Don’t install the iOS 27 public beta until you read this

After announcing iOS 27 last month with a beta version for developers, Apple is now rolling out the first public beta of the new operating system, giving iPhone and iPad users the chance to try out the biggest update of the year without a developer account.

If you’ve been following the path of iOS 27, you’ve probably seen the headlines about the new Siri AI, redesigned interface, and dozens of quality-of-life improvements. It’s tempting to install the beta the moment it becomes available.

I’ve been running iOS 27 since the first developer beta, both on my primary iPhone and on an older iPhone 11 Pro Max to evaluate performance. It’s already shaping up to be one of the strongest iOS updates in years, but there are a few important things you should know before making the jump.

Beta software is still beta software

Apple’s public betas are generally more stable than the first developer builds, but don’t mistake “polished” for “finished.”

Even though the most obvious bugs have already been fixed, you’ll likely still notice some crashes, unexpected battery drain, apps that don’t work as expected, and features that simply stop working from time to time.

In my experience running each of the iOS 27 betas, stability has improved considerably since the first release. In fact, in some ways, iOS 27 seems much more stable than iOS 26, because Apple has paid special attention to optimizing the software for better performance this year.

That said, bugs are still a thing. It’s not bad. But it’s not 100 percent reliable either.

If you rely on your iPhone or iPad for work, or simply can’t handle unexpected issues, it’s worth asking yourself whether you really need the iOS 27 beta right now. The final release is only about two months away.

Don’t expect every app to work perfectly

Most popular apps seem to be working fine with the latest iOS 27 beta, but there are always a few exceptions.

Banking apps, authentication apps, VPN clients, smart home software, business tools, and games are often among the apps that show some kind of incompatibility with beta software. Some apps may crash immediately after launch. Others may have subtle bugs that only appear during everyday use.

Before installing the beta, think about which apps you absolutely cannot live without. If one of them breaks until the next update, would you be able to work without it?

It’s also worth checking out other users’ reports on sites like the Apple Support Community or even Reddit to see if a specific app is working well with iOS 27 beta. And remember: apps won’t be updated with full support for iOS 27 until this fall, when the new software will be officially released to the public.

Siri AI won’t be available right away

One of the biggest highlights of iOS 27 is certainly Siri AI. Apple has completely revamped its virtual assistant with new AI models that are capable of understanding the context of your device and all your personal data to answer questions. Most of the people rushing to install iOS 27 will want to try that out first.

However, although Siri AI is already available in the iOS 27 beta, you won’t be able to use it right after updating your device. That’s because there’s a waiting list to enable the new Siri, similar to how Apple introduced Apple Intelligence back in 2024.

After installing iOS 27, eligible users can request access, but activation may take anywhere from a few hours to several days. Even then, Siri AI only works on supported devices with Apple Intelligence (iPhone 15 Pro or later, and Macs and iPads with the M1 chip or later).

If you’re installing the beta mainly to try out the new Siri AI, it’s worth setting your expectations. You may have to wait a little longer before these features become available to you.

Be prepared for frequent updates

Installing a beta version of iOS isn’t a one-time commitment. Apple typically releases new beta builds every two weeks, and sometimes faster than that as it rushes to fix bugs ahead of the official fall release.

So be prepared to frequently download and install iOS updates on your device. Most of the time, this is a good sign, since updates include lots of bug fixes. But sometimes a new beta can introduce a new bug that won’t be fixed until a week or two later.

Apple

Properly back up your data first

The best advice for anyone wanting to install the iOS 27 beta is to back up your iPhone or iPad before updating. If anything goes wrong, or if you simply decide to go back to iOS 26, you’ll be glad you have a backup with all your data.

Without a backup, you can still downgrade to iOS 26, but you’ll lose all your data.

Ideally, create an archived backup on your Mac or PC. Unlike an iCloud backup, an archived local backup won’t be overwritten automatically, making it much easier to restore your device to its previous state if necessary. While iCloud backups are extremely useful, they will eventually be updated with iOS 27 data, making it unusable for downgrading.

On your Mac or PC, you can archive a backup by following the steps below:

1. Open the Finder (Mac) or the Apple Devices app (Windows).
2. Connect your device to the computer using a USB cable.
3. Find your device in the sidebar list.
4. If necessary, enter your passcode on your iPhone or iPad to trust a new computer.
5. Click “Back Up Now” to save a new backup.
6. After finishing, click “Manage Backups.”
7. Right-click the backup you want, then select the “Archive” option.

This will ensure that your iOS 26 backup remains stored on your computer, even if you later create a new backup containing data from the iOS 27 beta.

Should you install the iOS 27 beta?

If you’re comfortable troubleshooting occasional bugs and want early access to Apple’s newest features, the iOS 27 public beta is likely worth trying. This year’s release feels more polished than many previous first public betas, and Apple has made meaningful improvements beyond the headline AI features.

On the other hand, if you only have one iPhone or iPad and rely on it for work, are planning to travel soon, or simply don’t want to deal with bugs, waiting for the final release in September is still the wisest choice.

The public beta gives you an early look at the future of the iPhone. Just remember that you’re also volunteering to help Apple finish building it.