IOS 26 UPDATE NEARS WITH BETA AND GENERAL RELEASE TIMELINE

Apple unveiled iOS 26 at its Worldwide Developers Conference on June 9, 2025, introducing a major redesign dubbed Liquid Glass and new features for iPhone users.

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APPLE’S LIQUID GLASS REDESIGN SET TO ROLL OUT FOR IPHONE USERS

The software update, which shifts from the expected iOS 19 naming to align with the 2026 usage year, is now in developer beta, with public beta and general release dates approaching.

DEVELOPER BETA AVAILABLE NOW

The iOS 26 developer beta was released immediately following the WWDC keynote on June 9, 2025, allowing registered Apple developers to test the software on eligible iPhones. To access the beta, users must enroll in the free Apple Developer Program at developer.apple.​com, sign in with their Apple ID, and navigate to Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates on their iPhone to select the iOS 26 Developer Beta. The beta supports iPhone 11 and newer models, excluding the iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max. Developers can begin testing apps for compatibility, though early betas may include bugs and performance issues, making them unsuitable for primary devices.

PUBLIC BETA EXPECTED IN JULY

Apple plans to launch the iOS 26 public beta next month, likely around mid-July 2025, based on historical release patterns. Last year's iOS 18 public beta arrived on July 15, 2024, suggesting a similar timeline, potentially July 15 or shortly after. The public beta, available through the after. The public beta, available through the Apple Beta Software Program at beta.apple.com, is free for all iPhone users with compatible devices and is generally more stable than the developer beta, though bugs may persist. Users are advised to back up their devices before installing, as betas are not recommended for daily drivers due to potential instabilities.