iOS 16.2 Developer Beta 3: How to download it now

Apple has just released the latest developer beta of iOS 16.2. Now in its third iteration, iOS 16.2 brings improvements to always-on display — allowing users to disable their wallpaper and notifications while AOD is enabled. The first two developer betas of iOS 16.2 add sleep and medication widgets to the home screen, tweaks to Live Activities and the new collaborative brainstorming Freeform app.

While it’s easy to download and install iOS 16.2 right now if you want, the developer betas aren’t intended for general use, especially since they can have unfinished features and issues that can make your iPhone difficult to use. In short, you probably shouldn’t be installing developer betas on your primary iPhone. Still, if you really want to get iOS 16.2 early, try to find a spare iPhone new enough to use the latest software.

For those who still want to dig deeper, we’ll show you how to install the iOS 16.2 developer build on your iPhone, and what to do if you want to revert to the stable version of iOS 16.

What You Need to Know Before Downloading the iOS 16.2 Developer Beta
Because the iOS 16.2 developer beta is an early pre-release, there may be bugs and other issues with the software. Issues with the iOS 16.2 developer beta could cripple your iPhone and make it difficult to use, disabling calls or texts or causing it to lag extremely. However, if you only have your primary phone or tablet available, make sure to back up your iPhone on iOS 16.1 before updating to iOS 16.2. That way, you can choose to go back to iOS 16.1 if the new OS has too many problems.

Also, you must have an iPhone 8 or later to run iOS 16.2. To download iOS 16.2 developer beta 3, you must enroll in the Apple Developer Program, which costs $99 per year. If you don’t want the latest developer betas, you can join the Apple Beta Software Program and download public betas for free when they become available.

How to enroll in the Apple Developer Program
The first step to getting iOS 16.2 Developer Beta 3 on your iPhone is to enroll in the Apple Developer Program. If you’re using an iPhone, here’s how to sign up:

1. Download the Apple Developer app from the App Store.
2. Launch the app, go to Account and tap Sign Up Now.
3. Sign in with your Apple ID credentials.
4. Read through the various benefits and instructions, enter your personal information and scan your ID to verify your identity.
5. After submitting this information, you must select your entity and agree to the Program License Agreement.
6. Finally, pay for the Apple Developer membership, $99 per year.

After a successful payment, you will be redirected to the Accounts page in the Apple Developer app. Here you can verify that you are currently registered and also check the date when your membership will expire next year.

Install iOS 16.2 beta 3 with over-the-air update on iPhone
The easiest way to download iOS 16.2 developer beta 3 is via an over-the-air update—you can update any other new software versions on your device this way. That’s it:

1. On your iPhone or iPad, go to the Apple Developer Program download page, tap Install Profile for iOS 16.2 beta 3 and tap Allow.
2. Next, open the Settings app, tap “Downloaded Profiles,” then tap “Install” in the top right corner when it appears. If prompted, enter your password, then tap Install twice. Your phone will need to restart.
3. Once your phone restarts, connect it to a power source, make sure you’re connected to Wi-Fi, then go to Settings > General > Software Update. If you don’t see an update available right away, wait a few minutes and check again.
4. Finally, tap Download and Install > Install and enter your passcode to update your device.

Once your phone has finished rebooting, you should have access to the latest iOS 16.2 developer beta 3.

Download the iOS 16.2 Developer Beta for Mac
Over-the-air updates require a certain amount of storage space, and if you don’t have storage space available, using a computer is really the only way to update to iOS 16.2 beta 3 without manually clearing up space.

1. On your Mac, go to the Apple Developer Program download page, find iOS 16.2 beta 3 and click Download Restore Images.
2. Download the iOS beta software recovery image for your specific device.
3. Next, connect your device to your computer and enter your device passcode, or tap Trust this computer when prompted.
4. Open Finder and click Your Device under Places in the sidebar.
5. Usually, next to Software, you’ll see the latest software your device is running.
6. Hold down the Option key, click Check for Update and select the iOS 16.2 beta 3 software recovery image you just downloaded from the Apple Developer page.

iOS 16.2 beta 3 software will be installed on your device. Wait a few minutes, and when your phone restarts, you should be able to access it.