The third beta of iOS 16 is out and you can get your hands on it now — as long as your current iPhone supports it and you’re OK with installing software that may have minor bugs and other issues (as most prereleases do).
iOS 16 brings several new functions to your iPhone, including a customizable lock screena intelligent cropping function and the ability to undo and edit text messages.
read more: Latest iOS 16 beta update brings this much-missed feature back to iPhone
In June, Apple released the first iOS 16 developer beta shortly after its developer conference, but not many were eligible to download and install the software. Developer betas require an Apple Developer Program membership, which costs $100 per year, and is not recommended for everyday use as they can be cluttered with bugs and make your phone harder to use.
Fortunately, you can now get iOS 16 Beta 3, which should be a little more stable than the developer version. All you need to do is enroll your device in the Apple Beta Software program and install a configuration profile to get the iOS 16 beta on your device.
For more, here’s a look at everything the best new features available on iOS 16as well as some of the cool hidden features you may not know.
Look at this:
iOS 16 testing (edit/delete sent messages, new lock screen…
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Before you start, back up your iPhone
Getting your hands on pre-released software can be exciting, but there are precautions to take before updating. All pre-released software like iOS 16 beta may contain bugs and other issues that can make using your device more difficult. Therefore, you should backup your device in case you want to go back to iOS 15.
By default, your iPhone should back up itself every time it’s connected to power and Wi-Fi during your regular sleep hours. However, if this backup feature is disabled, you can go to: Settings > your name > iCloud > iCloud backup and then hit Backup now to back up your device.
You can (and should) back up your iPhone to your Mac as well.
Screenshot by Nelson Aguilar/CNET
In addition, you can back up your iPhone through Finder on your Mac. Simply connect your device to your computer, open Finder, choose your device, then back it up. Apple also recommends archiving your backup so it isn’t overwritten by other backups.
Sign up for the Apple Beta Software Program
Once your device has been backed up, it’s time to sign up for the Apple Beta Software Program, which allows anyone to try pre-released software for free, to give Apple feedback on quality, usability, and issues. Currently you can test the beta version of iOS 16 on any compatible Apple device (iPhone 8 and later).
To sign up for the Apple Beta Software Program:
1. Go to the Apple Beta Software Program website on your iPhone.
2. Tap the blue Sign Up button at the bottom of the page.
3. Use Face ID or Touch ID to sign in to the Apple ID associated with your iPhone.
4. Read and accept the Apple Beta Software Program Agreement.
On the page that appears next, scroll down to Get started and tap register your iOS device, which must contain a hyperlink in the paragraph that appears. That takes you to another page, where Apple outlines everything you need to do to download and install iOS 16 beta on your iPhone.
Signing up for the Apple Beta Software Program is free.
Screenshot by Nelson Aguilar/CNET
Install the iOS 16 beta configuration profile
If you scroll down this page, you will see a section called Install Profile. To download and install the iOS 16 beta on your device, you now need to install a configuration profile on your iPhone.
Essentially, a configuration profile allows a third party to manage your device; in this case Apple. You may wonder if this is an invasion of privacy, but rest assured that this configuration profile will easily allow Apple to deliver and manage the iOS 16 beta on your device.
To install the configuration profile, press the blue Download profile and then tap Allow in the popup that appears. Then close your web browser, launch the Settings app and tap Download profile top of the page. It should then show you a window for the iOS 16 public beta configuration profile. Tap to installenter your passcode then press to install two more times. Finally tap Restarting to get the over-the-air iOS 16 beta update.
You must first download a configuration profile from Apple’s website before you can update to iOS 16 beta.
Screenshot by Nelson Aguilar/CNET
Download and install iOS 16 beta
Once your iPhone boots up again, go to Settings > General > Software update, touch Download and install and enter your passcode to start the update process to iOS 16 beta.
After the configuration profile has been downloaded and your phone has rebooted, you can download and install the iOS 16 public beta.
Screenshot by Nelson Aguilar/CNET
If for some reason you don’t see the Download and Install option, you may need to wait a few minutes or clear your memory to free up space. If you don’t have enough space, you won’t be able to download iOS 16, so clear your memory by deleting large files and offloading hefty apps.
You should see a loading bar along with a rough estimate of how long the download process will take. After the download is complete, reboot your device and wait for the iOS 16 beta to install. When your iPhone boots up, you should see iOS 16 beta downloaded to your device.
