Apple releases iOS 26 beta: How to try it now

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.

How can you sign up for the new 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:

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.

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).

This is a breaking story, and we'll provide more updates as they become available.