How to install the iOS 11 public beta

Try out the iOS 11 public beta right now

Can’t wait until this fall to update your iPhone or iPad? Here’s how you can get iOS 11 today.

by Chris Parker

2:30

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If you are ready to jump on the iOS 11 train right now instead of waiting for its official release this fall, then you can get onboard today. Apple has released the iOS 11 public beta, which anyone with an Apple ID can install for free.

Before showing you how to do just that, I must start with a word of caution: as with any beta software, iOS 11 is not a finished product. There will be bugs and odd behaviors. Some of your apps might not work right. There may be some freezes and crashes along the way. Apple puts out betas of iOS to get feedback from users so it can iron out the kinks before releasing the final version. So, if you aren’t up for the occasional hiccup, don’t install it. If you must, it would be best to install it on an old iPad you have lying around rather than your iPhone that you rely on everyday. Don’t be tempted to install the iOS 11 public beta on your primary device.

With that disclaimer out of the way, let’s get into how you can update to the iOS 11.

Prepare your device

First, you will need to sign up for Apple’s beta program, if you haven’t already. You can sign up here. The process requires nothing more than your Apple ID and takes only a few minutes.

Next, back up your device. Seriously, do not skip this step. Take the time to create a backup of your device in case something goes sideways with your device and the beta — you’ll want a recent backup to return to. Apple recommends connecting it to iTunes and creating a local backup. Apple also suggests archiving the backup using iTunes. Doing so ensures that you have a good backup stored locally, instead of one floating around in iCloud. Follow Apple’s instructions here.

Enroll your device

With your device freshly backed up, open Safari and head to Apple’s public beta page. Sign in with your Apple ID and then tap the iOS tab. Scroll down and tap the enroll your iOS device link and then tap the Download profile button. Safari will ask to launch the Settings app and ask you to install the beta software profile. Tap Install, enter your passcode and then restart your device when asked.

Download and install the public beta

After your device has restarted and the software profile has been installed, you can now install the iOS 11 beta. Open the Settings app and go to General > Software Update. Tap the Download and Install button if the beta doesn’t automatically begin installing. After the download is complete, tap Install Now to install it. It’ll take a bit of time to download and install, but then you’ll be ready to discover the new features of iOS 11.

And should you discover a bug with the beta, you can help Apple polish the final version of iOS 11 by reporting any odd behaviors and crashes using the new Feedback Assistant app that gets installed along with the beta. Look for its purple icon.

SOURCE:https://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-install-the-ios-11-public-beta/