Apple has released the fifth beta versions of iOS 14 and iPadOS 14. The new beta build is available now for all enrolled iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch models, for both the developer beta and the public beta release.
Additionally, Apple released beta 5 of watchOS 7 and tvOS 14.
While beta software is best reserved for advanced users, technically speaking anyone can enroll in the public beta program (or dev beta for a fee).
iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 have a variety of new features and functionalities, including bringing widgets to the iPhone home screen, an App Library feature to make browsing apps on a device easier, instant language translation capabilities in Safari, changes to the Messages app with some new capabilities, and many other smaller features, adjustments, and improvements.
How to Download iOS 14 Beta 5 & iPadOS 14 Beta 5
Always backup the iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch before installing any beta system software update.
- Open the “Settings” app on the device, then go to “General” and to “Software Update”
- Choose “Download and Install” when you see that “iOS 14 beta 5” or “iPadOS 14 beta 5” is available to update
As usual, installing any updates to system software requires the device to reboot.
Beta releases of system software are notoriously buggier than final versions, and beta testers may experience bugs and incompatibilities with certain apps and other features. Due to the nature of beta system software, it’s best to run beta releases only on secondary hardware, and by advanced users.
Apple has said the final version of iOS 14 for iPhone and iPod touch, and iPadOS 14 for iPad, will be released this fall. The same release timeline is expected for the other beta operating systems under works too, including watchOS 7 for Apple Watch, tvOS 14 for Apple TV, and MacOS Big Sur for Mac.
The most recently available stable build of system software for iPhone and iPad is currently iOS 13.6.1 and iPadOS 13.6.1.