Apple opened the public beta of iOS 27 on July 13–14, 2026 — as always, free to join without a developer account. The main reason anyone's bothering: for the first time, the rebuilt Siri Apple showed off in June is available outside the closed developer beta, for anyone willing to try unfinished software.
How to get it. Sign up for free through the Apple Beta Software Program, then install iOS 27 Public Beta from Settings > General > Software Update on your iPhone. No developer account and no fee required — just some time and a supported device.
Back up your phone first. A public beta is, by definition, not finished software. Apps can crash, battery life can suffer, and features can behave unpredictably. Before you install it, back up your iPhone to iCloud or your computer so you can restore it if something goes wrong.
Not every iPhone gets the new Siri. Installing the beta doesn't automatically unlock the rebuilt Siri. It requires an iPhone 15 Pro or 15 Pro Max or newer with the chip Apple's new AI features depend on. Older iPhones can install the general iOS 27 beta but won't see the Siri changes. The new Siri also isn't rolling out at all for Apple Accounts registered in the European Union — Apple says EU rules (the Digital Markets Act) are delaying it there. Our guide to what's actually new in Siri covers what's different and which devices qualify in more detail.
Even if you qualify, it's not instant. Most people who install the beta on a supported iPhone and open Siri land on a waitlist rather than getting the new features right away. Treat the public beta as a chance to get in line early, not a guaranteed preview.
If you'd rather not risk it. The finished version of iOS 27, including the new Siri, is still on track to arrive this fall as a standard update for everyone. There's no downside to waiting — you'll get the same features without the risk of unfinished software on your main phone.