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How to Install iOS 26 Public Beta 6 on Your iPhone

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Apr 12, 2001
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Apple has made available the sixth public beta of iOS 26, bringing a more stable version of the software to a wider audience following lengthy testing by developers. Keep reading to learn how to prepare your device for the beta software and how to install it.

Apple-WWDC25-iOS-26-hero-250609.jpg

Signing up to get the ‌iOS 26 or ‌iPadOS 26 public beta is simple, and can be done by enrolling an iPhone or iPad in Apple's free Apple Beta Software Program. The steps you need to complete to install the software on your device are provided towards the end of this article, but before you jump ahead, here are a few things worth considering.

Is My iPhone Compatible With iOS 26?

iOS 26 is compatible with the iPhone 11 series and newer. In other words, the following models are supported:
  • 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 (2nd generation and later)Note that this compatibility list does not mean that all iOS 26 features will work with the above models. Several of the update's features are exclusive to iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 models, since they rely on Apple Intelligence. You can learn more about them here. Note that iOS 26 will come pre-installed on new iPhone 17 models when they launch in September 2025.
Should I Install iOS 26 Public Beta?

Great question! Before downloading the update, it's worth noting that Apple does not recommend installing iOS 26 beta updates on your main iPhone, so if you have a secondary device, use that. This is beta software, which means there are often bugs and issues that pop up that can prevent software from working properly or cause other problems. Apple still has fixes to make before the final release later this month.

Make an Archived Backup of Your Device First

Before installing the beta, make sure to back up your iOS device before installing the software using the following method, otherwise you won't be able to revert back to iOS 18 if things go wrong.
  1. Plug your iPhone into your Mac using the supplied cable.
  2. Allow the accessory to connect by clicking Allow in the dialog prompt.
  3. Open a Finder window by clicking the Finder icon in the Dock.
  4. Click your iOS device's name in the sidebar.
    archived-backup2.jpg

    If this is the first time connecting your device to your Mac, click Trust in the Finder window.
    archived-backup1.jpg

    Tap Trust on your device when prompted, then enter your passcode to confirm.
  5. In the General tab, click the circle next to where it says Back up all of the data on your iPad to this Mac.
  6. If you want to encrypt the backup, check the box next to Encrypt local backup, then enter a password to protect your data.
  7. If you don't want to create an encrypted backup, or you've already set up encrypted backups, click Back Up Now.
    archived-backup3.jpg
When the backup is finished, you can find the date and time of the last backup in the General tab, just above the Manage Backups button. Remember that this backup will not be overwritten when you manually or automatically back up your iPhone in the future, so you can restore it at any time by using the Restore Backup... option in the same Finder screen.

How to Download iOS 26 Public Beta

Downloading and install the iOS 26 Public Beta is very straightforward. Simply follow these steps:
  1. Head over to Apple's Beta Software Program website and sign up using your Apple Account credentials.
    apple-public-beta-program.jpg

    Now go to Settings ➝ General ➝ Software Update on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Beta Updates. If you don't see the option, try switching off Download iOS Updates (Automatic Updates ➝ Download iOS Updates), then tap Back and it should appear.
  3. Select iOS 26 Public Beta in the list, then tap Back.
    Wait for the Software Update screen to check Apple's servers. When the iOS 26 Public Beta appears, tap Download and Install, then follow the instructions and wait for installation to complete.
    install-ios-26-public-beta.jpg
iOS 26 Features

iOS 26 introduces a striking system-wide redesign built around Liquid Glass, a translucent material that reflects and refracts ambient content and dynamically responds to user input. The new aesthetic applies across the Lock Screen, Home Screen, toolbar controls, navigation elements, app icons, and widgets.

The update also brings new Apple Intelligence features. With Live Translation available in Messages, FaceTime, and Phone, conversations across languages are now seamless and entirely on-device to ensure privacy. New Visual Intelligence capabilities mean you can ask questions about screen content. There are also smarter Shortcuts with intelligent actions to make automation easier.

