Following the release of iOS 16.2 on Friday, December 12, the first beta version of iOS 26.3 became available to developers a few days later, on December 15. We expect the final release to be available to the general public sometime in late January or early February. This is reportedly the last minor update before iOS 26.4 presents the updated Siri update we developed I waited more than a year get.
iOS 26.3 beta: what's new
We don't yet know all the new features and changes we can expect in iOS 26.3. We will update this section as we learn more.
Easier switching between Android and iPhone: We expect iOS 26.3 to ship with support for a simpler iOS/Android switching system, created in collaboration with Google and at the direction of the European Union. You can read more about this here.
Forwarding notifications to third-party devices: Another change mandated by the EU: Apple will allow notifications to be forwarded to third-party devices, such as smartwatches other than the Apple Watch. There is a new one Forwarding notifications section in Settings > Notifications
iOS 26.3 Beta: How to Install the Public Beta
If you want to test the iOS 26 betas but are not a registered developer, follow these steps:
- Click “Register” on Apple beta page and sign up using your Apple ID.
- Sign in to the beta program.
- Click Register your iOS device.
- Open the Settings app, tap General, then Software Update.
- Under Beta Updates, select the iOS public beta.
After registration, it may take some time before the beta version appears in a software update.
iOS 26.3 Beta: How to Install the Developer Beta
You'll need to register as an Apple developer, but a free developer account will do. You can get it through Xcode or the Apple Developer app in iOS. Here's how to do it through the Apple Developer app:
- Download Apple Developer Application from the App Store.
- Open the application.
- Click “Account”.
- Sign in using your regular Apple ID.
Find out everything you need to know about iOS 26 in our iOS 26 Super Guide.
