Apple releases the first public beta of iOS 18.2 with new Apple Intelligence features. How to download it

Apple today released the beta version of iOS 18.2 to the public. The release brings new Apple Intelligence features for the masses, not just early adopters. However, you can download it before then.

This iOS 18.2 public beta brings many writing tools to help you proofread and edit your writing, genmoji to create your own emoji, and visual intelligence to scan your environment and learn more about everything around you.

Read more: What is Apple Intelligence? Everything you need to know about iPhone 16’s AI features

It is quite easy to download and install iOS 18.2. All you have to do is sign up Apple’s beta software program website and you’re on your way to becoming a beta tester from the comfort of your home.

You probably know that the iOS 18.2 beta has been available to developers since July. Not everyone wants to run the developer beta because it is for developers and tends to be less stable than a public beta. Ultimately, both beta versions are not as stable as the general public iOS 18.2 release.

Available to everyone, iOS 18 brings a number of major new features and innovations to iPhone, including a completely redesigned photo album, satellite text messaging, a dedicated password app, better home screen customization, updated control center and support for RCS messages.

Here’s everything you need to know about downloading the iOS 18.2 public beta on your iPhone.

Check out: How to download iOS 18.2 developer beta on your iPhone

Check this out: iOS 18: my 5 favorite features

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First, does your iPhone even support iOS 18.2?

You can download iOS 18.2 on any iPhone that supports iOS 18 (full list below), but unfortunately Apple Intelligence is exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and the entire iPhone 16 series. Visual Intelligence is exclusive to the iPhone 16 series. You can still get your hands on other non-AI features, though.

Here is the full list of iPhones that support iOS 18.2

Then a warning…

A public beta is typically more stable than a developer beta, but it’s still a beta, which means you may encounter bugs and other critical issues that could negatively impact your phone. If you have a spare iPhone in your drawer somewhere, use it to run any beta version of iOS 18.2, whether it’s the developer version or the public version.

In my personal experience, running a public beta on your headphones is usually fine. You might encounter a bug here and there, perhaps a feature in a third-party app won’t work exactly as intended because it hasn’t yet been optimized for any iOS beta software. It’s never crippling, just perhaps a little annoying, and if you don’t mind that, running the public beta of iOS 18.2 on the iPhone you use every day shouldn’t be a problem.

Before you consider updating to iOS 18.2, you should first update to the latest version of iOS 18 (currently 18.1) and then backup your device. Go to Institutions > your name > iCloud > iCloud backup and hit Make a backup Now. Check out our story on how to archive a backup on your computer in case you want to revert to iOS 18.

How to download the iOS 18.2 public beta on your iPhone

Now that you’ve backed up your phone, you can download the iOS 18.2 public beta. This is what you need to do:

1. On your iPhone, go to the Apple Beta Software Program website and sign up (if you are already a member) or sign up for the program. You obviously need an Apple ID. If you are logging in for the first time, follow the prompts.

2. Then tap the iOS tab and you should see more information about the iOS 18.2 public beta.

3. Under Get started, press blue register your iOS device link.

4. Now go to Settings > General > Software update > Beta updates and choose the iOS 18.2 public beta to install.

5. Finally, go to Settings > General > Software update and install the iOS 18.2 public beta.

Once your phone has restarted, you should be running the iOS 18.2 public beta.