Beta software for Android and iOS are versions of operating systems that are still in testing. It’s free for anyone who can download and install on their devices.
You can install beta versions of Android and iOS to get an idea of ??what needs to happen before the public release is available to everyone. When you hear about Apple or Google releasing a new feature in an upcoming system update, you can almost always get the same feature sooner with beta software.
However, it is important to know that operating systems are not yet fully developed. Instead, they are preview releases, meaning that they are still being worked on, bugs are still being fixed, and features are still being finalized. In fact, you can use some of the features in an early beta that will never make it to the final release.
Should you enroll in the beta program?
Crashes and errors are also common, and possibly even system-wide issues that affect the way you use your phone or tablet. For example, an early beta may cause your regular apps to crash or poor call quality, web browsing, video streaming, etc.
That being said, if you want to report bugs to software developers to help them improve the product, then using the iOS or Android beta software might be the right solution for you. You can help them identify bugs and prepare the public release for everyone else to use.
If you’re sure you want to take that kind of risk, signing up for the beta OS for these platforms is easy. Let’s take a look at how to register for the programs, and then how to install the beta software on your device.
How to register
Signing up for the beta program for Android or iOS couldn’t be easier. Just sign in with the account you use on your phone or tablet and accept the terms of the program.
Android Beta Program
Step 1. Visit the Google Android Beta Program page.
Step 2. Select “Sign In” if you see this button, or “Enable” if you are already signed in.
If you see a notification that no matching devices are available, double-check that you have entered the correct email address. It must be registered with a compatible Android device. With that said, take a look at which devices can run the beta version of Android software.
Step 3. Follow any other instructions on the screen, such as agreeing to the terms of service.
iOS Beta Program
Step 1. Visit the Apple Software Beta Program page.
Step 2. Select “Sign In” to sign in to your Apple account.
Make sure this account is the same as the one you signed in to on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.
Step 3. On your device, go to this page of the Apple website.
Step 4. Select “Download Profile” and follow the instructions to add a beta profile to your device.
How to install Beta OS
Since the registration process is now over, it is very easy to install the beta software on your Android or iOS device:
Tip. We recommend that you back up your device before installing the beta version of the operating system. If something goes wrong, you can always restore from a backup.
For Android, go to Settings> System> Advanced> System Update and select Check for Updates to get the Android beta.
For iOS, go to Settings> General> Software Update and select Download & Install to get the latest iOS beta.
How to leave the trial program
The beta version of the software can be interesting for everyone and useful for application developers or others who want to access the latest technical software. However, beta software is by definition not ready for public use and can crash your system to the point where use becomes unbearable.
You can wait until the public release is out to automatically complete the beta. This will give you the final release and unsubscribe from the beta version of that major OS version. Or, you can manually exit the beta program at any time.
When you uninstall the beta software, you are installing the current public release on your device. Of course, this will remove all beta features.
Leave the Android Beta Program
To cancel a beta program on your Android device is as simple as selecting “Decline†and then “Exit Beta†on the Android beta program page.
Simply sign in with the same account as when you signed up for the beta and you can quickly cancel the beta software.
Remove iOS Beta Profile
The iOS beta software installation was done by downloading the beta profile, so you can exit the iOS beta testing program by deleting the profile.
Go to Settings> General> Profile, select the profile you downloaded above, and click Delete Profile.
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