It is quite clear that iOS 17 will make an appearance next Monday (June 5) during Apple’s WWDC 2023 event. But how long after Apple executives leave the stage will we be able to get our hands on new software for our iPhones?
The answer to this question depends on who you are.
iOS developers, the people who build the apps that go on your iPhone, won’t have long to wait for their iOS 17 beta. Apple typically releases a developer beta for its new operating software the same day as the WWDC keynote. . This means that an early version of iOS 17 should be in the hands of developers next Monday.
For the rest of the public, the wait may be a little longer. The full release of iOS 17 is expected to arrive in the fall, just before Apple launches its new iPhone 15 models. But well before that, a public beta of iOS 17 will appear, giving people willing to try the software their first taste. some of its new features.
Additions through iOS 17 are said to include everything from a new journaling app to overhauls for the Health and Wallet apps. Command Center could get its own redesign too, and there’s talk of Apple adding active widgets that let you interact with them on your home and lock screens. We may even see a new feature that converts iPhones into smart screens when the phone isn’t in use.
So when can we expect an iOS 17 public beta with all those possible improvements to play with? A quick look at Apple’s track record for iOS releases gives us a pretty good clue.
iOS public beta history
Apple began offering public betas for iOS in 2015 with the debut of iOS 9. (You can also get public betas for macOS, watchOS, and now iPadOS as Apple has split the software that runs on its phones and tablets.) Typically, Apple modus operandi was to release a developer beta of its software on the same day as the WWDC keynote, with the public beta following sometime later.
Over the years, the window between the public and developer betas has narrowed. For iOS 9, it was a full month after that year’s WWDC before the iOS 9 public beta hit. In subsequent years, it went from two and a half weeks to just over three weeks between beta releases. One notable exception was last year’s iOS 16 beta program, where the public beta came more than a month after the first developer release.
| iOS version | Developer beta release date | Public beta release date | Final release date |
| iOS 16 | June 6, 2022 | July 11, 2022 | September 12, 2022 |
| iOS 15 | June 7, 2021 | June 30, 2021 | September 20, 2021 |
| iOS 14 | June 22, 2020 | July 9, 2020 | September 16, 2020 |
| iOS 13 | June 3, 2019 | June 24, 2019 | September 19, 2019 |
| iOS 12 | June 4, 2018 | June 25, 2018 | September 17, 2018 |
| iOS 11 | June 5, 2017 | June 26, 2017 | September 19, 2017 |
| iOS 10 | June 13, 2016 | July 7, 2016 | September 13, 2016 |
| ios 9 | June 8, 2015 | July 9, 2016 | September 16, 2016 |
For iOS 17, a report from MacRumors places the likely release date for the public beta in July, though there’s no specific source cited for that time frame. Using Apple’s recent three-week window, we imagine that the first public beta of iOS 17 would appear in the last week of June.
Apple’s beta software program
If you’re interested in trying out the iOS 17 beta, you don’t have to wait for Apple to announce a release date for the software. Assuming you’re not a member of Apple’s $99 a year developer program, you can sign up for any public beta through Apple’s Software Beta Program.
To sign up for iOS 17, go to the Apple Beta Software Program website in a browser on your iPhone. You will be asked to sign in using your Apple ID. Once you sign up, you’ll be able to download the iOS 17 public beta when it’s released.
Of course, this assumes your iPhone is compatible with iOS 17. According to the latest rumors about iOS 17 supported devices, the update should work on at least iPhone Xs or later, with iPhone X and iPhone 8 models reportedly being phased out. from this version.
A few caveats about public betas if iOS 17 will be your first time trying Apple’s early release software — while Apple’s public betas are generally fairly stable, you should still proceed with caution. Public betas may contain bugs, and not all of your apps may work as expected with an iOS beta. Some beta releases are also known to impact the battery life of the phone.
For this reason, we recommend that you only upload betas to devices you don’t rely on for day-to-day work—a spare iPhone would be ideal if you have one. Before downloading any public beta, however, you should back up your iPhone with an archived backup in case you need to reinstall old software.
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