New Delhi: Apple has finally released the latest iOS 26 Developer Beta 1 update, just a day after the new software was announced at the WWDC 2025 developers conference in Cupertino. The update succeeds last year’s iOS 18 and marks the first time Apple has dropped incremental version numbers in favour of aligning with the upcoming year.
The most significant change in iOS 26 is a major overhaul of the design language through the introduction of Liquid Glass, the most considerable UI shift on iPhones since iOS 7.
Notably, Apple has rolled out these Developer Betas to give application makers time to optimise their apps before the software officially launches, likely in September alongside the new iPhones. However, since this is an early Developer Beta, many of the newly announced features and changes may be missing, and the OS itself may feel unstable or incomplete.
Apple recommends installing Developer Betas on a secondary testing device to avoid any loss of personal data. For early adopters, a public beta of iOS 26 is also expected to launch next month and should be more stable.
To become eligible for downloading the iOS 26 developer beta, users must first enrol in Apple’s Developer programme. To become a developer, visit the enrollment page or open the Apple Developer app and sign in with the user’s Apple ID.
Finish the enrollment process by entering the user’s names and addresses. Choose the user entity type as an individual and accept the agreement; you will be enrolled in the free tier of the developer programme. Notably, there will be links to make a payment for the developer programme, but even if you don’t pay for that, the free tier of the programme will still be available.
To get a first glimpse at iOS 26, open your iPhone and go to Settings > General > Software Update. Next, click on Beta Updates and then select iOS 26 Developer Beta. Users should now be able to download the latest iOS version.
