Should You Install Developer Betas on Your Apple Devices?

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Earlier this month, Apple finally revealed all the new software updates it has in store for us this year, and the best part for Apple fans is that these updates are some of the best we’ve seen in recent years.

Apple released the first developer betas of iOS 18 and its other software updates right after the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) keynote, and now the second betas arrived earlier today.

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That means anyone with the right devices can download iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia, watchOS 11, and more right now. But should you? After all, betas can be buggy, and installing them might not even be worth it. 

Here’s everything you need to take into account before installing the betas for the upcoming software updates on your Apple devices.

Remember: These Betas Aren’t for You

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Firstly, unless you’re an app developer who’s getting ready to update their app, the current betas aren’t for you.

There’s a reason why they’re called “developer betas.” They’re released solely to let developers get an early start on updating their apps so they’ll be ready when the final version gets released in the fall, but that means not every feature is available yet, and the ones that are don’t work nearly as well as they should.

Unless you actually need these betas to work on apps you’re developing, you’re far better off waiting a few months.

In fact, Apple expressly states that developer betas should only be installed on devices dedicated to beta software development, and never on your primary device. If you want a beta made for everyday users, you should wait until the public beta is available, which we’ll talk about in a moment.

The Current Developer Betas Can Be Very Buggy

Another thing you need to consider is how many problems these betas can give you. Again, these betas are for developers, which means they aren’t using them on their primary devices just to play around with the new features. 

In our experience, the battery is one of the biggest downgrades from any developer beta, and iOS 18 is no exception. Even if you have a newer device, your iPhone’s battery might not last as long as it used to. 

We’ve also found out that if you want to unhide an app you hid from your App Library, it might take a few moments to become visible. The app will not be available in the Home Screen or App Library.

Sure, you can still find it if you use your iPhone’s Search feature, but that’s definitely not the best approach. If you find this problem, though, be sure that your app will automatically appear after a few hours, at least based on our experience.

Not only is there nothing you can do to fix it right now, but you’re also the only one responsible for dealing with this problem.

Apple’s Public Betas Are Just Around the Corner

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At the time of this writing, Apple has only released two rounds of developer betas, and don’t expect the second to be much more polished than the first. We’re still in the early stages.

We’re expecting at least one or two more rounds of developer betas, after which Apple will release a public beta for regular users, likely in July.

Granted, the public beta is still far from perfect. Even if it’s meant for normal early adopters to try out, you’ll still find some issues. It should be much more stable than the early developer betas, but Apple still makes it clear it shouldn’t be used on any devices that are important to you.

You should not install beta software on production or business-critical systems. We strongly recommend installing beta software on a secondary system or device, or on a secondary partition on your Mac.Apple

If you feel like you must test every new feature in iOS 18 and other software updates, it’s best to wait for the public beta to be available in July.

Not Every New Feature Is Available

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One of the biggest misconceptions is that you’ll get to play with everything Apple announced during its WWDC presentation. 

At the time of this writing, the developer betas are missing many new features and apps. Most notably, there isn’t anything related to the new Apple Intelligence features.

This means that Siri is still the same, and AI features like Image Playground and Genmoji are still missing. After all, Apple said that most of these features would be available later this year.

Granted, you can still test features like the ability to customize your Home Screen or the new Math Notes feature in the Calculator app. But are these smaller features — compared to Apple Intelligence — worth the risk? Only you can answer that.

If You Will Install the Developer Beta, Here’s What You Need to Do First

We get it. It’s amazing to try Apple’s latest and greatest as soon as possible, and even if we advise against it, you’ll probably consider doing it.

So, if you’re going to install a developer beta on one of your Apple devices, you need to take the necessary precautions. 

First, you need to back up your device. This is really important because if the developer beta doesn’t work on your device at all, you’ll still be able to erase it and use your backup to restore the previous version of the operating system.

To back up your iPhone, go to Settings > Apple ID > iCloud > iCloud Backup, and tap on Back Up Now. It’s also a good idea to make a separate backup to your Mac or PC, as you can’t restore a backup made from iOS 18 onto a device running iOS 17, and your iOS 17 iCloud backup could be overwritten by newer iOS 18 ones after a few days.

Also, avoid installing the developer beta on your main Apple device. Instead, it’s best to use a second iPhone or iPad to test iOS 18 and iPadOS 18, respectively.

After all, you don’t want to be the person whose main Mac stopped working because the developer beta is acting funny.

Should You Install the Developer Beta on Your Apple Devices?

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Overall, we advise against it. At the time of this writing, even if the betas are usable, they are definitely not suitable for most people, as they aren’t as stable as they should be.

For instance, your iPhone might become slower, its battery might not last as long, or it might not run some apps properly. Some widgets or apps might not even be suitable for iOS 18 yet.

The same goes for the other Apple devices; the developer betas are nowhere near ready for the public.

Lastly, keep in mind that your Apple Store won’t touch a device that’s running any beta operating system, even if the damage clearly has nothing to do with the beta. If you need to get your iPhone, iPad, or Mac fixed, you’ll have to wipe it and revert to the last public release.

Will You Install the Developer Betas?

As we mentioned, the current developer betas are usable, and you’ll be able to test some of the great features that will come later this year, but the risk might outweigh the reward. 

Since the biggest features, like Apple Intelligence and the new Siri, aren’t available yet, it might not be worth it for many people unless, of course, you need to install it for your job or hobby. 

If you are going to do it, be sure to back up your device and, if possible, use a second device so your main one is still intact.

If you do want to install the developer betas, you’ll need to visit developer.apple.com and register for a free developer account under your Apple ID. Once you’ve done that, a new Beta Updates option will appear in Software Updates where you can select the appropriate developer beta.



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