How-To

How to Install the iOS 17 Public Beta on Your iPhone

By Adam Davidson

Published August 4, 2023

If you want to try iOS 17 early, you can install a beta version. Here’s how to install the iOS 17 public beta on your iPhone.

Installing a new version of iOS on your iPhone can almost feel like getting a new phone. With an updated look and additional features, installing a new version of iOS is about as exciting as it gets without actually buying a new iPhone.

If you can’t wait until the official release of iOS 17, you can give the new OS a try by installing the public beta. While this comes with some risk, it does allow you to try out all the new features of iOS 17 without having to wait.

If you want to know more, then here’s how to install the iOS 17 public beta on your iPhone.

What is the iOS 17 Public Beta?

Before Apple releases a new operating system to the masses, it needs to make sure that irons out most of the bugs. It does this by releasing pre-release versions of the operating systems that users can test. They can then report back on any issues that they find, which are fixed before the OS is officially released to the public.

Anyone can sign up for the Apple Beta Software Program to download and install the beta versions of iOS 17. This is different from the developer beta, which is released earlier to allow developers to build apps that are compatible with the new OS. The developer beta is only available to users with an Apple developer account.

Is it Safe to Install the iOS 17 Public Beta?

There are some clear risks involved with installing the iOS 17 public beta. Since this is not finished software, things can go wrong. If your iPhone is rendered unusable by an error in the beta, it is possible to reinstall from a previous backup, but you’ll lose any data that’s changed since that backup.

In addition, since you’re signed in to your iCloud account, something that goes wrong on your iPhone could impact your other devices. For example, if for some reason your iPhone deletes some of your photos or videos, these may be removed from your iCloud account, so you’ll lose them across all your devices.

One other important thing to consider is that some apps may not yet work with the new OS. If there are any apps that you rely on and can’t access any other way, then it might be worth waiting for the official release. This is particularly true of banking apps, which are often broken by public betas.

If you can’t access your banking any other way, then the public beta may not be for you. While banking apps are usually highly impacted by beta releases, most banking apps do appear to be working with the iOS 17 public beta.

The key takeaway is that if you install the iOS 17 public beta, you’re doing so at your own risk.

Which iPhones Support the iOS 17 Public Beta?

Any iPhone that is compatible with iOS 17 should be able to install and run the iOS 17 public beta. The list is as follows:

• iPhone 14 Pro Max
• iPhone 14 Pro
• iPhone 14 Plus
• iPhone 14
• iPhone 13 Pro Max
• iPhone 13 Pro
• iPhone 13
• iPhone 13 mini
• iPhone 12 Pro Max
• iPhone 12 Pro
• iPhone 12
• iPhone 12 mini
• iPhone 11 Pro Max
• iPhone 11 Pro
• iPhone 11
• iPhone XS Max
• iPhone XS
• iPhone XR
• iPhone SE 2^nd gen or later

What New Features Are Included in iOS 17?

One reason to install the iOS 17 public beta is to try out the new features that are included in the OS. Some of the key features include:

• StandBy: lets you use your iPhone as a smart display when charging.
• Live Voicemail: live text of the message, so you can decide whether to pick up.
• Journal: a new app to let you jot down thoughts.
• NameDrop: a quick way to share contact details by tapping iPhones.
• State of Mind: mood tracking through the Health
• Siri: just say ‘Siri’ instead of ‘Hey Siri’ to activate Siri.
• Contact Cards: create a custom image that people will see when you call.
• Messages: updates including automatic check in, transcribed audio messages, and sticker creation.

How to Install the iOS 17 Public Beta

If you’ve read the section above on the risks of installing the iOS 17 public beta, and still want to go ahead, then you’ll need to sign up for the public beta program. You can then install the latest public beta directly from your iPhone.

To install the iOS17 public beta:

1. Make sure you have taken a full backup for your iPhone in case anything goes wrong.
2. Visit the Apple Beta Software Program page and sign up with your Apple ID.
3. Once you’re signed up, open the Settings app on your iPhone.
4. Tap General.
   
5. Select Software Update.
   
6. Tap Beta Updates.
   
7. Select iOS 17 Public Beta.
   
8. Go back a page and you should see the latest version of the iOS 17 public beta.
9. Tap Download and Install to install the beta on your iPhone.
10. Once installed, follow the on-screen instructions to get iOS 17 set up and then you’re good to go.

Get More From Your iPhone

Learning how to install the iOS 17 public beta on your iPhone allows you to try out all of the new features before most other people get their hands on them.

It does come with some risk, however, so you should think carefully before you install the public beta on your iPhone. You should ensure you back up your iPhone first if you do decide to go ahead.

There are plenty of other ways that you can get more out of your iPhone. You can learn how to add a website to your iPhone home screen if there’s a site you access regularly. If there are people you call a lot, you’ll want to know how to add contacts to your favorites on your iPhone.

And if you can’t even find your iPhone in the first place, then you’ll want to know how to use Siri to find your iPhone.