Apple released the first iOS 27 public beta on Monday, July 13, 2026. If your iPhone is one of the compatible models, you can download it right now and get an early look at the software update coming this fall.
Siri AI is the biggest addition, Apple’s long-awaited overhaul of its voice assistant. The new Siri is designed to understand what is happening on your screen, use information from across your apps, and complete more complicated requests without forcing you to jump between apps yourself. Access is limited to supported iPhones, and you may need to join a waitlist before you can try it.
Enrolling an iPhone or iPad in Apple’s free Apple Beta Software Program is what gets you the iOS 27 or iPadOS 27 public beta, and the signup is simple once you know how. A few things are worth considering first.
iOS 27 iPhone Compatibility
iOS 27 is supported on iPhone 11 and all of the same iPhone models as iOS 26:
- iPhone 17e
- iPhone 17
- iPhone 17 Pro & Pro Max
- iPhone Air
- iPhone 16e
- iPhone 16
- iPhone 16 Plus
- iPhone 16 Pro
- iPhone 16 Pro Max
- iPhone 15
- iPhone 15 Plus
- iPhone 15 Pro
- iPhone 15 Pro Max
- iPhone 14
- iPhone 14 Plus
- iPhone 14 Pro
- iPhone 14 Pro Max
- iPhone 13
- iPhone 13 mini
- iPhone 13 Pro
- iPhone 13 Pro Max
- iPhone 12
- iPhone 12 mini
- iPhone 12 Pro
- iPhone 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 11 Pro
- iPhone 11 Pro Max
- iPhone 11
- iPhone SE (3rd generation)
iPadOS 27 Compatibility
iPadOS 27 cuts support for more iPad models than last year’s iPadOS 26 did, with older iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad, and iPad mini models all losing compatibility. These iPads are supported:
- 13-inch iPad Pro (M4)
- 12.9-inch iPad Pro (6th generation)
- 12.9-inch iPad Pro (5th generation)
- 12.9-inch iPad Pro (4th generation)
- 11-inch iPad Pro (M4)
- 11-inch iPad Pro (4th generation)
- 11-inch iPad Pro (3rd generation)
- 11-inch iPad Pro (2nd generation)
- iPad Air (M3)
- iPad Air (M2)
- iPad Air (5th generation)
- iPad Air (4th generation)
- iPad (A16)
- iPad (10th generation)
- iPad (9th generation)
- iPad mini (A17 Pro)
- iPad mini (6th generation)
Being on that list is not the same as getting everything. Several of the update’s features are exclusive to iPhone 15 Pro and newer models, since they rely on Apple Intelligence. The more intelligent and personal version of Siri is available on the iPhone 15 Pro and newer, while two specific features tied to it are exclusive to the iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air.
Before You Install
Apple does not recommend installing iOS 27 beta updates on your main iPhone or iPad. Use a secondary device if you have one.
This is beta software. Bugs and issues often pop up that can prevent software from working properly or cause other problems, and Apple still has fixes to make before the final release in September.
Back Up Your Device First
Make an archived backup before you install the beta. Without one, reverting back to iOS 26 is not possible if things go wrong.
- Plug your iPhone into your Mac using the supplied cable.
- Allow the accessory to connect by clicking Allow in the dialog prompt.
- Open a Finder window by clicking the Finder icon in the Dock.
- Click your iOS device’s name in the sidebar.
- If this is the first time connecting your device to your Mac, click Trust in the Finder window.
- Tap Trust on your device when prompted, then enter your passcode to confirm.
- In the General tab, click the circle next to where it says Back up all of the data on your iPad to this Mac.
- If you want to encrypt the backup, check the box next to Encrypt local backup, then enter a password to protect your data.
- If you don’t want to create an encrypted backup, or you’ve already set up encrypted backups, click Back Up Now.
Once the backup is finished, the date and time of the last backup sits in the General tab, just above the Manage Backups button. Future manual and automatic backups will not overwrite it, so the Restore Backup… option on the same Finder screen can bring it back at any time.
How to Install the iOS 27 Public Beta
The iOS 27 public beta is free to download. You don’t need a developer account to get it.
- Head over to Apple’s Beta Software Program website and sign up using your Apple Account credentials.
- Now go to Settings ➝ General ➝ Software Update on your iPhone.
- Tap Beta Updates. If you don’t see the option, try switching off Download iOS Updates (Automatic Updates ➝ Download iOS Updates), then tap Back and it should appear.
- Select iOS 27 Public Beta in the list, then tap Back.
- Wait for the Software Update screen to check Apple’s servers. When the iOS 27 Public Beta appears, tap Download and Install, then follow the instructions and wait for installation to complete.
iOS 27 Features
iOS 27 leads with a more intelligent and personal version of Siri, but the update also brings a wider set of improvements across Apple’s core apps and services. A new Siri mode in the Camera app works with Visual Intelligence, which lets you point your iPhone at real-world items like receipts and take useful actions directly from what’s on the screen.
Apple Maps gains an enhanced Flyover experience powered by AI, with sharper and more lifelike aerial imagery for select cities. In the U.S., a new Local Lists feature surfaces relevant place collections, including trending restaurants and family-friendly destinations.
Find My adds more flexible location sharing controls. You can now share your location for a custom duration, set an exact time for sharing to expire, or pause sharing with specific people until the End of the day. Reminders and Calendar now also support natural language input, and Apple Intelligence will automatically fill in details such as the date, time, and location.
Wallet, Apple Cash, and Apple Pay also get major upgrades. Bill splitting through Apple Cash is powered by Apple Intelligence, physical cards can become custom Wallet passes, hotel keys get a richer experience, and the Apple Pay checkout flow has been redesigned with easier card switching and more payment details. Tap to Pay on iPhone also gains Tap to Share, letting customers securely share contact, shipping, and Loyalty information with participating merchants.
Apple’s media and cloud apps get updates too. Search now works within individual shows in Apple Podcasts, iCloud Shared Albums support full-resolution cross-platform sharing and more file types, and Apple Music improves AutoMix while expanding Lyrics Translation to more Language pairings.
