This story is part of Focal Point iPhone 2022CNET’s collection of news, tips and advice on Apple’s most popular product.
iOS 16 — the next version of the software for the AppleiPhone — will bring a group of new featureslike a customizable lock screena smart farming function for photos, the ability to unsend and edit text messagesY battery percentage back in status bar.
Apple is likely to release the official version of the new iPhone software shortly before iPhone 14 It goes on sale, but you can already test all its functions. (Follow Apple’s iPhone event on Wednesday to learn more.) You can download the sixth public beta of iOS 16 right now for free, as long as you have one. Compatible iPhonesAs the iPhone 12 either iPhone 13.
In June, Apple released the first developer beta of iOS 16 shortly after its release. developer conference, but developer betas require an Apple Developer Program membership, which costs $100 a year. Developer betas are also not recommended for everyday use because they can make your phone more difficult to use.
Fortunately, the public iOS 16 Beta 6 should be a bit 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 on your iPhone. Read on for a step-by-step guide to the process.
For more information, here’s a look at all the best new features that are available in iOS 16as well as some of the cool hidden features you might not know about.
Before you begin, back up your iPhone
Getting your hands on preliminary software can be exciting, but there are precautions you should take before upgrading. All pre-release software like iOS 16 beta can contain bugs and other issues that can make your device more difficult to use, so you should back up your device in case you want to go back to iOS 15.
By default, your iPhone should back up every time it’s connected to power and Wi-Fi during your normal sleeping hours. However, if this backup feature is disabled, you can go to Settings > Your name > iCloud > iCloud backup and then hit Copy now to back up your device.
You can (and should) also back up your iPhone to your Mac.
Screenshot by Nelson Aguilar/CNET
Also, you can back up your iPhone through Finder on your Mac. Just connect your device to your computer, open Finder, choose your device, and then create a backup. Apple also recommends archiving your backup so it doesn’t get overwritten by other backups.
Sign up for Apple’s beta software program
Once your device has been backed up, it’s time to register for Apple’s Beta Software Program, which allows anyone to try preliminary software for free, to provide feedback to Apple on the quality, ease of use and problems. Currently, you can try iOS 16 beta at any compatible Apple device (iPhone 8 and later).
To enroll in the Apple Beta Software Program:
1. Go to the Apple Beta Software Program website on your iPhone.
two. touch the blue Register button at the bottom of the page.
3. Use Face ID or Touch ID to sign in to the Apple ID that is attached to 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 should be hyperlinked in the paragraph that appears. That will take you to another page, where Apple will walk you through everything you need to do to download and install iOS 16 beta on your iPhone.
Signing up for Apple’s 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. In order to download and install 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 be concerned about whether or not this is a privacy breach, but rest assured, this configuration profile simply allows Apple to deliver and manage iOS 16 beta on your device.
To install the configuration profile, press the blue download profile button and then touch Allow in the popup that appears. Then, exit your web browser, launch the Settings app, and tap download profile at the top of the page. It should then show you a window for the iOS 16 public beta configuration profile. Tap Installenter your access code and then press Install two times more. Finally she touches Restart to get the iOS 16 wireless 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 restarts, go to Settings > General > Software update, paste Download and install and enter your passcode to begin the iOS 16 beta update process.
Once the configuration profile is downloaded and the phone is 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 downloading heavy apps.
You should see a loading bar, along with a rough estimate of how long the download process will take. Once 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 on your device.
