Apple’s public betas are here—and they’re nothing but trouble

The first public beta versions of iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe, and watchOS 26 are now available. And if you’re a keen enthusiast of all things Apple—which is likely, given the name of the website you’re currently reading—then I imagine you’ve been tempted to download one or more of them and give them a whirl to see what all the fuss is about.

I’m here to tell you not to do that.

If you’re a developer, then it makes perfect sense to try out the developer betas. You kind of have to, because you’ll need time to update your apps to work with the new software framework before it officially rolls out: it’s no good running iOS 26.0 for the first time on launch day in September and suddenly realising it kills your game. But for everyone else, the downsides heavily outweigh the benefits, and I would go so far as to say that most people should stay away from installing them. Here’s why.

They’re difficult to uninstall

In the world of technology, curiosity is nearly always a good thing. Fearless experimentation is how you expand your knowledge and adapt to the latest developments. The key thing when nurturing that spirit of curiosity in beginners is explaining that there are no negative consequences to a little tinkering: that changes can be undone, settings reverted, and saves recovered.

But installing a software beta, much like upgrading Apple operating systems in general, doesn’t come under that category of consequence-free exploration. A couple of years ago, Apple made downloading and installing the beta much easier (we explain the process in this tutorial); uninstalling it is much more of a pain. Removing the iOS 26 beta, for example, requires you to completely wipe your iPhone, reinstall iOS 18, and lose whatever you might have done while using the beta.

So don’t take the decision lightly. Installing a beta isn’t quite a one-way ticket, but let’s just say that it’s a lot easier to check into Hotel Public Beta than to check out.

They’re not finished yet

There’s something appealing about trying a new tech product before everyone else–as if you’re a celebrity or influencer being given exclusive behind-the-scenes access. But that isn’t what’s happening when you install a public beta. You’re not really getting macOS Tahoe (or whatever), but an unfinished piece of software with the same name that Apple doesn’t yet consider to be ready for release.

In some respects the public betas are unfinished because Apple simply hasn’t got round to adding scheduled features yet (and wouldn’t you rather wait for them to be added?). But other elements will change organically between WWDC and launch day in response to tester feedback. Complaints about Liquid Glass visual effects have resulted in them being tweaked and toned down; Apple has also been praised for improving performance and stability. There will be many such improvements as the beta process continues, and grabbing the public beta now means you’ll get a version that doesn’t benefit from them.

They can cause serious problems

What’s the point of beta testing? To find bugs. A process which benefits Apple, but can cause serious problems for the people who find them.

Beta software has been known to cause any number of headaches, from small glitches afflicting a single app or screen to system-wide issues with overheating, battery performance, backups, connectivity, and screen freezes. In some cases betas have completely bricked the devices they’re run on. These things have happened on officially released software too, of course, but far less often–because those products have been through a full beta testing process.

We always advise prospective beta testers to run the pre-release software on a spare or older device, so that running into a serious bug won’t leave them unable to use their primary one. But a better solution would be not to run the beta at all.

They’re not the flex you think they are

Full (and slightly embarrassing) disclosure: I like it when people notice a brand-new tech device I’m reviewing. Oh, is that the new iPad Pro? Why yes, yes it is. Yes, I am a very cool person. How kind of you to notice.

If you’re looking for the same experience from running a public beta, I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t produce the same effect. On the one hand, it isn’t obvious enough; it only changes the interface of your iPhone rather than its physical exterior. You have to actively point out that you’re running the beta, which ruins the effect.

You’re spoiling the surprise!

When the space exploration game No Man’s Sky came out in 2016, players rushed to get on board, seduced by wildly ambitious claims and the idea of what it could become. The reality, at least at launch, was very different: planned features were delayed or abandoned, scope was reduced, and the whole thing failed to live up to what was implied by the trailers. Initial reviews were poor, user numbers fell off, and it seemed like a failure.

But the makers didn’t give up on the game, and the subsequent months and years saw numerous updates. Problems were fixed, features were added, and these days it’s considered a success.

With the benefit of hindsight, how would you choose to play that game? By jumping in at launch, being massively disappointed, and then either sticking with a substandard experience until it got better or giving up? Or waiting until it was ready and enjoying the game in its full glory, surprised and dazzled by the new experiences each time you land on a new planet?

Apple’s public betas may have come out, but they’re not the finished article. Plenty of features haven’t been added, they won’t perform optimally, and there will be bugs everywhere. Why would you choose to spoil the surprise now? Just wait and enjoy the full experience in September, barely two months away.