If you can’t wait for the official release to get your hands on those sweet lockscreen customization options, you can download them right away — at your own risk, of course — from the first public betas of iOS 16 and iPadOS 16. When the beta software becomes available for your iPhone or iPad, follow these instructions to install it.
A word of caution before we begin: beta software is by definition incomplete and subject to bugs. You should exercise caution before installing Apple’s public betas on any device you rely on, even though they are typically quite stable. They might not have all the features that the finished product will have. Depending on the apps you use, your experience might not be the same as others. Finally, if you do decide to install, we advise backing up the data on your device in case something goes wrong.
FEATURES OF IOS 16
Rolling notifications, the ability to link your lock screen to your Focus app, the ability to customize your lock screen with new fonts, colors, and widgets, some significant updates to Messages, such as the ability to edit a text after you’ve sent it, Live Text for videos, and a plethora of other features and updates will all be included in iOS 16.
SUPPORTED DEVICES
- 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, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max
- iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max
- iPhone X, iPhone XR
- iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus
- iPhone SE (second generation or later)
METHOD TO INSTALL THE IOS 16 BETA
- Sign up for or sign in to Apple’s beta software portal using your phone’s Safari browser.
- If you haven’t already, enroll your iOS device. This entails accepting a lengthy set of Terms and Conditions. Did we mention it was entirely at your own risk?
- After enrolling, scroll down to a reminder to make a backup of your phone’s content in case you need to revert to a previous state.
- Scroll down until you see a button that says Download profile, then tap it. This will display a warning stating that the website is attempting to download a configuration profile. Allow should be selected. A pop-up window will appear stating that you can set the new profile from the Settings app.
- Launch the Settings app. Near the top, a new section called Profile Downloaded should be added. Select it, and you’ll be able to download the beta software.
- In the top right corner, click Install. By tapping Install again, you’ll have to re-enter your password and agree to the usual lengthy consent statement.
- To activate the profile, you may need to restart your phone.
FEATURES OF IPADOS 16?
The new iPadOS includes a redesigned Home app, a new whiteboard app, Passkeys support in Safari, and a slew of other exciting new features. However, one of the most significant deals will be available only if you have an iPad with an M1 chip: Stage Manager, which allows apps to be displayed as overlapping windows and allows you to drag and drop windows onto other screens.
SUPPORTED DEVICES
- iPad Pro (all models)
- iPad Air (3rd generation and later)
- iPad (5th generation and later)
- iPad mini (5th generation and later)
METHOD TO INSTALL THE IPADOS 16 BETA
- Navigate to Apple’s beta software portal using your iPad’s Safari browser. Sign up or sign in with your Apple ID.
- Click the iPadOS text. This will display a reminder to create a backup in case you need to restore your operating system to a previous state.
- Scroll down until you find a button that says Download profile, then click it. This may result in a warning that the website is attempting to download a configuration profile. Select Allow. You’ll see a pop-up window stating that you can set the new profile from the Settings app.
- Open the Settings app, and a new section called Profile Downloaded should appear near the top. If you select it, you should be able to download the beta software. You may need to restart your iPad first.
- Finally, if nothing prompts you to begin the download, open the Settings app, navigate to General, and then find Software Update to install the beta software.
