Revealed: How to get the new iOS 18 on your iPhone BEFORE Apple releases it to the public this fall
- iOS 18 is packed with a range of AI tools, including ChatGPT integration with Siri
- It won’t be released until September, but here’s how you can try out an early beta version
Apple has pulled back the curtain on its upcoming iOS 18 operating system, which will be packed with new AI tools.
iOS 18 is expected to be generally available for the public to install on devices around mid-September.
This will likely be shortly after the tech giant unveils its next iPhone, which is expected to be called the iPhone 16.
While September may still be a painfully distant time for fans, there is a way to try out the software sooner.
Here’s how to get an early ‘beta’ version of iOS 18, which is available for download now.
Apple has pulled back the curtain on its upcoming iOS 18 operating system, which will be packed with new AI tools, including a version of virtual assistant Siri powered by ChatGPT
‘Apple Intelligence’ refers to a slew of new AI-powered features coming in Apple’s upcoming software update, iOS 18, from AI-generated emoji to a new version of Siri that uses ChatGPT, OpenAI’s infamous chatbot
iOS 18 is currently available as part of a “beta test,” where people use an early version of a product to catch any bugs or issues before its general release.
The first step is to register with Apple’s Developer Programwhich requires you to enter your Apple ID and your payment details, such as TechRadar reports.
Registration costs $99 (£79) per year, but if you are a non-profit organisation, accredited educational institution or government agency you may be entitled to a fee waiver.
Once you’re enrolled (or if you’ve already signed up), go to the Apple Developer website on your iPhone and click ‘Account’.
Enter your Apple ID and password to sign in, agree to the terms and conditions, then tap the Downloads page, where Beta iOS 18 should be listed.
Next, you need to go to the Settings app on your iPhone and tap ‘General’ and ‘Software Update’, followed by ‘Install’.
iOS 18 is expected to be generally available for the public to install on devices around mid-September (file photo)
After restarting your iPhone (possibly several times), you will have an early version of iOS 18 on your device.
Be warned: this beta version may be full of bugs that can affect the performance of your device and even cause it to crash.
If you don’t want to pay for Apple’s Developer Program, a “free beta” version of iOS 18 will be available next month.
If you can wait a little longer, the official public release is in September, but keep in mind that it won’t be compatible with iPhone X and some even older iPhones.
iOS 18 is described by Apple as a “major” software release with a new design for the Photos app, more customizable home screen options and a password manager app.
But the biggest selling point for iOS 18 is “Apple Intelligence,” a suite of AI-powered tools that make it easier to do things on your device.
Apple Intelligence requires an up-to-date AI chip in a device to work – the A17 Pro (in iPhones) or the M1 or higher (in iPads and Macs).
Essentially, this means that the only two iPhones that will get Apple Intelligence are the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max – and not the cheaper standard version of the iPhone 15.
It also means that iPhone 15 standard and older iPhone models – like iPhone 14 and others released even longer ago – will get a version of iOS 18 without Apple Intelligence.
However, it’s thought that all iPhone 16 models unveiled in September will be packed with chips that allow Apple Intelligence to work.