Beta software, including previews and seeds, refers to a prerelease version of software that is not public and is still under development. As a developer, you can use beta software to start integrating the latest Apple technologies into your apps so that your apps are up-to-date once the software becomes available to the public.
Download
Apple Beta Software Program Help make the next releases of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS and watchOS our best yet. As a member of the Apple Beta Software Program, you can take part in shaping Apple software by test-driving pre-release versions and letting us know what you think.
Xcode
Beta versions of Xcode include the latest toolset and SDKs for creating apps that run on upcoming releases of an OS. Xcode betas are available to all developers on the download page. Apple Developer Program membership is not required.
Operating Systems
The latest OS releases for Mac, iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple Watch, and Apple TV are available to all developers on the download page. To download, you’ll need to sign in with your Apple ID associated with your Apple Developer Program membership.
Safari
Anyone can download the latest release of Safari Technology Preview to see upcoming web technologies in macOS and iOS.
Back Up
iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch
Before you install beta software, back up your device in iTunes, then archive the backup. You won’t be able to use an iCloud backup or one you didn’t archive if you need to go back to the current version of iOS. To get a shipping release of iOS device, you can simply install the final version of the software you are testing when it appears in Software Update. If you need to re-install a previously released version, you can restore your device from your previously saved iTunes backup.
Mac
Always back up your Mac computer before installing beta software. To get a public release of macOS on your Mac, you can simply install the final version of the software you are testing when it appears in the Mac App Store. If you need to go back to a previously released version, you must first erase the beta software, then re-install the latest public version of macOS, and finally restore from your Time Machine backup.
Install
Beta OS software should be installed only on devices and systems used for development and testing. Attempting to install beta software in an unauthorized manner violates Apple policy and could render your device unusable. Make sure to install on devices and systems that you are prepared to erase if necessary.
Develop and Test
Documentation
Documentation provided by Apple may contain preliminary information about a beta version of an API or technology in development. This information is subject to change, and your software implemented according to this documentation should be tested with final operating system software. For the most up-to-date information, be sure to read the release notes for the version of software that you are using.
Developer Forums
You can also find information or post about issues you encounter with your app’s code on the Apple Developer Forums.
TestFlight
You can use TestFlight in App Store Connect to invite users to test your app running on a beta release of iOS, watchOS, and tvOS. TestFlight makes it simple to invite testers using just their email address and lets beta testers easily provide valuable feedback within the TestFlight app.
For information and best practices on testing with beta software, see Testing your app on beta OS releases.
Providing Feedback
Feedback Assistant
If you encounter any problems with beta software or if you would like to request enhancements to frameworks or API, please submit a report through Feedback Assistant. Make sure to include the build number in the bug title and description so your issue can be processed quickly.
Apple Beta Software Program
The iOS and macOS public betas available through the Apple Beta Software Program come with the built-in Feedback Assistant app. If you’re running the tvOS public beta, you can submit feedback through the Feedback Assistant app on an enrolled iOS device. When you experience an issue or something does not work as expected, send your feedback directly to Apple with Feedback Assistant.
Submitting Apps
Apps that are created using beta versions of Xcode or that are built for beta versions of an OS will not be accepted on the App Store. Apps that you submit should be developed using the most up-to-date version of Xcode from the Mac App Store and should be built for publicly available versions of iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS — except when GM seeds are available. When a GM Seed of Xcode becomes available, use it to develop your app for submission. When GM seeds of iOS, macOS, watchOS, or tvOS become available, build your app for these versions.
Apple's next iteration of iOS probably won't be fully cooked and ready to serve until sometime in September, but you can get in on the fun as early as July if you know what to do.
The public beta for iOS 14 doesn't have an exact release date yet, but Apple has said it's coming sometime this month. When that happens, there are some pretty simple steps you can take to hop on the beta bandwagon. You'll get to test an unfinished, constantly evolving version of the new iOS before the rest of the world.
Before you can do that, though, you'll need to do a few easy things first.
Make sure your device supports iOS 14
First up, you need an iPhone that actually works with the new iOS. The short version is that anything newer than an iPhone 6 will work, but here's the full list of compatible devices:
iPod Touch (7th generation)
iPhone SE (1st and 2nd generation)
iPhone 6s and 6s Plus
iPhone 7 and 7 Plus
iPhone 8 and 8 Plus
iPhone X
iPhone XR
iPhone XS and XS Max
iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max
If you don't have any of those, you're out. Sorry!
Create a backup
You Must Enroll Your Mac To Download Beta Glucan
A beta version of new software could, theoretically, mess up your phone real bad. It's not finished, after all. On the macOS side of things, a beta build a couple of years ago once made a bunch of apps stop working because they weren't compatible. If you want to avoid this or dealing with bugs in general, Apple recommends making a backup of your iPhone as it exists with iOS 13 before you take the iOS 14 plunge. There are multiple ways to do this, but it might be best to do it on a Mac or Windows computer.
Mac users need to connect their phone to their computer via USB. If you're on macOS Catalina, open Finder and find your iPhone in the sidebar. Click 'General' in the Finder window and select the option to back up your iPhone's data to the Mac. Encrypt your data with a password and click the 'Back Up Now' button.
Windows users need to connect their iPhones via USB and open the iTunes app. Hit the iPhone button in the upper left part of the iTunes window, click 'Summary,' and then click 'Back Up Now.' You can also encrypt your data with a password, if you want. Can't hurt!
Enroll your device and install the beta
Alright, get off your computer and pick up that iPhone. Open Safari (this worked better than Chrome for me) and go to Apple's beta website. It's pretty straightforward from here because Apple cleanly spells out exactly what to do each step of the way. Scroll down until you see a 'Get Started' button and click that.
On the next page, scroll down until you see a link to enroll your device in Apple's beta program. That'll take you to a page that tells you to make a backup. If you're a good listener, you've already done that. If not, scroll up just a little bit.
There will also be a button to download a configuration profile. Hit that, wait for the download to finish, and then go into your Settings app. You should see a new button that says 'Profile Downloaded' near the top of the Settings menu. Go to that and install it because that profile will allow you to download the actual beta.
The last step is the easiest. Simply go back to the main Settings menu, hit General, and go to Software Update. If you've correctly installed the configuration profile, you'll be able to download the newest beta build. At the time of writing, this is an iOS 13 beta build, but when the iOS 14 public beta hits, you'll find it here.
You Must Enroll Your Mac To Download Beta Sitosterol
And that's it! Again, you'll have to wait until the beta is actually available before this works as intended. If you do it before then, you'll just get a beta build for the version of iOS you already have, which is not nearly as cool as testing out the future. Just remember to please make a backup and don't get mad at us if you don't and something happens to your phone.
You Must Enroll Your Mac To Download Beta Windows 10
In case you haven't followed the news, iOS 14 packs a handful of neat new features. The App Library screen will organize all your apps into a more digestible view, and you'll be able to add widgets for things like weather onto any home screen tab alongside regular app icons. You'll also be able to tap the back of your phone to perform some commands and finallychange the default browser and email settings. That's change we can get behind.