How to become Apple tree's iOS 13, iPadOS or macOS 'Catalina' betas

Apple makes it fairly piece of cake to install still-in-development versions of its desktop and mobile OSes, only the usual caveats apply: Always support your hardware first, and expect glitches and bugs. Hither's what to practise and where to go.

Senior Reporter, Computerworld |

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Apple tree earlier this month issued previews for this twelvemonth's upgrades to iOS and macOS, its two most popular operating systems, at the firm's annual Worldwide Developers Conference.

It also debuted a new OS for the iPad - called, not surprisingly, iPadOS - and seeded a preview of that, besides.

The betas of iOS 13, iPadOS and macOS 10.fifteen - the latter's nickname came from another California location, "Catalina" - were initially delivered only to registered developers. Merely anyone who wants to run the rougher lawmaking can do so now: Free public betas for iOS xiii, iPadOS and Mojave were released Monday, a calendar week before the starting time of July, the month Apple had initially pegged as the availability window.

Apple operates its beta programs differently than Microsoft, the enterprise rex. The Cupertino, Calif. company's processes tilt, every bit does its business organisation strategy, toward individuals, not collectives. To corporate IT, the whole iOS/iPad/macOS preview situation must seem fly-by-the-seat-of-one's-pants.

That'south where answers to the well-nigh common questions about Apple's betas comes in. If everyone is on their ain, more or less, everyone needs to know how to catch a preview.

What are the two ways to get the iOS, iPadOS and macOS betas?

You heard correct. There is a for-a-fee path to Apple'south previews equally well equally one that doesn't cost a dime.

The former is by registering every bit an Apple developer, a process that takes only moments but costs $99 each twelvemonth to maintain membership. Registered developers may download previews, utilize Apple'southward APIs and submit products to the company'south App Store and Mac App Store.

Individuals practise non demand to actually develop iOS, iPadOS or macOS apps, or even know the divergence between code and cake. All that's required is an Apple tree ID - the username/password combination for accessing iCloud works - $.25 of personal information, like name and mailing address, and a credit card to pay the $99 fee.

To register as a developer, starting time on this page. Once registered, y'all tin download the iOS thirteen, iPadOS and/or macOS 10.xv (Catalina) betas from the Downloads page of Apple tree's Developer website.

Apple's Public Beta, on the other mitt, costs nothing. It besides requires an Apple ID, such as the username/password authentication used to log into iCloud. Register with the beta plan here, where a click of the "Sign upwardly" push button at the top starts the process.

A single sign-upward gives individuals access to the iOS thirteen, iPadOS and macOS 10.15 (Catalina) betas.

iOS 13 beta profile Apple tree

How do I install the iOS beta?

Whether the developer preview or the public beta, the iOS sneak peek gets onto an eligible iPhone by heading to the Downloads section of the Developers website (for the dev preview) or beta.apple.com/profile (for the public beta) with the to-run-the-beta device. From that location, you download a "Configuration Profile" to the device. Once the profile has been installed and the device restarted, tap Settings, so General and finally Software Update. The preview should be offered. Download it OTA (over the air) every bit with whatever update or upgrade.

Beta updates will be offered regularly, just equally production-quality updates are throughout an iOS edition'southward lifecycle. Approve each as you would whatsoever other update, and the iPhone or iPad will download and install the newest iOS 13 version, then restart to complete the process.

Demand more aid or data? Steer here: "Installing Apple Beta Software."

How do I install the iPadOS beta?

Utilise the iOS process to get the beta of iPadOS onto your iPad.

On the "Enroll Your Devices to Go Public Beta Software" page (or the Downloads section of the Developers site for the dev preview), click on the iPadOS push, then download the configuration profile to the tablet by tapping "Download profile." Once the contour has been installed and the iPad restarted, tap Settings, then General and finally Software Update. The preview should be offered. Download it OTA (over the air) as with any update or upgrade.

How practice I install the macOS beta?

Not surprisingly, the procedure is like to previewing iOS and iPadOS.

Each Mac must be "enrolled" in the beta by downloading and installing the "macOS Developer/Public Beta Access Utility," available from the Downloads section of the Developers website (for the dev preview) or beta.apple.com/sp/betaprogram/redemption/ (for the public beta).

