iOS 26, iPadOS 26 beta now available for public testers, here's how to install it on your Apple device

Apple iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 are expected to released to all users as free update in September or before the end of October.

Last month, Apple offered a sneak peek at the company's latest software, iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS 26 Tahoe for iPhone, iPad and Mac devices.

Soon after the announcement in June, it offered exclusive access for registered developers to try out the new software and sought feedback.

Now, as promised, Apple has opened access to the public beta version. Interested Apple device owners can experience the latest software first-hand before the official launch, which is scheduled for release only in September or early October.

The beta software can be downloaded on your Apple device by following the procedure mentioned below:

It should be noted that beta software will contain bugs and may sometimes ruin the user experience. So, proceed at your own risk. Or, it is better to install the beta firmware on a secondary device.

Here's how to install iOS 26 Beta on iPhone:

Step 1: Go to Settings >> General >> Software update >> Turn on Beta updates.

Here's how to install iPadOS 26 Beta on iPad:

Step 1: Go to Settings >> General >> Software update >> Turn on Beta updates.

Key features you should know about iOS 26:

All the upcoming software for its products— iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS and others— will come with a 26 suffix. With this, Apple wants to align the software versions with the year.

Though the year is 2025, the software name will have 26 as a suffix, as the software usually gets officially released late in the year, around September and gets upgraded next year. In the intervening months, Apple rolls out multiple updates.

Liquid Glass View UI: It takes inspiration from visionOS. The glass-like translucent UI promises to create a lively experience that makes using iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV even more delightful.

The new UI design extends to all aspects of software from the smallest elements users interact with every day — such as buttons, switches, sliders, text, and media controls — to larger elements, including tab bars and sidebars for moving through apps. It also extends to Lock Screen, Home Screen, notifications, Control Center, and more.

Apple Intelligence adds more features: Apple Intelligence-powered live translation capabilities are finally coming to Messages, FaceTime, and Phone to help users communicate across languages, translating both text and audio.

Initially, it will support up to nine languages, including English (US & UK), Spanish, German, Chinese, French, Italian, Korean and more.

Visual Intelligence gets better: The new gen AI feature allows users to scan the website on the phone’s screen and get summaries, or add an event to the calendar. It will be similar to Google's Gemini AI-powered Circle to Search feature we see on Android phones.

Genmoji and emoji features get better: Genmoji and Image Playground apps, which can churn out custom emojis and photos, will be able to allow users to mix their favourite emoji, Genmoji, and descriptions together to create something new.

Apple iPadOS 26.

Key features you should know about iPadOS 26:

Besides all the iOS 26 features, iPadOS 26 will bring special new exclusive features to iPads.

New Windowing UI: This feature allows users to resize their favourite apps as per their needs on the Home Screen. It also offers the option to place or pin them anywhere on the screen for easy access.

Improved File app: This allows users to see more of their document details in resizable columns and collapsible folders. To make folders easier to identify at a glance, Files also offers folder customisation options that include custom colours, icons, and emojis that sync across devices.

Math Notes: The new iPadOS 26 introduces new 3D graphing capabilities in Math Notes, allowing users to write an equation with three variables and create a graph in three dimensions.

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