Featuring a new visual design, new Apple Intelligence capabilities and updates to daily-use apps, iOS 26 provides a more expressive but still familiar iOS experience for users. Here's what to know.

On Thursday, July 24, Apple officially opened the public beta for the hotly anticipated iOS 26 update, along with beta programs for macOS Tahoe, iPadOS, tvOS, and watchOS. Interested users with compatible iPhones and Apple devices can sign up to try the new operating systems at the Apple Beta Software Program website.

Here's how to make the Liquid Glass design in iOS 26 more legible. And don't forget, iOS 26 is still in beta. That means the update might be buggy for you, and your device's battery life may be affected, so it's best to keep those troubles off your primary device. If you want to try the beta out, I recommend downloading it on a secondary device.