The complete, safety-first guide to getting iOS 27 on your iPhone — from the free developer beta to backups, installation, and how to get back to iOS 26 if something goes wrong.
Expected after the WWDC 2026 keynote — June 8, 2026
To install the iOS 27 beta: back up your iPhone, enroll your Apple ID for free at developer.apple.com (or beta.apple.com for the public beta), then open Settings → General → Software Update → Beta Updates, pick iOS 27 Beta, and tap Download and Install. The developer beta is expected June 8, 2026; the more stable public beta follows in mid-July.
Pick your model to check compatibility instantly
No download needed — results are instant and run in your browser.
Want the full breakdown across iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch? See our complete iOS 27 supported devices list.
Five minutes of prep saves hours of headaches
iOS 27 runs on iPhone 12 and newer, plus the iPhone SE (3rd generation). The hard cutoff is the A14 Bionic chip, so the iPhone 11 and older are not supported and will stay on iOS 26.
Both are free — here's which one to pick
This trips up a lot of people, so let's be clear: the developer beta is free. Apple dropped the old $99 requirement back in 2023. The $99/year Apple Developer Program is only needed if you want to publish apps on the App Store — not to install a beta.
| Developer Beta | Public Beta | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Free |
| Available | ~June 8 (WWDC) | ~mid-July |
| Stability | Rougher, more bugs | More polished |
| Enroll at | developer.apple.com | beta.apple.com |
| Best for | Spare device, early adopters | Most people |
This is the step you'll be glad you didn't skip
Go to Settings → [your name] → iCloud → iCloud Backup and tap Back Up Now. Wait for it to finish completely.
On a Mac use Finder; on Windows use the Apple Devices app. Tick Encrypt local backup so passwords and Health data are preserved.
Check the backup date and size before continuing. A backup you can't verify is not a backup you can trust.
A one-time step that unlocks Beta Updates in Settings
The whole thing takes about 45–90 minutes
Once your Apple ID is enrolled and your backup is done, the rest happens entirely inside Settings — no computer required.
Go to Settings → General → Software Update → Beta Updates.
Select iOS 27 Developer Beta or iOS 27 Public Beta, then go back one screen.
When iOS 27 appears, tap Download and Install and enter your passcode.
Your iPhone will restart a few times. Keep it on power and Wi-Fi and don't interrupt it.
Complete the welcome screens, then test cellular, Wi-Fi, and your most-used apps.
Fixes for the problems people hit most
Beta Updates is set to iOS 27, not "Off".Settings → General → iPhone Storage → iOS 27 → Delete.This is normal for the first 24–48 hours while your iPhone re-indexes photos, files, and Spotlight in the background. If it doesn't settle after two days, restart and check Battery settings for a misbehaving app.
Your exit route if the beta is too rough
Use the button sequence for your model, then open Finder (Mac) or the Apple Devices app (Windows).
Choose Restore. Need the file? Grab the latest signed build from our IPSW download page.
After the restore completes, set up from the iOS 26 backup you made earlier.
If iOS 27 is stable enough for you but you don't want more beta builds, go to Settings → General → Software Update → Beta Updates and set it to Off. You'll move onto the final public release when it ships.
Quick answers to what people ask most