On the first day of the WWDC developer conference, Apple released the first developer beta of its new operating system. This year, that means that the first release of iOS 27 outside Cupertino came on June 8, 2026.
The pattern goes like this: Apple releases developer-only betas for the first month or so, and then starts releasing the same build for both developers and public beta testers. Based on historical precedent, we expect the third or fourth beta to be the first one to go out to public beta testers rather than just developers.
If you want to try out the new OS 27 updates and provide feedback, check out our article on how to become a beta tester. It’s easy.
Updated August 10, 2026: The fifth beta of iOS 27 is now available to developers, and should be released to public beta testers in the next day or two.
The big iOS 27 release this year is focused on three main areas:
For a more complete breakdown of all the new features and changes, check out our iOS 27 guide.
Beta 5 brings the following changes, in addition to bug fixes and performance improvements:
You’ll need to be registered as an Apple Developer, but a free developer account will do. You can get one via Xcode or the Apple Developer app in iOS. Here’s how to do it via the Apple Developer app:
Once you have a free developer account, just follow the same instructions as with the public beta:
The first iOS 27 public beta is not available yet but is expected to arrive in July. When it lands, you can follow these steps to test it out even if you’re not a developer:
It may take a few moments after registering for the beta option to appear in Software Update.
If you want to uninstall the iOS 27 beta read: How to remove an iOS beta from your iPhone.
Jason has written about technology for more than 25 years – first in the gaming press, then focusing on enthusiast PCs and general technology. He enjoys learning how complicated technology works and explaining it in a way anyone can understand.
