Learn how to download and install the iOS 26 or iPadOS 26 beta or non-beta on your iPhone or iPad to get the Liquid Glass design and other new features.
Apple announced its renamed iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 operating systems at its annual WWDC conference on June 9, 2025, and released them for all iPhone and iPad users on September 9, 2025.
These software versions bring a design overhaul, dubbed Liquid Glass, which features translucency and simulated light reflections and refractions around icons, buttons, and other user interface elements, rendered in real-time.
You need an iPhone 11 or later to install iOS 26, as the operating system drops support for the older iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max devices.
Assuming you’ve prepared your iPhone or iPad for a new iOS version, follow the steps below to download and install the latest iOS 26 software.
Download and install iOS 26 on your iPhone
Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad, navigate to General > Software Update, and wait for the device to finish checking for updates.
- To get non-beta iOS 26: Tap Upgrade to iOS 26 and then tap Update Now.
- To get beta iOS 26: Tap Beta Updates and select iOS 26 Public Beta or iOS 26 Developer Beta. Then, tap the Back button to return to the previous screen and hit the Update button.
If you don’t see the option to update to iOS 26
If iOS 26 or iPadOS 26 don’t appear on your iPhone or iPad, wait a couple of hours, as Apple releases the new update gradually across the globe.
If the iOS 26 public beta doesn’t appear on the Software Update screen, try signing up for the Apple Beta Software Program at beta.apple.com.
If the iOS 26 developer beta doesn’t appear on the Software Update screen, your Apple account isn’t registered as a developer (which is free). So, do that as mentioned below:
1) To register your Apple account as a developer, sign in with your Apple account at developer.apple.com/account. You’ll see the terms and conditions, so scroll to the bottom and hit the Agree button. If asked to customize your developer experience, leave that page open and jump to the next step.
2) Go to Settings > General > Software Update and pull down to refresh the screen. A new Beta Updates option should appear, turned off by default. Tap it, then select iOS 26 Developer Beta and return to the previous screen, where the iOS 26 Beta should appear as available to download and install.
Still no luck? Download the free Apple Developer app from the App Store and sign in with your Apple account. Then, tap Enroll Now > Continue > I agree, and fill in personal information like your name and phone number. You don’t have to finish the entire process. Instead, restart the device, and the option to download the iOS 26 or iPadOS 26 developer beta should appear.
Download and install iPadOS 26 on your iPad
The process for installing the iPadOS 26 (both non-beta and beta) on your iPad is precisely the same as for iOS 26. Go to Settings > General > Software Update to get the new update.
Install iOS 26 if you’re on iOS 16.3 or earlier
If your device is running iOS 16.3 or an earlier version, you’ll first need to update it to iOS 17 or iOS 18. Only then will the “Beta Updates” option appear in Settings > General > Software Update. Or, download Apple’s configuration profile by visiting beta.apple.com/profile on your iPhone and iPad. You’ll need to confirm the installation of the configuration profile in the Settings app. After that, restart the device and revisit Settings > General > Software Update to get the beta.
If an iOS update is stuck for a long time, whether it be a beta release or a stable version available for public consumption, check out these troubleshooting tips.