You Can Download the First iOS 26.4 Developer Beta on Your iPhone Right Now

Apple is already moving from iOS 26.3. On Monday, the company released iOS 26.4 Developer Beta 1, the latest testing version of its iPhone software.

The update doesn’t introduce anything as flashy as that of iOS 26 Liquid glass redesign or its title Apple Intelligence featuresbut it continues Apple’s model for point releases: expanding features that were previously limited or hidden, strengthening privacy and security, and laying the groundwork for things that won’t fully arrive until later this year.

iOS 26.4 includes early testing support for end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging, changes to Protecting Stolen Devicesnew video capabilities in Apple Podcasts and a handful of under-the-hood tweaks that point to Apple’s next direction.

Although developer betas like iOS 26.4 are primarily aimed at app developers, anyone with a registered developer account can install them, and many of us do. But remember that it is intended for developers and not for daily use. Early versions often have bugs that can crash apps, drain your battery, overheat your phone, and generally make your device slow. Unless you need to test software with Apple’s next release, it’s smarter to stick to the public beta on your primary iPhone and download the beta only on another device.

Watch this: I’m impressed with iOS 26. Apple just improved iPhones

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All the new features of the iOS 26.4 developer beta

iOS 26.4 Developer Beta 1 is a relatively small update, but it adds some notable changes and expands features that Apple has been quietly testing.

• Early support for end-to-end encrypted RCS: iOS 26.4 adds a toggle Settings > Messages > RCS Messaging which allows developers to test end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging in the Messages app. When enabled, encrypted RCS chats will display a new lock icon in chat threads. At the moment, capacity is limited: it is not available for all devices or operators. This is not a full deployment, but a first step towards encrypted RCS in a future update.
• Stolen Device Protection Updates: Apple lights up Protecting Stolen Devices automatically for all iPhone users instead of leaving it opt-in. This security feature, first introduced in 2023, requires Face ID or Touch ID (and in some cases a delay) before someone can do things like view saved passwords, turn off Lost Mode, wipe the device, or change your Apple ID password when away from trusted locations. You can always turn it off if you want.
• Apple Music Playlist Play Area: iOS 26.4 introduced Apple Music new Playlist Playground, an Apple Intelligence-based tool that lets you generate entire playlists from text prompts (i.e. a mix for a relaxing rainy day). You can enter your own description or choose from built-in ideas, then edit the generated playlist with other prompts. Apple Music also includes a new “Gigs Near You” feature and redesigned full-page artwork for albums and playlists.
• Video in Apple Podcasts: The Podcasts app supports video episodes, allowing you to switch between audio and video versions, stream shows, and download video podcasts for offline viewing.

iOS 26.4 also includes other new features and minor improvements, like a new unified Apple Account Hub and the return of notification forwarding, as well as the usual round of bug fixes and performance optimizations typical of an early developer beta.

Which iPhone models support iOS 26?

As long as you have an iPhone 11 or newer, you can download iOS 26. This means the iPhone XR/XS generation is over, while all A13 Bionic handsets, including the upcoming iPhone 17 models, will work.

Apple Intelligence only works on compatible phones, which include all iPhone 16 models and the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max.

How to Prepare Your iPhone to Install iOS 26.4 Developer Beta

Before you get excited and start downloading the iOS 26.4 Developer Beta, there are a few things you need to do:

• First check your hardware. This beta version only works on iPhone 11 and newer. If you want to benefit from the core features of Apple Intelligence, you will need a iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max or any other part of the iPhone 16 or 17 range.
• Updated to the latest public version. Make sure your phone is already running the most recent stable version (currently it’s iOS 26.3). This helps avoid any issues resulting from updating with outdated software.
• Have a good Wi-Fi connection. You want the installation to go smoothly, which means you need to be connected to a decent Wi-Fi network.
• Have enough space on your phone. You need around 9 GB of space on your phone to download the iOS 26.4 Developer Beta.
• Archive a backup. A normal iCloud backup may be overwritten; you need one that can’t. On your Macconnect your iPhone, open Researcherselect your device, tap Back up now > Manage backupsright-click the new backup and click Archive. On Windowsthe process is similar. Open iTunesclick Back up now, locate the backup in Preferences and archive it.
• Know the escape hatch. If the beta breaks your phone for some reason (this has never happened to me), you will need to get the phone back on. Recovery moderestore iOS 26.3, then recover this archived backup to the device.

Once you’ve followed these steps, you’re pretty much good to go.

How to Install iOS 26.4 Developer Beta on Your iPhone

Apple now lets anyone install developer betas without paying the $99 annual fee. To do this, visit the Apple Developer site on the device you plan to update, open the ☰ menu, choose Accountthen sign in with the Apple ID of that device. Accept the terms, check the required boxes and tap Submit. You may also need to enable Developer mode In Settings > Privacy and security.

You can now install the iOS 26.4 Developer Beta on your phone as an over-the-air update:

1. After registering with Apple Developer ProgramYou should see the option to download iOS 26.4 developer beta in your settings.
2. On your device, open Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates and choose it iOS 26.4 developer beta.
3. Go back and tap Download and install under the new “iOS 26.4 Developer Beta” option that appears.

Finally, enter your password, accept the terms and let the installer do its job. With a decent Wi-Fi connection, the download and restart routine should take around 10-15 minutes, but this can vary. When your iPhone turns back on, you will be running the developer beta.