Apple unveiled iOS 15, iPadOS 15 and watchOS 8 a month ago at the Worldwide Developers Conference and you can install them right now on your Apple devices through the Apple Beta Software Program.
The final versions will be available later this year, probably in September, but users can dive straight in an install the beta versions of iOS 15, iPadOS 15 and watchOS 8 right now.
The Mac OS Monterey public beta will be available in the coming weeks.
The idea behind the Apple Beta Software Program doesn’t only offer users early access to the latest operating system but to also help improve the quality and performance by sending anonymous diagnostics and usage data to Apple.
There might be crashes and freezes that you may uncover which can be reported to Apple to help improve the final product.
But before you dive in, it’s important to backup your iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch before updating to the public beta software.
This is a precaution in case the install doesn’t go to plan so you can then restore your device as it was.
Here’s what you need to do to install iOS 15, iPadOS 15 and watchOS 8:
iOS 15
There are a number of new features in iOS 15 including enhanced FaceTime and SharePlay which allows users to watch the same content at the same time.
Notifications have also been redesigned and Live Text will recognise text or phone numbers from a photo and allow you to capture and share that information.
For a full list of all the new iOS 15 features take a look here.
To start the installation of iOS 15 you need to head to the Apple Beta Software Program page on your iPhone sign in with your Apple ID.
On this page you will find a link to install a new profile to prepare your iPhone for the iOS 15 Beta 2.
Then go to Settings > General > Profiles and you will see the iOS 15 Beta 2 profile. Click install and your iPhone will restart.
When your iPhone starts up again go to Settings > General > Software Update and you’ll find the iOS 15 Public Beta 2 waiting there ready to install.
iPadOS 15
iPadOS 15 has a number of new features that are designed to increase productivity and make multitasking even easier.
These include Quick Note so you can take notes system wide, Widgets to find information at a glance and App Library to organise your apps into helpful categories and make them faster to access.
For a full list of all the new iPadOS 15 features take a look at our story here.
To install iPadOS 15 Public Beta, use your iPad to visit the Apple Beta Software Program page and download and install the new profile to get your device ready for the update.
After installing the profile and restarting the iPad go to Settings > General > Software Update and you will find the iPad OS 15 Public Beta 2 update ready to install.
watchOS 8
The new watchOS 8 operating system gives your Apple Watch new ways to help you stay healthy, active and connected.
The new features include improvements to the Wallet and Home apps as well as a new Portrait watch face, new workouts plus enhancements to Messages and the Photos app to make sharing and staying connected even easier.
To view all the new features on watchOS 8 you can take a look at them here.
To install watchOS 8 you need to enrol the iPhone paired to your Apple Watch in the iOS 15 Public Beta.
Once this is done go to the Apple Public Beta Software Program page on your iPhone and download the profile required for watchOS 8.
Tap install and follow the onscreen instructions.
From here the watchOS 8 Public Beta update will then appear in the Watch app on your iPhone.
Keep the Apple Watch close to the iPhone during the update process and have the Apple Watch resting on its charger.
