3rd iOS 17 Public Beta Hits iPhones Ahead of Highly Anticipated Apple Event

Apple; CNET

Apple’s next event is likely to be held Sept. 12, with the company expected to unveil the new iPhone 15 series, as well as the Apple Watch Series 9, a new Apple Watch Ultra and of course iOS 17. However, you don’t have to wait until then to get your hands on the third iOS 17 public beta, which just came out Friday.

As long as you’re enrolled in the Apple Beta Software Program, which is free to do, you can check out upcoming iPhone features like improved autocorrect, interactive widgets, using your photos to create Live Stickers, and sharing your contact information via AirDrop.

The iOS 17 developer beta, meant for developers, is currently on its fifth iteration. The public beta should be a more refined and stable version of the developer beta, though you may still deal with software bugs, features that don’t fully work, and other issues.

Read more: Don’t Install the iOS 17 Developer Beta on Your iPhone

Not all iPhone models will work with iOS 17, so you’ll first need to check whether your device is compatible. You can see the full list of supported devices here — the iPhone XS and later should work with iOS 17. You can also check out our list of the best iPhones for 2023, in case you’re looking to upgrade to a newer model.

If you’re interested in testing iOS 17 public beta 3, here’s everything you need to know to download the experimental software to your iPhone.

How to download the iOS 17 public beta on your iPhone

Before you download anything, make sure to update your iPhone to the latest version of iOS 16, and then back up your iPhone either to the cloud or computer. Backing up your device is incredibly important if you decide you no longer want iOS 17 and wish to go back to iOS 16. Without a backup, you could potentially lose important data when you revert. Alternatively, if you have a spare iPhone, consider running the public beta on that instead of your primary phone.

Now that you’re ready, you can proceed.

On your supported iPhone, go to the Apple Beta Software Program website and either sign in (if you’re already a member) or sign up. You’ll need an Apple ID to do either. If you’re signing up, follow all the prompts.

On the Guide for Public Beta page, you’ll get more information about the iOS 17 public beta. Under Get Started, tap the blue enroll your iOS device link. On the next page, scroll down to the second section and depending on what software update you currently have, you have two options:

• If you’re running iOS 16.4 or later, all you need to do is go to Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates and choose the iOS 17 public beta to install.
• If you’re on iOS 16.3 or earlier, you must download a configuration profile (tap on the blue Download profile button), go to Settings, tap the profile, and follow the instructions.

Finally, go to Settings > General > Software Update and install the iOS 17 public beta. Once your phone reboots, you’ll have access to iOS 17.

Once you choose the iOS 17 public beta, go back and install it.

Screenshots by Nelson Aguilar/CNET

For more, check out our iPhone 14 review and everything you need to know about the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro.