10 Things to Do Before Installing iOS 12 Beta

If you decide to install the iOS 12 beta on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch you’ll want to spend some time preparing yourself, and your device, for the move. A little prep work ahead of time can go a long way toward preventing frustrating issues during and after the installation.

Apple’s confirmed its next major iOS update for its stable of mobile devices. The official version of iOS 12 won’t arrive until the fall alongside the company’s 2018 iPhones and iPads, but you can try iOS 12 and its changes long before Apple finalizes the software.

Apple’s put the iOS 12 into beta testing ahead of its worldwide release. The iOS 12 beta is available to developer’s and to the general public via the Beta Software Program. Anyone with an Apple ID and a compatible device can download the pre-release version of iOS 12 right now.

The iOS 12 beta is an extremely tempting download thanks to a solid feature set which includes upgraded Notifications, changes to Do Not Disturb and various performance improvements.

While some of you might want to wait for the fourth iOS 12 beta to fix bugs and performance problems or the final public release this fall, some of you might want to try the new features right now.

If you decide to install the iOS 12 beta on your device, you’ll want to be careful. The iOS 12 beta is pre-release software and pre-release software is often riddled with bugs and performance issues that could have an impact on your day-to-day use.

It’s difficult to predict precisely how the iOS 12 beta will run on your device and that’s why we recommend setting aside some time to prepare for the download and installation, particularly if this will be your first time trying pre-release iOS software.

We want to assist you in this endeavor so we’ve put together a guide that will take you through the most important steps to take before you download the iOS 12 beta to your phone or tablet.

For some of you, these steps will take less than 10 minutes. For many others, they could take upwards of 30 minutes or more. It all depends on the current state of your device and your skill level.

Read Apple's Beta Rules & Conditions

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If you decide to try the iOS 12 beta on your device, and this is your first time trying iOS beta software, you'll want to go over Apple's rules and regulations before you download the software.  If you think you might want to get a head start with the developer version of the iOS 12 beta, make sure you take a look at Apple's beta website for developers. It'll go over everything you need to know before, and after, you join the paid program.  Remember, a developer account at Apple will cost you $99 per membership year. If you don't want to pay Apple money to try the beta, you'll want to use the public iOS 12 beta.  In order to use the public iOS 12 beta, you'll need to join the Beta Software Program. And like the developer beta, Apple's free beta program has some rules you'll need to follow. Before you download and install the iOS 12 beta on your iPhone or iPad, read Apple's FAQ on the Beta Software Program.  Apple's guide goes over the most important do's and don'ts.

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