / iMore)

iPadOS 14 is coming later this year, with a lot of features and upgrades in tow. From Scribble to major app redesigns, there's a lot that need to be tested. Because of this, Apple offers a beta program to public users brave enough to dive into pre-release software and explore what the latest version of iPadOS has to offer.

If you've been feeling a bit of FOMO since the release of the developer betas and you want to test out iPadOS before it launches this fall, you can download the iPadOS 14 public beta profile to a device now and get testing.

With public betas come great risk and responsibility, however. Are you willing to risk running iPadOS on an iPad that may not work with your favorite apps? Do you have a backup in case something goes wrong? What if you change your mind and want to downgrade. There are plenty of questions public beta testers have, and we're here with the answers.

How to install the iPadOS public beta

There are many great new features jam-packed into iPadOS 14, including new app designs, Scribble, Notes app updates, Siri improvements, brand new designs for a lot of Apple's core apps, and more.

If you're hoping to be a beta tester, and have a secondary device you can run it on (we don't recommend testing betas with your daily device — it's just too risky), here's how to get started.

iPadOS FAQ: Everything you need to know!

iPadOS 14 was unveiled at WWDC 2020 and is currently in beta. It won't ship until this fall, but we've already been testing it and running it through its paces. If you're wondering about the new features in iPadOS 14, we've got you covered.

How to downgrade from the iPadOS public beta back to the release version

The iPadOS 14 public beta packs in a ton of awesome new features to test out, that's for sure. If for any reason, you decide that you don't want to beta test it any longer, you can downgrade back to iPadOS 13, but you'll need an archived backup of iPadOS 13 on your Mac or PC before you install iPadOS 14.

How to update from an iPadOS beta to the official release

If you have been running a developer or public beta of iOS, you can officially move to the public release at any point once it's available. Apple may push the update to your device automatically, but you can manually download it if you prefer.

How to send iPadOS public beta feedback

With with the great power of beta testing comes great responsibility. It's our job to let Apple know when we come across bugs, glitches, and issues instead of just complaining about them on our sosh meeds. If you notice an issue, or just want to give Apple some suggestions on ways to improve iPadOS, send feedback!

Other questions about the iPadOS public beta?

Pop your questions below, or chat with one of our awesome moderators in our iPadOS forums!

Updated July 2020: Updated for iPadOS 14 public beta.

Lory Gil

Lory is a renaissance woman, writing news, reviews, and how-to guides for iMore. She also fancies herself a bit of a rock star in her town and spends too much time reading comic books.  If she's not typing away at her keyboard, you can probably find her at Disneyland or watching Star Wars (or both).