How to Sign up for the IOS 15 Developer Beta Now
The public beta of iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 kicks off sometime in July, but users can get access to Apple’s new mobile operating systems even earlier by installing developer builds. These versions are less stable than the possible public beta and there are several requirements you need to fulfill, but this is the fastest way to see the new features of iOS / iPadOS 15 first-hand.
Here’s everything you need to get access to the developer beta:
Have an Apple developer account
This is the biggest hurdle for regular users. An Apple developer account costs $ 100 a year, but anyone can join here. There are a couple more requirements, such as enabling two-factor registration and providing your full legal name and address. Signing up also gives you early access to macOS 12, watchOS 8, and app development tools.
Have an iOS / iPadOS 15 compatible device
If your iPhone or iPad supports iOS 14, it can install the developer beta (or a public beta launching in the coming weeks). For your reference, here is a complete list of supported devices provided by Apple:
iOS 15
- iPhone 12, 12 Mini, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max
- iPhone XS, XS Max
- iPhone XR
- iPhone X
- iPhone 8, 8 Plus
- iPhone 7, 7 Plus
- iPhone 6s, 6s Plus
- iPhone SE (1st and 2nd generation)
- iPod touch (7th generation)
iPadOS 15
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th generation)
- iPad Pro 11-inch (1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation)
- iPad Pro 10.5-inch
- iPad Pro 9.7-inch
- iPad (5th, 6th, 7th & 8th generation)
- iPad Mini (5th generation)
- iPad Mini 4
- iPad Air 2
- iPad Air (3rd and 4th generation)
Make a contingency plan if something goes wrong
While not a requirement, you should back up your iPhone or iPad data before installing the developer beta or public beta for that matter. Apple also recommends that users install beta versions of the OS on secondary devices rather than their primary iPhones or iPads in the event of severe stability issues.
Download update
If you meet these requirements and feel comfortable installing an unfinished operating system on your device, sign in to the Apple Developer Portal and follow the instructions to download and apply the update.
However, don’t let FOMO get to you if you can’t install a developer update. Unfinished software is always unstable and can be inconvenient to use . A public release in the coming weeks will pose a much lower risk, with stable releases of iOS 15, iPadOS 15, and other upcoming Apple OS updates coming later this year in full working order.
[ CNET ]