How Do You Download the iOS 17 Beta? (June 2023)

Apple has now released the first iOS 17 beta to developers and, as a first for the company, is also giving non-developers the beta on their iPhones, with the chance to download it for free. Keep reading to learn how it's done. In past years when Apple announced a major new operating system update, the first wave of betas could officially be downloaded only if you were a paid subscriber to Apple's $99-a-year Developer Program. Public betas become available a few days or weeks after the developer beta is released, to users enrolled in Apple's Beta Software Program. But this year, you don't have to wait for the public beta to be among the first to try iOS 17.

In an unexpected change for 2023, anyone who signs in to Apple's developer account website with an Apple ID can access the developer betas even if they are not a paid member of Apple's Developer Program. This means anyone with an Apple ID can download and install the iOS 17, iPadOS 17 and macOS Sonoma betas without waiting for the public betas to start.

Should I Install the iOS 17 Developer Beta?

Before downloading the update, it is worth noting that Apple does not recommend installing the iOS 17 beta on your main iPhone, so use a secondary device if you have one. This is beta software, which usually means there are bugs and issues that can keep the software from working properly or cause other problems.

With that warning in mind, the steps below show how to get the iOS 17 betas on your iPhone. Note that iOS 17 is compatible with iPhone XS and newer, which means support has been dropped for the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X. Make sure to back up your iOS device before installing the software. Otherwise, if things go wrong, you can't go back to iOS 16.

How Do You Download the iOS 17 Beta? 2023

As of the time of writing, the option to download and install the iOS 17 Developer Beta is also available to users who have previously enrolled in Apple's Beta Software Program, even though the program is officially supposed to be for Public Betas only. This suggests the option is a bug that Apple will probably remove. Until that happens, though, if you have signed up to get the Public Beta, you can skip to step 6.

• Open Safari on your iPhone and visit developer.apple.com.
• Tap the menu icon in the top left corner of the page, then tap Account.
• Under "Sign In to Apple Developer," enter and submit your Apple ID and password using the arrow buttons, then enter the two-factor authentication code sent to your devices.
• Tap the top left menu icon again, then tap Account.
• Accept the legal terms of the Apple Developer Agreement by scrolling down the page, checking the box and tapping Agree.
• Make sure your iPhone is running iOS 16.4 or later by going to Settings -> General -> Software Update. If it is, and you just completed steps 1-5 to register a developer account, restart your iPhone. If not, download and install the latest update on your device, then wait for it to restart.
• Now go back to Settings -> General -> Software Update.
• Tap Beta Updates. If you don't see the option, try turning off Download iOS Updates ( Automatic Updates -> Download iOS Updates ), then tap Back and it should appear.
• Select iOS 17 Developer Beta from the list, then tap Back.
• Wait for the Software Update screen to check Apple's servers. When iOS 17 Developer Beta appears, tap Download and Install, then follow the instructions and wait for the installation to finish.

What Are the iOS 17 Features? 2023

‌iOS 17‌ is a big update that offers a customized look for every person who calls and lets the caller customize how they appear. With StandBy, an iPhone placed horizontally turns into a small hub that displays information such as the calendar, clock, home controls and more, and Live Activities can also be shown full screen.

Widgets on the Home Screen are interactive, so you can do things like check off an item on a to-do list or turn off the lights without having to open an app. AirDrop has been improved and there is a NameDrop function for quickly sharing contacts, and you can also hold two iPhones together to start a SharePlay session. SharePlay now works with CarPlay, so passengers can play their music in the car too.

Other new features include a journaling app that will be released later this year, AirPlay in select hotel rooms, improvements to AirPods Pro 2 thanks to the new Adaptive Audio feature, offline Maps, Siri that doesn't require the "Hey" activation, and search and call improvements.

iOS 17 is expected to be officially released in the fall.