Apple has released iOS 15 Beta 5 & iPadOS 15 Beta 5 to users enrolled in the beta testing programs for iPhone and iPad system software. Often the developer beta rolls out first and is soon followed by the same build for public beta testers.
iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 include a variety of new features, changes, and improvements to the operating systems, including a redesigned Do Not Disturb system called Focus, FaceTime improvements like screen sharing and a grid view of participants for group chats, redesigned Notifications, redesigned Safari tabs and a tab grouping feature, Safari extensions, Live Text for text selection within images, changes to Maps, Health, Photos, Music and other default apps, changes to Spotlight, a redesigned Weather app on iPhone, and new multitasking changes for iPad, along with the ability to place widgets anywhere on the iPad home screen. iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 also include new anti-child abuse measures, where Messages are scanned for inappropriate pictures and parents are automatically alerted when any are found, and all photos stored in iCloud will be scanned for exploitation content and reported to authorities when detected.
New beta builds of macOS Monterey beta 5, watchOS 8 beta 5, and tvOS beta 5 should be expected shortly as well.
How to Download iOS 15 Beta 5 / iPadOS 15 Beta 5
Always backup your device before installing beta versions of system software.
- Open the “Settings” app on iPhone or iPad running an earlier beta version
- Go “General”, then to “Software Update”
- Choose download and install for iOS 15 beta 5 or iPadOS 15 beta 5 when it shows as available
Installing the beta update requires the iPhone or iPad to reboot.
Typically a beta version of system software comes to developers first and is soon followed by the same version for public beta testers. If you’re interested in doing so, you can install public beta of iOS 15 on iPhone, or iPadOS 15 public beta on iPad with relative ease, though it should be reserved for advanced users.
The final versions of iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 will be released in the fall. Whether you want to wait for the final version or install the betas now, you will need an iPhone compatible with iOS 15 or an iPad compatible with iPadOS 15 to be able to run the system software.
For users who chose to update to iOS 15 beta and regret doing so, downgrading from iOS 15 beta / iPadOS 15 beta and reverting back to iOS 14 is possible, assuming you have a backup available from the earlier version. Without a backup, you can still downgrade but you will lose all data on the device.
For Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV users, new beta versions are likely to be released soon too.