Communication apps gain smart upgrades too. The revamped Phone app now combines Favorites, Recents, and Voicemails in one view, adds Call Screening, and includes a clever Hold Assist feature. Messages gains filtered inboxes for unknown senders, typing indicators in group chats, custom backgrounds and polls, and Apple Cash transfers.

CarPlay gets a visual refresh aligned with the Liquid Glass design and now includes compact call notifications, tappable Message reactions, pinned co... Click here to read rest of article

Article Link: How to Install iOS 26 Public Beta 6 on Your iPhone
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/how-to/install-ios-26-public-beta-6-iphone/
Last edited:
Apple_Robert said:
I have the previous PB installed and turned off updates so that I will get off the beta train with the official release.

If you don't have the beta installed, you might as well wait.
Click to expand...
If you’re already on the beta please do update, you will be able to get off the beta when the RC comes out on the day of the iPhone event
 
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With the way it's going, iOS 26 will be in beta until 26.1, at minimum. Be sure that is what you want if you hop on the train.

No thank you. I don't use beta software.
 
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  • Disagree
Reactions: Scotty_Trees and GIZBUG
AusMness said:
PSA: for anyone not already using the beta, it probably isn’t worth it this late in the cycle to go to and from a beta. Puts a lot of extra strain on that device for only a week of extra use.
Click to expand...
Honest question: what is the "a lot of extra strain" a beta puts on the device? Makes it sound like the public beta will cause my iPhone to tear a ligament.
 
  • Haha
Reactions: CosmicRadiation and omenatarhuri
Functionally the latest beta is good and also battery life is fine.

But there still is a lot of work in the visual department. Lots of UI inconsistencies and also lagging animations skipping frames with lockscreen and app drawer while swiping homescreens. This is especially very noticeable on my iPad Pro
 
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Reactions: CosmicRadiation, Scotty_Trees and Rogifan
I said this in the iOS 26 forum, the Liquid Glass Apple showed off in the WWDC developer sessions feels like vaporware. Sadly it seems Liquid Glass in its current sorry state is what will ship to customers. The first impressions of it will definitely turn people off.

Here’s an example from the current public beta where the Safari address bar renders differently and I have no idea why. Is this a bug or is Liquid Glass so complicated and fussy that it gets confused on what UI it should render?
IMG_1419.jpeg
IMG_1421.jpeg
 
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KES3059A3 said:
Honest question: what is the "a lot of extra strain" a beta puts on the device? Makes it sound like the public beta will cause my iPhone to tear a ligament.
Click to expand...
Installing both the beta and the RC returning from beta involves reinstalling the bulk of the OS, and the beta itself has lots of extra beta logging and indexing it needs to do which is hard on the battery.
 
Good article. But waitied till now without installing developer betas. Will wait for a few more weeks and install the final version on my devices.
 
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AusMness said:
PSA: for anyone not already using the beta, it probably isn’t worth it this late in the cycle to go to and from a beta. Puts a lot of extra strain on that device for only a week of extra use.
Click to expand...
Your phone would go through the same strain of upgrading from 18 to 26 either way though; I would be worried if running the beta for a week would be that hard on the phone at this point?
 
I’m running the latest public beta now on my 16PM with zero issues. I’ve been using it all morning for calls, messages, various home having apps. You name it. No issues.

I actually like the UI style and it feels like an upgrade to me. I pan Apple a lot lately here so I’m not a fanboi just toeing the line. I’m pretty happy with it.
 
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I used to install stuff like this because you could just wipe and restore.

But with the introduction of Apple Wallet and payment cards, it's just a PITA to go through all that setup each and every time.

My bank insists on emailing me, for example. I know the details live in the Apple Silicon Secure Enclave, for good reasons, but I do kinda wish they were just backed-up with everything else, so they could be restored easily. Having to go through effectively first-time setup each time isn't user-friendly.
 
Once I discovered that I didn't have to use the messed-up version of calls, messages, favorites and keypads and could instead use the classic layout, I was a happy camper. The beta has been no problem for me.
 
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