With the release of the iOS 10 public beta, many users are thinking about putting the new operating system on their devices to try out all of the new features. We've already taken a look at whether it's a good idea to install the iOS 10 public beta considering potential bugs and other issues that can interfere with your daily usage, but if you've decided to go ahead with installing it, we've put together this how-to to show you the steps you need to take.


First, you'll need to prepare your iOS device for the update, and the first step is backing things up in case you run into a problem. A full backup to iTunes is recommended, and it should be encrypted if you wish to preserve your Health and Activity data. Archiving the backup is also a good idea to make sure it remains available should you need to roll back from iOS 10.

Next, you'll need to install a profile on your device that will give you access to the beta software. It's accessible through Apple's Beta Software Program website, and once you've registered there you'll need to log in from the device you want to install the profile on.

If you've previously been enrolled in an iOS public beta or developer program, you may already have profiles installed on your device for testing beta software, and these should be removed through the Settings app before trying to install the new iOS 10 profile. It's possible you may also have a previous pending beta update such as a iOS 9.3.3 beta already downloaded to your device but not yet installed, and you'll want to remove that in Settings -> General -> Storage & iCloud Usage -> Manage Storage (Storage section) before proceeding.

Once the profile is installed and your device restarts, head to Software Update in Settings as with any other iOS update, and you should see iOS 10 Public Beta 1 available to install.

As you explore the public beta, you can use the included Feedback app to report bugs to Apple, and make sure to check out our iOS 10 forum to discuss your experiences with others and find answers to your questions.

Related Forum: iOS 10

Top Rated Comments

miknos Avatar
122 months ago
If you don't know how to install a beta, you shouldn't be using it in the first place.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Phogro Avatar
122 months ago
Hopefully this is shortly followed by a how do I downgrade to 9.3 tutorial, because you know those questions are coming. ;)
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jacjustjac Avatar
122 months ago
If you don't know how to install a beta, you shouldn't be using it in the first place.
Why shouldn't they? Everybody has to figure it out for the first time. Many educated people (who are aware of the risks) will want to test the beta and will eventually figure it out another way, but this video is very good for them. I think it's about as safe as my non-techie cousin following an iFixit repair guide to replace his 2011 MacBook Pro hard drive. And I think it's awesome watching people experiment with technology the way I used to as a kid (I always say to myself, better late than never). Who are you to judge who gets to play with betas, especially when I know some kids who don't even keep contacts on their phone, they just use FB Messenger. They aren't savvy, they just got bored of their phones standard Messages.app and FBM syncs conversations across all devices, not just Apple. Their playing with the iOS 10 beta might just be what keeps them from switching over to Android.
Bottom line is, many people use their phones just as toys, games, snapchat machines. If they have to restart their phone from scratch, they won't mind. They've all dropped their phones in water and never backed up to iCloud because they had over 5GB. People are so used to losing their photos that they just trust Facebook and Google to keep their stuff safe in the event of a phone meltdown. So if they use the beta, and their crash reports help improve iOS 10, that's better for all of us.
Despite the fact that I've known how to install a beta since iPhoneOS betas existed, I won't. But I encourage as many people (who are informed of the risks, and MacRumors is one of the few sites who have created a clear, concise video explaining exactly that) as possible to use the public beta, because I'm dying for a stable xx.0 iOS release!
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Larry The L Avatar
122 months ago
If you don't know how to install a beta, you shouldn't be using it in the first place.
Huh?? That's absurd. Everyone who beta tests has had to start with the first one they tested. And they had to learn how to install it. Please educate us as to how you think a first time beta tester should know how to install the first beta they test since they have never done it before.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
skinned66 Avatar
122 months ago
Deleting the stocks and watch apps felt good.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
RedGala Avatar
122 months ago
Thankfully it's been running smoothly. Battery and performance and all.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Apple Shopping Event 2025

Apple Announces 2025 Black Friday Event, Here's What You Can Get

Thursday November 20, 2025 6:28 am PST by
Apple's annual four-day Black Friday through Cyber Monday shopping event is returning on Friday, November 28 through Monday, December 1 in many countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, Thailand, and others. During the shopping event, customers can get an Apple gift card with...
iOS 26

iOS 26.2 Adds These New Features to Your iPhone

Thursday November 20, 2025 10:50 am PST by
iOS 26.2 is currently in beta testing. The upcoming update includes a handful of new features and changes on the iPhone, including a new Liquid Glass slider for the Lock Screen's clock, offline lyrics for Apple Music, and more. In a recent press release, Apple confirmed that iOS 26.2 will be released to all users in December, but it did not provide a specific release date. Keep reading...
hikawa phone grip stand apple%402x

Apple Launches Second Limited-Edition iPhone Accessory in a Month

Friday November 21, 2025 3:53 am PST by
Apple has begun selling the Hikawa Phone Grip and Stand, a new limited-edition iPhone accessory designed with accessibility in mind. Designed by LA-based Bailey Hikawa to celebrate the 40th anniversary of accessibility at Apple, the grip uses magnets to securely snap onto any iPhone with MagSafe. Apple says it can be removed with ease, and doubles as a stand with two different viewing...
iPhone 17 Pro Cosmic Orange

10 Reasons to Wait for Next Year's iPhone 18 Pro

Wednesday November 19, 2025 4:00 am PST by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models at the same time, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 18 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. One thing worth...
ipad black friday 2025

The Best Early Black Friday iPad Deals

Thursday November 20, 2025 10:20 am PST by
Black Friday is just over a week away, and iPad deals have finally started to flood in at retailers like Amazon and Best Buy. Below we're tracking discounts on every current generation iPad, including lowest-ever prices on M3 iPad Air and M5 iPad Pro, plus steep markdowns on iPad and iPad mini. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a ...
ipad mini 7 feature red and blue

iPad Mini 8: Four Major New Features to Expect

Wednesday November 19, 2025 7:50 am PST by
Apple's eighth-generation iPad mini is highly likely to arrive next year, offering a significant refresh of the device with at least four major new features. OLED Display The next-generation version of the iPad mini could feature an OLED display, as part of Apple's plan to expand the display technology across many more of its devices. Apple's first OLED device was the Apple Watch in 2015, ...
watchos 26 workout app

Apple Watch Users Claim Workout App Is Now Worse in Every Way

Thursday November 20, 2025 7:01 am PST by
Apple Watch owners have been voicing their frustration online over changes to the Workout app that Apple introduced in watchOS 26, with many finding the redesigned interface makes starting exercises difficult and exasperating. When Apple launched watchOS 26 in September, the Workout app went from large, easily tapped workout tiles to a scrolling, corner-button interface. Instead of tapping a ...
maxresdefault

The MacRumors Show: iPhone 18 Pro Looks Like a Huge Upgrade

Friday November 21, 2025 9:10 am PST by
On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we talk through all of the new features and improvements expected to come to next year's iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models. Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel for more videos Apple's next-generation iPhones are less than ten months away and we already have a good idea about what to expect based on corroborated leaks, rumors,...
Apple Foldable Thumb

Foldable iPhone to Debut These Two Breakthrough Features

Wednesday November 19, 2025 7:26 am PST by
Apple's first foldable iPhone is expected to launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models in fall 2026, and it's shaping up to include two standout features that could set it apart from the competition. The book-style foldable will reportedly feature an industry-first 24-megapixel under-display camera built into the inner display, according to a recent JP Morgan equity research report. That...