How to install the iPadOS beta

Apple will soon begin beta testing iPadOS 17. The developer beta and public beta program will run until the public release in September or October, with updates every week or two. We caution you not to install the beta on a critical device—it is often full of bugs and rife with issues like poor battery life. That’s what a beta is for, after all: finding and fixing bugs.

We have lots of details about iPadOS 17 here, but if all you want to know is how to install it on your iPad, follow these instructions.

Back up your device

Before you install any new OS update, and especially before you install a beta, it’s very important to make sure your device is backed up. Back up your iPad before you begin either to iCloud or via the Finder on a Mac or iTunes on a PC. See How to back up an iPad or iPhone.

iPadOS 17 beta release date

The first version of the developer beta of iPadOS 16 arrived after the WWDC 2022 keynote on June 6, 2022 so we expect that the first developer beta of iPadOS 17 will arrive similarly after the keynote on June 5, 2023. It is normal for Apple to release the first beta following the keynote so that developers can immediately start testing to make sure their apps work.

It’s a few more weeks until the public beta of iPadOS arrives. The first public beta version of iPadOS 16 came on July 11, 2022., so we expect a similar timescale for iPadOS 17, perhaps July 10, 2023.

How to download the public beta of iPadOS

If you want to get the public beta you need to join Apple’s beta programs on Apple’s website. Read this for more information: How to become an Apple beta tester.

1. Using the iPad you want to install the iPadOS beta on, head to beta.apple.com.
2. Tap the Sign Up button, and sign in using your Apple ID. You’ll be taken to a “Guide for Public Betas” page, which we suggest you read.
3. At the top of the page, select Enroll Your Device.
4. Select iPadOS. 
5. Open the Settings app, tap General, then Software Update.
6. In the Beta Updates section, select the iPadOS Public Beta.

Prior to iPadOS 16.4, you had to download and activate a beta profile. Now, Apple’s servers will simply check your Apple ID to see if it is registered for the Public (or Developer) beta before providing access. You may need to restart your iPhone for the option to appear.

How to install the iPadOS 17 Developer Beta

You’ll need to be registered as an Apple developer. Joining the Apple Developer Program costs $99 a year.

1. Register for the Apple developer program at developer.apple.com.
2. Open the Settings app, tap General, then Software Update.
3. In the Beta Updates section, select the iPadOS Developer Beta.

Update your iPhone or iPad

Once you have the profile installed, updating to the beta is easy. Just go to Settings > General > Software Update. You’ll see the beta listed there. Download and install it just as you would any other iOS update. Your iPhone or iPad will restart, and you’re ready to roll with the iOS 17 beta.

Be sure to use the Feedback app when you encounter bugs; don’t just assume Apple knows about them, and even if they do, bugs that get reported by more people are more likely to be promptly fixed.