iOS 26 Public Beta is expected to drop imminently. How to download...

iOS 26 Public Beta is expected to drop imminently. How to download and try it

iOS 26 public beta: Release timing, features, and how to join

The iOS 26 logo is seen on a smartphone and in the background.

iOS 26 in beta is almost here Credit: Pavlo Gonchar/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

iOS 26 has the potential to be a pretty cool upgrade, complete with a Liquid Glass design, live translations, and updates to CarPlay and Messages, which we heard about in early June at WWDC 2025. It looks like we're finally about to get access to it.

Apple said iOS 26 public beta would be available in July, according to MacRumors, and Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman posted last week that it would likely be released around today — on Wednesday, July 23. And today, in his Power On newsletter, Gurman said that "iOS 26 should go into the public beta phase this coming week."

It makes sense that we'd get iOS 26 soon. After all, previous iOS upgrades were also released in late June or July — iOS 18 was released on July 15, iOS 17 was released on July 12, iOS 16 was released on July 11, iOS 15 was released on June 30, and iOS 14 was released on July 9, according to MacRumors.

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MacRumors reported that the first public betas released at once will include the iOS 26 public beta and iPadOS 26, macOS 26, tvOS 26, watchOS 26, HomePod software 26, and the AirPods firmware update.

In order to access the update, you'll need to be a member of the Apple Beta Software Program. The program is free and anyone can become a member. Keep in mind, these features will be in beta — meaning they might be a bit buggy. As a member of the Apple Beta Software Program, users can provide feedback to Apple about those bugs.

As a reminder, iOS 26 isn't available for all iPhones. You'll need to have the iPhone SE (second generation and beyond only), the iPhone 11, Pro, and Pro Max, the iPhone 12, Mini, Pro, and Pro Max, the iPhone 13, Mini, Pro, and Pro Max, the iPhone 14, Plus, Pro, and Pro Max, the iPhone 15, Plus, Pro, and Pro Max, the iPhone 16, Plus, Pro, and Pro Max, or the iPhone 16e.

If you're a developer, these features are already available for you. As Mashable previously reported, Apple has a free tier of its Developer Program, which allows some users to access those beta features even earlier.

Christianna Silva is a senior culture reporter covering social platforms and the creator economy, with a focus on the intersection of social media, politics, and the economic systems that govern us. Since joining Mashable in 2021, they have reported extensively on meme creators, content moderation, and the nature of online creation under capitalism.

Before joining Mashable, they worked as an editor at NPR and MTV News, a reporter at Teen Vogue and VICE News, and as a stablehand at a mini-horse farm. You can follow her on Bluesky @christiannaj.bsky.social and Instagram @christianna_j.

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