Hot on the heels of iOS 10 beta 2, Apple has released the public beta of the latest operating system. While iOS 10 is generally stable, it does still contain bugs and certain apps, like Airbnb, Facebook etc. won’t work as they haven’t been updated yet for the latest operating system. It is, therefore, important that you don’t install the public beta on a device that you use on a daily basis.

If you are keen to get your hands on iOS 10 and you have a compatible device, we look at the steps involved in downloading the iOS 10 public beta. We also look at the features you can expect from the operating system, as well as how you can revert to a previous iOS if you later change your mind.

How to install the iOS 10 public beta

Before you rush to install the iOS 10 public beta it is very important that you create a backup of your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch on iTunes. Why back up? Beta software is going to have bugs and your device may suffer performance issues. If you find you cannot live with the iOS 10 public beta and decide to downgrade to a current, stable version of iOS, you’ll need a working backup to restore from.

It is also important to note that iOS 10 is not supported on all devices, so you should check the list below to see whether your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch has made the cut.

How to archive an iOS backup using iTunes

You cannot restore your iOS device from a backup in iCloud, so when you create a backup using iTunes you must also archive it to create a local copy.

• Make sure you have the latest version of iTunes installed.
• Connect your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch to your computer and launch iTunes.
• Click on Summary > Back Up Now.
• Once the backup is complete, click on iTunes > Preferences > Devices.
• Find your device’s backup and Control-click that backup > select Archive.

iOS 10 compatible devices

Unfortunately, not users are going to be able to enjoy the latest operating system as iOS 10 is not compatible with all devices. You will need one of the devices listed below to download the iOS 10 public beta.

iOS 10 is compatible with the following iPhones:

• iPhone SE, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6, iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5

iOS 10 is compatible with the following iPads:

• iPad Pro 12.9-inch, iPad Pro 9.7-inch, iPad Air 2, iPad Air, iPad 4th-gen, iPad mini 4, iPad mini 3, iPad mini 2

iOS 10 is compatible with the following iPod touch:

• iPod touch 6th-gen

Steps to install the iOS 10 public beta

1. If you had previously enrolled in the Apple Beta Program, you can sign in. Alternatively, click the signup button and enter your Apple ID login credentials.
2. Read and accept Apple’s agreement.
3. On your iOS device, go to beta.apple.com/profile.
4. Download the iOS Beta Configuration Profile: tap the iOS tab > Download Profile > Install.
5. Once the download completes, on your device go to the Settings app > Software Update > wait for the iOS 10 public beta prompt to appear. Tap the prompt to download and install the public beta.
6. You will receive an email to download the iOS 10 public beta. The public beta is pushed to devices automatically over the air.

What you can expect from the iOS 10 public beta

iOS 10 comes with a variety of new features including the ability to remove default apps, add widgets to your Home or Lock screen, a variety of new 3D Touch shortcuts and a new Bedtime Clock. While iPad users also get to enjoy split-screen view in Safari.

In addition to new features in Photos, there are also new animation features for iMessage. New features in iMessage include full-screen animation, stickers, quick reactions and more. While using these new features will be fun, you will need to ensure that the person you are messaging also has iOS 10 public beta installed or else they won’t see any of the new animation features.  

Send feedback to Apple

The iOS 10 public beta comes with a built-in Feedback Assistant, found on the second page of your Home screen. If you experience any issues with the public beta of iOS 10 it is important that you send them through to Apple so the developers can iron out any issues before the official release in September.

How to revert back to iOS 9

If you want to go back to your previous operating system then you first have to erase the beta software. On your device, so to the Settings app > General > Profile > iOS 10 Beta Software Profile > tap Delete and confirm the removal.

Reinstall the latest shipping version of iOS and restore your saved iTunes backup that you made at the start of this process.

Source: Pocket-lint

Image via: Apple