How to Download iOS 18 Public Beta On Your iPhone?

If you’ve been itching to explore iOS 18’s latest features, here’s your chance. Apple has released the first public beta for this year’s major iPhone software update, letting you get hands-on before the official launch in September. While it will roll out alongside the iPhone 16, early adopters can dive in now without the developer beta’s uncertainties.

Sure, bugs exist, and not everything is polished yet. The much-anticipated “Apple Intelligence” AI features are still a few weeks away. But you’ll find plenty to love, from a customisable home screen and redesigned Control Center to new effects in Messages and functional RCS support for most carriers. While this beta is considered stable enough for daily use, it’s still a beta. 

Back-Up Your iPhone

Feeling adventurous? If you’re set on running the iOS 18 beta, the first step is ensuring you’re not flying too close to the sun. Back up your iPhone before going wild. This step is essential for any iOS update, but even more so with a beta. Apple’s warranty won’t cover a device running beta software, so a backup is your safety net if things go south.

While iCloud offers the easiest backup solution, provided you’ve got enough storage, creating an additional backup on your Mac or PC is a smart move. You won’t be able to restore a backup from iOS 18 on a device running iOS 17, so having a secondary backup ensures you’re not stuck if you need to revert.

Register for the iOS 18 Beta

Once you’re backed up, it’s time to sign up for Apple’s Beta Software Program. If you’ve been part of the beta program before, you’re already halfway there. Otherwise, registering your Apple ID is a quick and painless process.

1. Visit the Apple Beta Software Program website – beta.apple.com
2. Sign in with your Apple ID.
3. Follow the prompts, then agree to the terms and conditions.
4. Once you’re in, proceed to the next section to install the beta.

Installing the iOS 18 Beta

Once registered, downloading the beta is as simple as flicking a switch in your iPhone’s settings. Gone are the days of complicated configuration profiles. Now, your Apple ID will determine your eligibility, and if you’re signed up, the option to download the beta will automatically appear in Software Updates.

Here’s how to get iOS 18 onto your iPhone:

1. Open Settings.
2. Navigate to General.
3. Tap Software Update.
4. Select Beta Updates (this will only show up if your Apple ID is enrolled).
5. Choose iOS 18 Public Beta.
6. Return to the Software Update screen, where the iOS 18 Beta will appear.
7. Tap Update Now to start the download and installation process.

The download and installation can take anywhere from a few minutes to over an hour, depending on your internet speed and device. Once installed, your iPhone will restart and guide you through the typical setup screens.

Staying on the Beta Track

Once the iOS 18 beta is installed, you’ll receive future updates automatically. Just head back to Settings > Software Update to check for the latest versions and install them as you would any regular iOS update.

If you decide you’ve had enough beta testing, you can switch the Beta Updates setting to Off. This will stop future beta updates but won’t revert your phone to iOS 17. To do that, you’ll need to wipe your iPhone and restore it from your backup.

While sticking with the beta can be tempting for a sneak peek at the future of iOS, keep in mind that newer updates generally improve stability. So, unless you encounter a major issue, it’s usually best to stay the course until the final release this fall.