If you own an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch, you're probably curious about what Apple has in store for iOS 10. If you don't mind buggy beta software and want to take iOS 10 for a test drive, here's how you can install iOS 10 public beta.
Apple recently showed off the next major versions of the operating systems that will be released to the Mac, iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV and Apple Watch users in the fall. We recently reported some of the best new features included in iOS 10.
At WWDC 2016, Apple announced that it would release a public beta of iOS 10 in July and the company has delivered on its promise. After releasing iOS 10 to developers on June 13, the company has issued its first public beta of iOS 10 to non-developers to further test the software before it releases the final build of iOS 10 in September, alongside the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus/Pro.
Apple publicly claims its next-generation mobile OS is its biggest release to date.
"iOS 10 is our biggest release ever, with delightful new ways to express yourself in Messages, a native app for Home automation and beautifully redesigned apps for Music, Maps, and News that are more intuitive and more powerful, making everything you love about your iPhone and iPad even better," said Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of Software Engineering. "iOS 10 adds Siri intelligence into QuickType and Photos, automates your home with the new Home app and opens up Siri, Maps, Phone and Messages to developers — while increasing security and privacy with powerful technologies like Differential Privacy."
If you'd like to take iOS 10 for a test drive on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch, make sure you're using a compatible device that's eligible to receive a software update to iOS 10. Here's a rundown of which devices will receive iOS 10 and are able to install the iOS 10 public beta:
iPad Pro
iPad Air 2
iPad Air
iPad 4th generation
iPad mini 4
iPad mini 3
iPad mini 2
iPod touch 6th generation
iPhone 6s Plus
iPhone 6s
iPhone SE
iPhone 6 Plus
iPhone 6
iPhone 5s
iPhone 5c
iPhone 5
Point your browser to Apple's beta software page, where you'll be able to sign up for the program and enroll your device to test either macOS Sierra (Mac users) or iOS 10 (iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users). Apple makes the process simple and even provides a walkthrough on making an archived backup of your device prior to installing iOS 10, just in case you want to restore your device back to a more stable iOS 9.3.2.
Next, you'll need to download an iOS 10 Beta Software configuration profile. On your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch, head to beta.apple.com/profile, tap the "Download profile" button, choose "iPhone" when the "Choose a Device" prompt appears and tap "Install" located on the upper right of the screen. This will install Apple's iOS Beta Software Profile. You'll be prompted that your device needs to be restarted; tap restart to reboot.
Once your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch finishes rebooting, you'll now have the profile installed and will be able to access iOS 10 via the same OTA that you currently use to access software updates. Go to "Settings" > "General" > "Software Update" and tap download and follow all the prompts.
Once your device has finished installing iOS 10, it will reboot and you'll now have iOS 10 fully installed. Remember, it's best to not install a beta copy of a major software upgrade on a device you use and depend on on a regular basis. The good news is, if you find iOS 10 isn't a system you're ready for yet, you can restore your device.
Have you installed iOS 10 on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch? How has your experience been? Please let us and our readers know in the comments below.
