Apple officially released a new iOS system - iOS 26 in mid-September of 2025, along with the iPhone 17. Before the public rollout, both the Developer Beta and Public Beta were made available for early testers.

This post is here to show you how to upgrade to iOS 26 on your iOS devices with ease - whether you want to try the Beta version or upgrade directly to the official release. Follow the steps below to experience the latest iOS 26 features!

Part 1: Preparation Before iOS Update

Know iOS 26 Supported Devices

iOS 26 supports iPhone 11 and above (including Pro, Pro Max, and mini series) with the A13 Bionic or higher processor. Apple Intelligence features are available on A17 Pro (such as iPhone 15 Pro/16 series). The target iPhone or iPad should run iOS 16.4 or later or iPadOS 16.4 or later.

Back up Your iPhone Before iOS 26 Update

Although it is relatively safe to update to iOS 26, it is still necessary to back up your iPhone in case of data loss caused by an upgrade failure. What's more, it also facilitates you to downgrade to the former system version if there are some issues. If you find some apps cannot run or system bugs affect usage after the upgrade. And, here we recommend a powerful and effective tool - Apeaksoft iOS Data Backup & Restore.

Follow the steps below to make a secure backup before the iOS Update:

Step 1. Free download this powerful iOS backup tool to your computer. Follow the on-screen instructions to install it.

Step 2. Choose the iOS Data Backup & Restore option on the main interface of the software. Connect your iOS device to your computer with a USB cable and press the iOS Data Backup option.

Step 3. You will see two backup options on the following page. If you want a secure backup, you can choose Encrypted backup and then set a backup password. If you just want a simple backup, choose Standard backup.

Step 4. After choosing the backup mode, you need to check the data type for backup. This program enables you to back up photos, messages, contacts, call history, notes, etc. Press the Next button and choose the file folder to save the backup.

Part 2: How to Upgrade to iOS 26 Beta (Developer & Public)

Install the Developer Beta

Step 1. Sign up at developer.apple.com

Step 2. Go to Settings - General - Software Update - Beta Updates on your iPhone.

Step 3. Select the iOS 26 Developer Beta option.

Step 4. Return to the Software Update screen and hit Update Now.

Install the Public Beta

The public betas for iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 first became available on July 24.

Step 1. Sign in with your Apple ID at beta.apple.com. Go through the agreement and press the Agree button to enroll your iPhone.

Step 2. Go to Settings - General - Software Update - Beta Updates.

Step 3. Choose iOS 26 Beta.

Step 4. Return to the Software Update screen and update as usual.

Part 3: How to Upgrade iPhone to iOS 26 (Official Release)

Before upgrading to iOS 26, please check the following tips:

• Make sure you are using iOS 26-supported iPhones.

• Your phone has been backed up already.

• Your phone is connected to a stable network and has sufficient battery power (preferably over 50%).

• Your phone has enough free storage space. Usually, iOS updates require 5-20GB of free space. You can manage your storage space via Settings - General - iPhone Storage.

• Uninstall the beta profile if you have ever participated in the beta test.

Method 1. How to Upgrade iOS on iPhone Settings

Step 1. Launch Settings on your iPhone. Scroll down to find the General tab and click it.

Step 2. Select the Software Update option.

Step 3. Press the Update Now button if iOS 26 download is available (iPhone unable to check for update?). After the download is complete, restart your phone as prompted. The whole process takes about 15 to 30 minutes.

Method 2: How to Upgrade to iOS 26 via iTunes

Step 1. Make sure you've installed the latest iTunes version on your computer. If you are using macOS Catalina or a later version, use Finder on your Mac.

Step 2. Connect your iPhone to your computer with a USB cable and open iTunes/Finder.

Step 3. Once the connection is done, there will be a pop-up window indicating a new software version available for iPhone. Just press the Download and Update button to continue.

Step 4. If there is nothing popping up, you can click your device (iPhone-like) button and locate the Summary tab. Then, you can press the Check for Update button.

Step 5. Then, an iPhone software update license agreement will pop up. Click Agree and follow the onscreen guidance to move on.

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