It won't be until later this summer that the public beta is released.
Many significant announcements were made at WWDC 2023, including the 15-inch MacBook Air and the Apple Vision Pro mixed reality headset. The iOS 17 beta, which just became available to developers, will also be announced during the conference for the first time.
Update: We've subsequently learned that anyone may download the most recent version of iOS 17; you don't have to be a registered Apple developer. An Apple ID and a sense of adventure are all you need.
Prior to its formal release later this year, iOS 17 will be made available for public testing. Regular customers will have to wait until an undefined point in the summer, Apple has stated, because that particular beta isn't yet open.
You must register for Apple's Beta Software Program in order to access the beta, which may be done online at the Apple website.
However, as this is linked to your Apple ID, if you haven't registered for the Apple Developer Program, you won't be able to install the iOS 17 beta right immediately. Although anyone can sign up for that, there is a fee involved. To be precise, $99 each year.
Up until Apple makes the iOS 17 beta available to the public, signing up for the test with a standard Apple ID now directs you to the iOS 16 beta page. While the precise date is unknown, Apple normally opens the beta a few weeks after it is made accessible to developers.
Anyone signed up for the beta will, of course, have an opportunity to use the newest features of iOS 17 earlier than they otherwise would. The downside is that those features aren't fully developed and might not function as promised.
iOS 17 beta: The best new features to try
Numerous new gadgets were unveiled by Apple at the opening keynote of WWDC, and even more have since been revealed by developers with access to the iOS 17 beta. Here are some of our favorite features that you can try once the public beta is released. There is a lot to be excited about.
The new StandBy mode, which transforms your iPhone into a smart display when it's both horizontal and MagSafe charging, is the one aspect of iOS 17 that genuinely excites us. That provides support for widgets and smart stacks for greater versatility, allowing you to quickly access a wealth of relevant information, such as the current time. Although swipes are available on screens, Siri voice commands are also available if you like them.
There will also be a number of enhancements to communications, but we want to test out Live Voicemail in particular. By doing this, you can leave a voicemail and view a live transcription of the message that is being left. You can pick up and take the call if it's important. While Messages will be able to filter out all those annoying two-factor verification requirements and organize your inbox, FaceTime will also get a video voicemail function.
Additionally, AirDrop will undergo some changes, including the addition of a new functionality that enables file and information sharing across phones. Together, users may launch SharePlay experiences thanks to this version, which also adds NameDrop, which enables contact cards to be sent with as much or as little information as desired.
A significant improvement to autocorrect will enable it to learn how you type and provide more individualized corrections. With Apple Maps, you can now download and save offline maps, and the new Check-in feature will notify friends and family when you arrive home safely. Additionally, if the scenario calls for it, convey pertinent information. Your data will be kept private and secure with a new Private Browsing experience that is secured behind Face ID.
The Journal app, on the other hand, offers numerous snapshots of your day along with writing prompts that, should you want, might aid in the documentation of your daily activities. With the aim of preserving your mental health, the app can identify locales, images, and music. The best feature is that everything is encrypted end-to-end and processed on the device.
Just scraping the surface, there are undoubtedly a ton more things that will come to light as more people get an opportunity to test out the iOS 17 beta.