Once a Mac has been enrolled with the installation of the access utility, launch "Software Update" from the Organization Preferences panel - if information technology does non do so automatically - and click the Download (offset-time beta program participant) or Upgrade At present (previous participant) button.

Future updates will exist offered to the enrolled Mac automatically, just similar not-preview updates and upgrades.

Apple beta site Apple tree

What to know before you venture into BetaLand

The usual running-preview-lawmaking caveats apply to all three operating arrangement betas.

If possible, cull a device that y'all don't rely on for disquisitional chores. We know, that's not ever feasible - or for the adventurous, not even fun - simply we're making sure you lot've gotten the warning.

(On a Mac, the preview tin can be placed on a secondary partition of the bulldoze. Cheque out these instructions on how to do that in macOS x.14, aka Mojave, or x.13, High Sierra.)

2d, back up the contents of the device so that if necessary, you can restore it to its pre-preview country. If the only time yous hear the words "back up" is when your motorcar passenger screams at y'all to shove it into reverse, read up on backing up an iPhone or iPad here, a Mac here.

Tin can I configure multiple Macs or iPhones for the betas?

No.

Dissimilar, say, Windows Insider, Microsoft's public preview program, there's no style for an Information technology administrator to set multiple Macs, iPhones or iPads so that they access, download, install and run the Catalina, iOS xiii and iPadOS previews. Each user must enroll their device(s) using their ain Apple ID.

An admin'southward best bet would be to craft an electronic mail that points employees to the appropriate URLs, such as the registration and enrollment pages for the public beta. Also, the Apple tree Developer Enterprise Programme - $299 annually - covers multiple people in the company, all of whom can download the non-public previews for internal app development purposes.

How many betas volition Apple release for iOS 13, iPadOS and macOS ten.15?

Fifty-fifty Apple doesn't know for certain.

In the past five years, Apple tree released 10 (Mojave, 2018), half-dozen (High Sierra, 2017) seven (Sierra, 2016), vi (El Capitan, 2015) and half dozen (Yosemite, 2014) public OS Ten/macOS betas, with an updated version actualization, on average, every two weeks. Developer betas were issued more frequently - and often they were unlike snapshots-in-time than public previews - with, for example, eleven delivered for Mojave last year.

The total tally will exist less important, much less, than the quality of the builds. Nigh the end of the preview process, for case, Apple has at times released one "gold primary" - a term reserved for an almost-in that location last - subsequently another in quick succession as it and testers have found bugs. Other years, a unmarried gold master, or at most a pair, take been plenty.

What well-nigh support? Where exercise I get for that?

The usual documentation and peer-to-peer back up forums are available to registered developers from Apple's website, which is a big office of the return for your $99 per year membership fee.

You're on your own with the public beta, though.

Apple doesn't offer support, not fifty-fifty a dedicated user-to-user discussion group, for iOS, iPadOS or macOS previews, where queries to more than experienced hands tin be posted. Compared to Microsoft, which hosts the Windows Insider preview program - it includes word groups and blogs – Apple runs a blank bones beta.

How do I become off the iOS, iPadOS or macOS beta trains?

Easily, it turns out: Apple posted instructions hither.

On a Mac, selection Organisation Preferences from the Apple menu, then click the Software Update icon. In the pop-up that appears, click "Details" at the left (under "This Mac is enrolled in the Apple Beta Software Program") and so click "Restore Defaults" on the side by side dialog.

On an iPhone or iPad - for the betas of iOS 13 and iPadOS - navigate to Settings > General > Profiles and tap the iOS 13 or iPadOS Beta Software Profile (the one downloaded to enroll the device in the first place). Tap Remove Profile, confirm by borer Remove. (Y'all may be asked for the device passcode.)

Subsequently finishing those tasks, the Mac, iPhone or iPad will stop receiving beta builds.

When Catalina, iOS xiii and iPadOS release this fall - nigh probable in September - you lot can install the terminal from the Mac App Store or App Shop without having to revert to the version that ran the Mac or iPhone/iPad before the public beta was practical.

How do I get rid of the beta and revert to what I had?

That's why you backed upward the iPhone, iPad or Mac. Right? You did dorsum it upward before you went beta. Right?

Apple tree'southward support site walks you through the restoration process in case the beta left a bad sense of taste. Do what it says.

Senior Reporter Gregg Keizer covers Windows, Office, Apple tree/enterprise, web browsers and web apps for Computerworld.

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