How to Install the iOS 16, watchOS 9, and macOS Ventura Developer Betas

Got access to Apple’s developer program and want to check out the new updates early? Here’s what you need to do.

Following the opening keynote of WWDC 2022, Apple dropped the first betas for iOS 16, iPadOS 16, watchOS 9, and macOS Ventura for developers to get their hands dirty with. If you have access to Apple’s $99/year developer program, you can try out the operating systems while they are still in the development stage.

Follow the guide below to learn how to install the developer beta of iOS 16, iPadOS 16, watchOS 9, and macOS 13 on your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, or Mac.

What to Know Before Installing Developer Betas From Apple

Apple’s developer beta releases are strictly meant for developers. This allows them to try out the upcoming OS releases to better understand the new APIs and enhancements they bring. Being a developer beta, these releases are riddled with bugs and issues—they are not stable enough for daily use. You are also going to run into third-party app compatibility issues.

Until and unless you are a developer, it is strongly recommended that you don’t install any of the developer betas on your device. And if you do, make sure to create a backup of your iPhone before starting with the process.

You must be a part of Apple’s Developer program, which costs $99/year, to try out the betas. If you are not a part of this program, you can’t officially install developer betas on your Apple device. Instead, you’ll have to wait until Apple’s public beta program starts.

How to Install the iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 Developer Beta

Image Credit: Apple

Installing the iOS 16 or iPadOS 16 developer beta on your iPhone or iPad is pretty straightforward and can be done directly from the device itself. You don’t need to connect your iPhone or iPad to your Mac for this.

Open the Apple developer beta download page in Safari on your iPhone or iPad. Proceed to sign in with the Apple ID you signed up for the Developer Program with. Depending on your device, select whether you want to install iOS 16 or iPadOS 16 beta. Then, tap the Install Profile button.

Once the download is over, you’ll be redirected to the iOS Beta Software Profile screen. If not, navigate to Settings > General > Profile, where you should see the downloaded profile. Tap on it and follow the onscreen instructions to continue with the installation. Your iPhone or iPad will restart during the process to finish the beta profile installation.

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Now, head to Settings > General > Software Update to download the iOS 16 or iPadOS 16 developer beta on your device. Once that’s done, read about the best iOS 16 features to make the most of this update.

How to Install the watchOS 9 Developer Beta

Image Credit: Apple

You can only install the watchOS 9 developer beta on your Apple Watch if your connected iPhone is running the iOS 16 beta. If you fulfill this requirement, installing watchOS 9 on the Apple Watch is pretty straightforward.

Head to the Apple developer beta download page and sign in with the registered Apple ID. Then, download the watchOS 9 profile. After the download is complete, you’ll be redirected to the profile installation page on your iPhone. If that doesn’t happen, head over to Settings > General > Profile and install the downloaded profile from there.

Once installed, your Apple Watch will restart to complete the process. Then, open the Watch app on your iPhone, and navigate to General > Software Update. Proceed to download the watchOS 9 developer beta and tap Install when done to start the installation process.

How to Install the macOS Ventura Developer Beta

Like the iPhone and iPad, you need to grab the macOS Ventura beta from Apple’s developer beta page. By default, the file will download to the Downloads folder of your Mac. Proceed to launch and install macOSDeveloperaBetaAccessUtility.pkg inside it.

After the installation is complete, navigate to System Preferences > Software Update on your Mac. You should see the macOS Ventura developer beta available for download. Install it like you install any other OS update on your Mac. There are plenty of new features in macOS Ventura that you should check out after installing the developer beta.

Back Up Your Data Before Installing the Developer Betas

Before you jump on the beta bandwagon with your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, or Mac, I will strongly recommend that you create a backup of all your important data.

All the betas from Apple are still in the development stage, so they are bound to be buggy and filled with issues. A working backup will allow you to easily roll back your device to a stable OS when required.