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Apple releases first iOS 18 beta along with iPadOS 18, macOS 15, and more

Published Jun 10th, 2024 3:15PM EDT
Siri gets an AI-powered upgrade in iOS 18.
Image: Apple Inc.

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Following the WWDC 2024 keynote, Apple has just released iOS 18 beta 1 to developers. The new test cycle will last for at least three months until the company makes the official stable version available to all users. Here’s how to install iOS 18 first beta.

Alongside the first iOS 18 developer beta, Apple has also seeded the first testing versions of iPadOS 18, macOS 15, tvOS 18, watchOS 11, and visionOS 2. The official testing version of HomePod Software, version 18, will be released at a later date, as usual.

With this new software, Apple is focusing on artificial intelligence, as it has just announced several features, including the ability to summarize web articles, better playlist creation in Apple Music, a powered-up Calendar app, and so much more.

At the moment, it’s unclear what Apple will make available with beta 1, as some features might be delayed until iOS 18.1 or later. In addition, Cupertino might add some functions that might need extra time until their final release.

For example, the first iOS 18 developer beta will likely include the new Home Screen redesign. According to Apple, users will be able to freely place their apps and widgets on the Home Screen. Although it’s been available on Android for years, it’s nice that the company is finally catching up.

As always, BGR will take the next few days and weeks to share everything we discover about these upcoming operating system updates and the real benefits you’ll get once they’re available to all users later this fall.

That said, if you’re not a developer, you shouldn’t download the first beta of any of these software updates as they’re usually buggy, and some programs might not work as intended. While you can return to the previous stable versions on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, it’s impossible to return to a stable watchOS version, so be mindful about trying these systems before everyone else.

A public beta version will be available later next month, so this is when you should think about trying iOS 18 and the other betas.

José Adorno Tech News Reporter

José is a Tech News Reporter at BGR. He has previously covered Apple and iPhone news for 9to5Mac, and was a producer and web editor for Latin America broadcaster TV Globo. He is based out of Brazil.