Well, that was quick. Maybe record breaking quick? iOS 11 beta 9 is now available for those on the developer program. If you were counting, that means there was only 3 days of iOS 11 beta 8. Apple had moved to releasing beta updates on a weekly schedule. We got iOS 11 beta 8 on Monday. It was assumed that iOS 11 beta 9 would be coming on Monday or Tuesday next week (depending on how Apple decided to release the software over the long weekend). Instead, Apple came right out of left field with a Thursday release of iOS 11 beta 9.
It’s not immediately clear as to why Apple went with such a short release time for this newest update. There was an App Store bug that was affecting some users on various versions of the iOS 11 beta. Although, I’m not sure if that would be considered a big enough bug to justify such a quick software update. My guess is that Apple or some third party security firm became aware of a security bug which forced such a swift response and update. Of course, that’s just my own speculation and should not be taken as fact.
As more people dive into iOS 11 beta 9 we may find some other bug changes that explain the quick move by Apple. If you want to explore iOS 11 beta 9 for yourself then the process is fairly simple. First, if you are already in the iOS 11 beta developer program, you should see an OTA update available. You may have to go into settings to manually search for the update if you haven’t received a notification yet. If that doesn’t work, try restarting your device. However, the process is a little more involved if you have not installed an iOS 11 beta version previously. Here’s what to do:
- Open Safari on your device and navigate to this link.
- Tap “iOS 11 (beta 9)” if your browser does not automatically redirect you.
- Tap “Install” when prompted. You may be asked several times. Just keep pressing “Install.”
- You will then be asked to reboot your device.
- After rebooting, go to the “Settings” app, then tap “General” and then tap “Software Update.” You should see iOS 11 developer beta as a download option. Download and install iOS 11 beta 9 just like any other iOS update.
- Enjoy!
As you can see, it’s a pretty quick process to get the latest iOS 11 beta running on your compatible device. My recommendation is to avoid installing any beta version unless you are ready to deal with some bugs here and there. If you have a daily driver device that you rely heavily upon then you may want to hold off until the official public release of iOS 11 which should only be a few weeks away.
So, to recap, iOS 11 beta 9 is available and we’re not sure why Apple moved so quickly to update the developer beta after releasing iOS 11 beta 8 on Monday. Clearly something caught their attention that could not wait until next week to fix. We will try to keep you updated if any news comes along that provides some clarity as to why Apple pushed out iOS 11 beta 9 so quickly. Until then, enjoy the update!
