How to join the Apple beta program and test iOS 18 before anyone else

If we ever wanted to take a look at the new versions of Apple’s operating systems before anyone else, it would certainly be now as WWDC 2024 approaches, with Apple AI and the presentation of iOS 18. With Apple’s beta program, both as developers and through the public beta, we can test all the new systems before they’re released to the public.

Apple Developer Download

What is the Apple Software Beta Program?

As its name suggests, this program allows us to install Apple software that is still in development. It is completely free, giving us the option to sign up to participate in beta versions of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, watchOS, and Software for HomePod (iOS).

It’s important to remember, however, that we will always be testing software that is not yet finished. Therefore, we should always make a backup of all our data and install the software on a device that we don’t depend on in our daily lives. This is especially true if we are testing the earliest versions, since the later versions, thanks to the evolution of their development, are more stable and have fewer errors. This brings us to the two beta versions that Apple offers: the beta for developers and the beta for the public.

Developer’s Beta or Public Beta

Apple offers two programs for testing software. The beta for developers is intended for developers who need their applications to work on the new operating system. The first beta for developers is available immediately after the keynote. You must be members of Apple’s developer program to install developer betas, but you don’t have to pay the annual $99 fee.

The public beta generally is released a few steps after the developer’s beta, which essentially means that the public beta will be a bit more stable. There’s a slightly longer wait until the first version of the public beta arrives, usually around a month, but once both programs are up and running, there are usually only a few days between the release of the developer’s beta and the public version.

When will the betas be released?

The first betas for developers will be available right after the WWDC keynote event, around noon PT on June 10. The first public betas should arrive by the end of June or early July.

How to get a free developer account and access the developer’s beta

1. On an iPhone, download the Apple Developer application from the App Store.
2. Open the app and tap on Account.
3. Select Sign In.
4. Sign in using your regular Apple ID.
5. Once you have signed in to the Developer application, go to Settings > General > Software Update on your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch or Mac, and you’ll see the beta updates as an option. Then, just select the ones you want to install.

How to access the public beta

To sign up for public betas, you will need to go to the Apple Beta Software Program website. Once there, click on Sign Up, log in with your Apple ID, and follow the process. As before, once you’ve completed the sign-up, you’ll go to the Settings app on your Apple device > General > Software Update, and you’ll see the beta updates as an option. Then, you can select the ones you want to install.

Apple Developer Download

As you can see, joining the beta program is very easy. Depending on whether you want to try the first betas or wait for more stable ones, you will opt to access the beta program for developers or the public betas. In either case, you’ll have the new versions of the operating systems before their official release.