Apple officially announced the next major update, iOS 17, at Apple’s WWDC Conference, where the company announced a series of new features. The release date has not been confirmed yet, but the public beta of iOS 17 will be released in July 2023, after a month of the first developer beta.
“At Apple, we’ve always believed that the best technology is technology built for everyone,”
Said Apple CEO Tim Cook
However, Apple usually sticks to a familiar pattern on the calendar for the release date, so we can expect the stable version of iOS 17 to be released in September 2023, alongside the new iPhone 15 series. The iOS 17 public beta will follow a few weeks after that, around the end of June or the first week of July, and it is expected to be available around June or July in the summer of 2023.
What’s New Coming with iOS 17
A few app redesigns, new features, and an entirely new app for journaling with the help of an AI assistant are expected. Apple is also expected to focus on performance, efficiency, and stability, but there are also rumours of new features.
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Apple has already shared details about some new accessibility features for the new software for iPhone, iPad, Watch, and Mac for the coming year. These include a new simplified alternate app launcher layout, Assistive Access interface option, Live Speech, Personal Voice Advance Speech, and more.
AirDrop: Shared Activity, Share Content by Bringing Device Closer, and if You're Out of Range, It Will Continue via Internet.
— AndroidGreek (@AndroidGreek) June 5, 2023
Keyboard: Improved Autocorrect, Quick Revert Option, Inline Prediction, Accurate Dictation. pic.twitter.com/iA7BAxgqV6
These include a more sophisticated always-on-display view, a new Journaling App, a new Wallet, and a location-sharing feature within additional Dynamic Island functionality for iPhone 14 Pro. Some of the new features of iOS 17 include FaceTime’s Video Voicemail, Standby Mode, and support for Apple’s upcoming mixed reality headset.
iOS 17 Developer Preview
Between the official iOS 17 announcements in June and the release of a Beta Version of the update to developers by Apple, followed by a Public Beta almost certainly in September, there will be a series of developer and Public Betas for testing purposes. These are intended for developers to help them keep their apps up to date and get access to upcoming features. The Public Beta version is free and available to users registered for the Beta Software Program.
Developer seeds are available only to registered Apple Developers. If you are not a developer, anyone can sign up to be a part of the Apple Beta Software Program. Once you confirm your registered Apple Developer status, you can proceed to install the Developer Beta of iOS 17 instantly. It is generally buggy at the beginning, so it is advisable to install it on a second phone (if you have one) rather than your main device.
Reports suggest that the iOS 17 Public Beta will be in July 2023. Based on Apple’s recent pattern, the Beta could appear as early as the final week of June 2023. The gap between these releases has been reducing over the years, typically falling anywhere from two and a half weeks to just over three weeks.
Users previously downloaded a Profile, but it is no longer required as it is now backed into the Settings application starting with iOS 16.4. This means that the new menu (Beta Updates) will appear in the Settings application.
iOS 17 Beta Access and Release Date
Public Beta is a good way to try out new features and bug fixes before Apple releases them to the general public. However, it’s worth noting that Public Beta is still under development and may not be as stable as the final release. iOS 17 will go through several more rounds of Beta Seeds over the summer months, while iPadOS 17 and macOS 17 releases may not ship until a little later, usually in October.
| OS | Release Date |
|---|---|
| iOS 12 | 2018, September 12th |
| iOS 13 | 2019, September 19th |
| iOS 14 | 2020, September 16th |
| iOS 15 | 2021, September 20th |
| iOS 16 | 2022, September 12th |
| iOS 17 | 2023, Mid-September (Expected) |
The public Beta of iOS 17 is expected to be released at the end of June or early July 2023. As for the public release, it will likely happen in mid-September 2023, around the same time as the new iPhone 15 lineup, as the iOS 17 release should be very close to that of the new iPhone 16 series. With the Public Beta, users can test out new software before it hits the general public.
How to Enroll in the Apple Developer Program to Download and Install iOS 17
You may experience problems with phone calls, text messages, or other apps, as there may be bugs and other issues that could affect your iPhone’s performance or functionality. We would also like to mention that you may lose data if you install the developer beta and decide to revert to the previous version of iOS.
Download the Apple Developer app from the App Store, and for this, you must use the Apple ID and a compatible device to sign up. It is now officially available to download Developer Beta on compatible iPhone models.
Before proceeding, ensure that you have selected which Apple ID you want to use with the Developer Beta, and your device is running on iOS 16.4 or higher. The first iOS 17 Beta comes in just over 3GB in size. The Betas can be downloaded through Software Update when using Developer Beta preference with the Apple ID associated with the Developer Beta program.
