iOS 26 for iPhone, the public beta is here: how to install it

Apple has released the first public beta of iOS 26, along with preliminary versions of iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Watch software. Unlike developer betas, which are reserved for those enrolled in the Apple Developer Program, the iOS 26 public beta is a more stable build that can be installed by anyone with a compatible device. How to install the iOS 26 beta

Installing the public beta is simple and accessible to everyone. The process is the same for all devices. First, visit the Apple Beta Program website with the iPhone on which you want to install iOS 26.

Click Sign Up (or Sign In, if you've already signed up) and log in with your Apple ID. Once connected, the site will automatically display the installation guide for the software for the device you're using. From there, simply enroll your device in the program, then open the software update menu under Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Update. If everything goes well, iOS 26 Public Beta will appear directly in the list. Just tap and follow the prompts to update. If you still have an iPhone with iOS 16.3 or earlier, you'll need to install the dedicated profile from the link on the page.

While public betas are usually stable enough to install on mainstream devices, we advise against installing them if you can't afford any kind of iPhone malfunction. Public betas are still preliminary software and may still have several bugs. In particular, there's no guarantee that all applications installed on devices have been updated or will work properly.

With that in mind, the first essential step is always to back up your device, either to iCloud or locally. This way, if something goes wrong, all your data will be safe. To back up locally with iOS 18 and macOS 15 or later, simply connect your iPhone to your Mac, select the device from Finder, click General, and then click Back up all iPhone data to Mac.

Features to try right away

After updating to iOS 26, you'll immediately notice the new Liquid Glass design language, which drastically transforms the interface of your iPhone and other devices. The new UI is definitely the first thing you should try, first to get used to it and then to figure out where you stand: among those who praise it, or among those who hate it. Apple describes Liquid Glass as "instantly familiar," but in reality, it takes a bit of effort, at first, to get used to the new look. Aside from the new software design, the features added to iOS 26 are so numerous that Apple couldn't even mention them all during the preview at WWDC in June. Once you're familiar with Liquid Glass, open the camera: you'll notice an easier-to-navigate menu of functions, with additional tools that can be accessed with a swipe. The idea is to remove as many obstructions as possible to make room for the frame. Once you've taken a few pictures, open them in the new Photos app. Here Apple has tidied up last year's redesign, which had displeased many users: separate tabs for Libraries, Collections, and Collections are finally back.

Safari has also received a makeover: there's a new navigation menu, the buttons are more rounded, as per Liquid Glass's design principles, and the settings at the bottom are gone. Instead, there's now a floating options bar that offers access to various functions: it's very similar to the one you'll also find in the Podcasts app and Apple Music.

Finally, one of the most interesting features worth trying out right away is undoubtedly the new Visual Intelligence. Apple has integrated image-based search into the screenshot interface. Once you've captured a screenshot in iOS 26, a new window opens where you can circle a portion of the image to perform a visual search. Apple calls the feature "Highlight to Search," but it's exactly the same mechanism as Android's Circle to Search. But that's not all: you can also directly ask chatGPT to interpret the saved image using a dedicated button.

iPhones compatible with iOS 26

iOS 26 can be installed on virtually all iPhones starting with the iPhone 11, launched in 2019, and later. You can find the complete list below. However, not all features are available on all models, and you need an iPhone 15 Pro or later to enable the artificial intelligence-related features, namely:

• Simultaneous translations on Messages, Facetime and Phone
• Controls with AI functions
• Reminder Organizations and Tips
• Polling suggestions and background generation on Messages
• Order tracking within Wallet (uses AI to automatically extract email tracking codes)
• Next-generation Genmoji and Image Playground
• Visual Intelligence from screenshots (a feature promised for iOS 18 that never arrived).

Below is the complete compatibility list:

• iPhone 16e
• iPhone 16
• iPhone 16 Plus
• iPhone 16 Pro
• iPhone 16 Pro Max
• iPhone 15
• iPhone 15 Plus
• iPhone 15 Pro
• iPhone 15 Pro Max
• iPhone 14
• iPhone 14 Plus
• iPhone 14 Pro
• iPhone 14 Pro Max
• iPhone 13
• iPhone 13 mini
• iPhone 13 Pro
• iPhone 13 Pro Max
• iPhone 12
• iPhone 12 mini
• iPhone 12 Pro
• iPhone 12 Pro Max
• iPhone 11
• iPhone 11 Pro
• iPhone 11 Pro Max
• iPhone SE (Second and Third Generation)