The much-awaited WWDC event is just a few days away. Apple fans are excited to see what the company has in store this time. Unsurprisingly, the iOS 12 will be the star of the show, and the iOS 12 developer beta will be rolled out soon after the keynote address. Apple usually releases the public beta a few weeks later, while the final version of the mobile software is rolled out in September. If you want to be among the first to download and install iOS 12 beta, you might be interested in trying out the developer beta.
Warning
Most developers are already familiar with how to download and install iOS 12 beta 1. If you are just an Apple fan who wants to get their hands on the new software, you should keep a few things in mind before trying it out. The beta versions of any software are usually unfinished test versions with almost all the features that will go into the final build. The beta software could be highly unstable, and they usually contain tons of bugs that need to be fixed.
If you download and install iOS 12 beta, you should not expect a smooth user experience on your iPhone or iPad. Some of the existing apps that you use daily might not work perfectly on the new software. Sometimes, the beta software may cause your device to brick. So, it makes more sense to install the iOS 12 beta on a secondary device.
Step-by-step guide to download and install iOS 12
1- Back up all your data
It is extremely important to back up your iPhone or iPad’s data to iCloud or iTunes when you are going to install beta software on your device. If you have activated iCloud backup on your device, you should already have a backup in place. It will ensure that your data is safe even if something goes wrong on your iPhone or iPad. You’ll also be able to go back to the last version if you don’t like the new software.
2- Sign up for Apple’s Developer program
You’ll need a paid developer account with Apple to be able to download and install iOS 12 beta 1. The public beta is rolled out weeks after the developer beta. Head over to Apple Developer Program and sign up for the developer account. Remember that the developer account is going to cost you $99 for 12 months. If you do not want to spend that kind of money, you have to wait for a couple of weeks before Apple seeds the public beta version of iOS 12.
3- Update to the latest version of iOS 11
It’s always better to be on the latest public version of the existing firmware before installing the iOS 12 beta. Currently, the latest version is iOS 11.3.1, but Apple is preparing to roll out iOS 11.4 to the public in the next few days. Upgrade your iPhone or iPad to the 11.4 if it is released before the WWDC keynote address.
4- Wait for Apple to release the iOS 12 developer beta
Now you are fully prepared to download and install iOS 12 beta on your device. The beta software should become available in the developer portal soon after the WWDC keynote address.
WWDC start time and livestream
The iPhone maker has sent out media invites for the next week’s event. The WWDC will take place at the McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, California between June 4-8. The keynote address will commence at 10AM PT on June 4. That’s 1PM ET, 6PM BST, and 3AM AEST on Tuesday. If you are interested in watching the livestream, go to this link in your Safari, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox or Microsoft Edge browser. You can also download the WWDC app on your Apple TV, iPhone or iPad to watch the livestream.
What to expect at WWDC
Apple is going to unveil new versions of iOS, tvOS, macOS, and watchOS at the event. The company is also expected to talk about new features for HomePod and improvements to Siri. Apple has delayed many features to iOS 13, which means it would focus on stability and performance with iOS 12. The iOS 11 had tons of bugs ranging from shutdown bug to autocorrect bug. The iOS 12 is code-named Peace.
The iOS 12 is expected to bring a revamped Do Not Disturb feature and Stocks app, Animoji for FaceTime, multi-person support in AR glasses, and better parental controls.
The iOS 12 is also said to bring horizontal Face ID unlock. The current Face ID works only in portrait orientation. The horizontal unlocking support would make sense, especially considering the upcoming iPad Pro is said to have Face ID technology. Another major highlight of the iOS 12 would be cross-platform support with macOS.
The Cupertino company is also expected to announce new hardware at the event. The rumor mill claims we could see a ‘budget’ MacBook Air with Retina display and a faster chipset to replace the current 13-inch MacBook Air. There are also speculations that Apple could announce the iPhone SE 2 at the event. Apple hasn’t refreshed the iPhone SE since its release more than two years ago.