Note: You may encounter difficulty downloading iOS 17 because developers are trying to download it at the same time, which is strenuous for the Apple servers. So you can wait for some time. Attempting to install beta software in an unauthorized manner violates Apple policy and could render your device unusable and necessitate an out-of-warranty repair.
Developer Beta for iOS 17
The first developer beta for iOS 17 is now available. However, it is not intended for general use, especially because it may have unfinished features and issues that can make the iPhone difficult to use. These early beta versions are not intended for general use; instead, they are for developers to help them keep their apps up to date and get early access to upcoming features.
- To download the iOS 17 Developer Beta, you must be enrolled in the Apple Developer Program, which costs $99 a year.
- To enrol in the Apple Developer Program, you must have an Apple ID and a compatible device. If you don’t want to pay for the Developer Beta release, you can join the Apple Beta Program and wait to download the public beta version for free.
- Once you are enrolled in the Apple Developer Program, you can download the Apple Developer app.
We don’t advise users to install the developer beta on their primary device. If you want to try iOS 17, install it on a spare iPhone to work with the latest software. Now you can proceed to download and install iOS 17 via OTA on your iPhone. Here are the following instructions:
Download iOS 17 Dev via OTA on iPhone
This is the easiest way to download the iOS 17 Developer Beta via OTA on your iPhone.
- Open the Device Settings app and then tap on General.
- Next, tap on Software Update and then on Beta Updates.
- Select your Apple ID to proceed, then check for updates. If an update is available, tap on Download and Install.
- Enter your passcode and agree to the Terms and Conditions.
- Wait for the download and installation to finish, which will take 20 minutes depending on your internet connection.
- After that, once the update is installed, you can restart your device.
- That’s it! You should now have access to the iOS 17 Developer Beta.
Download iOS 17 Dev with Mac using Finder
OTA updates require a certain amount of storage, and if you don’t have that available, then you can use your computer to update to iOS 17 Beta without manually clearing out space. Follow the following instructions to download and install iOS 17 Developer Beta using Finder on macOS Monterey or later.
- On your Mac, open the Apple Developer Program Download Page and then find the iOS 17 Beta.
- Click on Download Restore Image and download the iOS Beta software to restore the image for your specific device.
- Connect your device to your computer and enter your device passcode or hit “Trust this computer” if prompted.
- Open Finder, click on your device in the sidebar under “Location,” and then hold down the Option key.
- Click on Update and choose the iOS 17 Beta Software to restore the image you just downloaded from the Apple Developer Page.
- The iOS 17 Beta Software will install on your device. Wait for a few minutes, and when your device reboots, you should have access to the iOS 17 Developer Beta.
Note: You can’t download iOS 17 directly. You can use Finder on macOS Monterey or later to do so.
Which iPhone is Compatible with iOS 17?
There are conflicting reports about which devices will be supported by iOS 17, but, likely, all devices supported by iOS 16 will also support iOS 17. Apple has not officially confirmed this yet, so there is a possibility that some devices on the list may be dropped.
According to Apple’s website, the following iPhone models will receive the updates. You will likely receive security updates shortly, but any new features that are part of iOS 17 or later will not come to your phone.
- iPhone SE (2022)
- iPhone SE (2020)
- iPhone XR
- iPhone Xs
- iPhone 11
- iPhone 12
- iPhone 13
- iPhone 14
- iPhone 15
iOS 17 will drop support for the iPhone 8 and iPhone X, and they will remain on iOS 16 for the rest of their life. iPhone 7, 1st-gen iPhone SE, and anything earlier will not be able to install iOS 17 since they aren’t compatible with iOS 16. These devices are now over five years old, and Apple typically supports its devices for five years.
Not all iOS 17 features may arrive on older devices as they may not have the processing power or hardware to support them. By the time iOS 17 is available, Apple will have announced the iPhone 15 lineup, so you can either pick a new device or find a deal on a slightly older iPhone.
How to Install iOS 17 on a Supported Device
The public beta is free to join and install, and you can provide feedback through official channels. It’s important to note that early betas are typically full of bugs and issues, so it is recommended to wait until later in the beta cycle before installing it on your daily phone.
Noteworthy:
- It is important to check any third-party apps to make sure they are compatible with iOS 17 before updating.
- Back up your iPhone so you can restore it from the backup after installing the update.
- Get in touch with Apple Support in case you experience any problems.
- Make sure your iPhone is connected to a Wi-Fi network and has at least 50% battery life.
One way to install iOS 17 is to let your iPhone download it during inactive hours (and while charging), or you can follow the instructions below:
- Open Device Settings, and then click on General.
- From there, tap on Software Update, and if a software update is available, it will be listed under Available Update.
- Tap on Download and Install.
- You may be asked to enter your passcode. Enter it and continue with the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
Note: It can take some time, so be patient. Once the installation is complete, your phone will restart.
