X
search

How to Install the iOS 17 Developer Beta

Pictured: Alexander Maxham
By Alexander Maxham
June 06, 2023
Featured image for How to Install the iOS 17 Developer Beta

Apple announced iOS 17 at WWDC on June 5, and now the first developer beta is upon us. Many of us that want to live on the bleeding edge of software, so you’ll want to install the developer beta. Which is now available.

Apple typically runs two tracks of betas for new versions of software. There’s the Developer Beta and then the Public Beta. Usually, the Developer Beta starts about a month earlier, with the Public Beta coming in July. The Public Beta is basically just the second beta, so it’s a bit more stable versus the developer beta. So it’s important to keep that in mind here.

Advertisement
Advertisement

  • Editor’s Note: It’s our duty to stress to you that beta’s are typically not very stable. So before you opt to install the iOS 17 Developer Beta, you’re going to want to think about it. Typically, in these beta’s, there’s lots of bugs, battery life is typically worse, etc. So it’s wise not to install this on your main device.

How to install the iOS 17 Developer Beta

To get started, you’ll want to head into the Settings app on your iPhone.

Now tap on General, and Software Update.

From here, tap on the “Beta Updates” option.
IMG 0295

On this screen, you’ll be able to choose from a few different Beta options that are available. That includes iOS 17 Developer Beta, iOS 16 Public Beta and iOS 16 Developer Beta. Since Apple is still actively working on iOS 16 (specifically, iOS 16.6), you can join that beta.

You’ll want to select “iOS 17 Developer Beta”. Then tap on “Back”.

Next, you should see an update for iOS 17. On my iPhone 14 Pro, it came in at a little over 3GB in size. So this will take a while to download and install onto your phone.

IMG 0294

It’ll take a while to install and boot back up. But once it does, you’ll be on iOS 17.

What devices are compatible with iOS 17?

Apple did drop compatibility with a few older iPhones, with the release of iOS 17 this year. As rumored, it is indeed the iPhone 8, 8 Plus and X. Here’s the full list of iPhones that are supported with iOS 17.

  • iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd gen)
  • iPhone XS and XS Max
  • iPhone XR
  • iPhone 11
  • iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max
  • iPhone 12 and 12 mini
  • iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max
  • iPhone 13 and 13 mini
  • iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max
  • iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max

If you have any of those devices, you’ll be able to install the iOS 17 Developer Beta.