On Thursday, July 24, Apple officially opened the public beta for the hotly anticipated iOS 26 update, along with beta programs for macOS Tahoe, iPadOS, tvOS, and watchOS. Interested users with compatible iPhones and Apple devices can sign up to try the new operating systems at the Apple Beta Software Program website.
When Apple hosted its annual Worldwide Developers Conference on June 9, the company revealed that one of its biggest redesigns in years would be arriving in the fall with iOS 26. Dubbed Liquid Glass, the new visual design language incorporates transparent elements and new animations for a more modern aesthetic. Liquid Glass will be arriving with the official launch of iOS 26, iPadOS, and macOS Tahoe later this year, but now that the public beta is live, early adopters don’t need to wait.
We have a pretty good idea of what to expect from the iOS 26 beta. Previously, Apple made the beta available to users with a developer account, and Mashable has reported previously on some of the initial changes made so far. Those updates include tweaks to the Control Center, which proved polarizing among early testers. Mashable reporters will be testing iOS 26 throughout the year. We’ll share more features and updates as we find them.
iOS 26 lets you personalize your display in new ways.
Credit: Apple
How to sign up for iOS 26 and the other public betas
First, head to the Apple beta website and sign into your Apple account. If you’ve never signed up for a beta before, you’ll also need to enroll your device. Once that’s done, Apple says, “You will get a notification when a new beta is available and can install it from Software Update on your iOS device.” (On your iPhone, follow this path: Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates.)
Remember: We recommend backing up your devices before trying out a new beta. Beta versions of software can have bugs. In fact, that’s kind of the point — to find problems before the wide release.
Here’s how Apple describes iOS 26:
Mashable Light Speed
iOS 26 is a major update that helps you do more with your iPhone, with a new yet instantly familiar design that delivers a more expressive and seamless experience, Apple Intelligence features integrated across the operating system, and meaningful improvements to the things you do every day.
The top features to try after downloading iOS 26
Liquid Glass is the most obvious feature to explore once you’ve equipped your phone with the iOS 26 preview. In addition to the transparent elements and animations, you can also adjust the transparency settings and personalize the look of app icons on your phone.
If you use Apple Music, you should also check out the new playlist folders, which brings some much-needed organization to the app. That’s one of the lesser-known iOS 26 features we’re most excited about.
The new mobile OS also debuts some new Apple Intelligence features, including:
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Live translation in Messages, FaceTime, and Phone
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Shortcuts actions with AI powers
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Reminders, suggestions, and organization powered by Apple Intelligence
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AI-generated news summaries
Unfortunately, the new AI features won’t be available to everyone. To support Apple Intelligence, you need to have one of these devices: “iPhone 16 models, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPad mini (A17 Pro), and iPad and Mac models with M1 and later. You also need to enable Apple Intelligence and use a supported language.
Which iPhones support the iOS 26 beta?
To participate in the iOS 26 beta, you’ll need an iPhone 11 or newer device (second-generation and later iPhone SE devices are also eligible).
Is iOS 26 free?
Yes, the public beta for iOS 26 is free to try. The full update will be available as a free upgrade in the fall, although the exact launch date hasn’t been announced yet.
UPDATE: Jul. 24, 2025, 4:06 p.m. EDT This story has been updated with additional information about the iOS 26 beta.
