APPLE has finally revealed its upcoming iOS 17 – and you can try it from today.
Keen iPhone owners can get access to the iOS 17 beta and start checking out all of the fun new features.
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What is iOS 17?
Apple used this year’s WWDC event to unveil the new iOS 17 software.
It’s the next big update for your iPhone, introducing loads of new features.
There are big changes to key apps like Messages (with a new swipe to reply feature) and Phone (with live transcriptions for your voicemails).
You’ll also be able to record and leave FaceTime “voicemails” if you can’t get through to someone.
And NameDrop lets you quickly exchange your contact details with someone else.
Apple has kitted iOS 17 out with dozens of changes, so it’s an exciting free upgrade if your iPhone supports it.
The new update is available on the following phones only:
- iPhone 14
- iPhone 14 Plus
- iPhone 14 Pro
- iPhone 14 Pro Max
- 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 XR
- iPhone SE (2nd gen or later)
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If you have an older iPhone, you won’t be able to install the new iOS 17.
When is iOS 17 out?
The iOS 17 update will be out in autumn, within a few days of the expected iPhone 15 launch in September.
We’d expect this to take place around mid-September.
Before then, a free public beta for normal users to test the update will go live in July.
And for app makers (or exceptionally keen gadget fans), the developer beta of iOS 17 is live right now.
How to install iOS 17 beta
For now, the only iOS 17 beta that’s available is for people who have signed up to get a developer account.
But before you decide to install it, remember: new iOS updates are often very buggy to begin with.
If you have a spare iPhone, it would be much better to install the iOS 17 beta on that instead.
You could find that some apps or features simply don’t work properly on the beta.
It’s also important that you back up all your files in case anything goes wrong with the iOS 17 beta.
To get the developer beta, go to developer.apple.com and sign in to your account.
Now tap the menu icon, then Account, then agree to the terms and conditions.
Next, restart your iPhone then go to Settings > General > Software Update.
You’ll be able to install Beta Updates from there.
It’s possible to return to the regular version of iOS 16 at any time if you change your mind.
