How to try the iOS 18 and iPadOS public beta today

The iOS 18 public beta makes the iPhone and iPad better by giving them the customizability of Android phones. Fortunately, you may try the new features today and see for yourself.

These improvements include the freedom to rearrange your home screen and set dark mode on your phone.

Meanwhile, the latest OS makes the calculator app bigger on iPads. 

READ: Best iPads to buy for every use

Follow the instructions below to download and install these operating systems. Note that you may encounter problems in these beta-testing versions.

What are the features of the iOS 18 public beta?

Start by installing iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 with these steps:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Select General and then tap Software Update.
3. Next, tap iOS 18 public beta or iPadOS 18 public beta, depending on your device.
4. Return to the Software Update screen to select the option to install the beta.

Those with iPhones may enjoy the following features: 

1. You may change the tools on the Control Center, letting you access the essential ones conveniently. Also, you may change their location and sizes and activate dark mode if you prefer a dimmer display.
2. Users may swap out the camera and flashlight shortcuts on the lock screen for other apps. 
3. The Photos app’s artificial intelligence to organize images into trips or albums featured on the app’s home page.
4. The iOS 18 public beta lets you become more expressive with the Messages app by allowing you to add bold or italicized text. Moreover, you may react to messages with emojis called “tapbacks.”
5. More importantly, you may send texts via satellite if you don’t have Wi-Fi or cell service, which is handy in emergencies. 
6. Safari will summarize news and web articles if you tap the button on the left side of the URL bar.
7. The public beta installs the Passwords app. It stores and inputs your passwords to save the trouble of recalling several. 
8. Tapping an iPhone against another iPhone lets you transfer digital money.
9. Your phone will be able to generate transcripts from calls or recordings.
10. The Siri animation takes over the entire iPhone screen.

READ: How to try Android 14’s first beta update

What are the features of the iPadOS 18 public beta?

The iPadOS 18 provides the features above and additional ones. For example, the iPad Calculator app can switch from basic to scientific. 

It has Math Notes that lets you write down math equations so that an AI may solve them on your behalf. Moreover, you may lock and hide apps behind your FaceID with these steps:

1. Long press your desired app.
2. Then, tap Require FaceID.
3. Choose to hide the app behind FaceID.
4. Next, provide your FaceID to activate the security setting. 

READ: Apple Intelligence is coming to future devices

The iPadOS public beta allows Apple users to format external storage with these instructions:

1. Connect your external storage to your iPad.
2. Then, long press on your external storage on the table.
3. Tap the Erase button.
4. Next, tap your preferred format and select Erase again.