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 Apple Opens Public Betas for macOS 15 Sequoia, iOS 18, iPadOS 18, watchOS 11,
                        tvOS 18, and HomePod Software 18

   Adam Engst

   Want to help Apple find bugs and get a glimpse of the future? You can
   now install public betas of Apple's forthcoming 2024 operating systems:
   [1]macOS 15 Sequoia, [2]iOS 18, [3]iPadOS 18, [4]watchOS 11, [5]tvOS
   18, and HomePod Software 18. (Apple doesn't list [6]visionOS 2 among
   the public betas.)

   For our favorite features, see '[7]14 Compelling Features Coming to
   Apple's Operating Systems in 2024' (10 June 2024). Don't install a
   public beta if you want to use Apple Intelligence since Apple has said
   that those features will be rolling out slowly over the next year'none
   are in the public betas. At Six Colors, Jason Snell and Dan Moren have
   already written about the main changes in the [8]Sequoia, [9]iOS 18,
   and [10]iPadOS 18 betas.

   You will need compatible hardware; for details, see '[11]The Real
   System Requirements for Apple's 2024 Operating Systems' (12 July 2024).
   I strongly recommend installing only on dedicated test hardware.
   Running one of these betas on a device you rely on is the definition of
   living dangerously. You're likely to run into incompatibilities and
   bugs'that's the entire point of a beta program.

   A full backup is essential before installing one of the betas on a Mac,
   iPhone, or iPad. Apple TVs and HomePods store all their data in the
   cloud, so they can't be backed up. If you want to revert to a shipping
   version of one of these operating systems, you must erase and restore
   from backup. Except for the Apple Watch, which can't be restored to a
   previously released version of watchOS once you install a beta of
   watchOS 11'it's a one-way street to the future.

   Also, consider not connecting your primary iCloud account with the
   betas to avoid bugs that might cause synchronization or other upstream
   problems. You wouldn't want beta iCloud Drive code to corrupt important
   data you use on your everyday devices.

   If it sounds like I'm trying to dissuade you from installing the public
   betas, I am. If you don't know what you're getting into, you could lose
   data or waste time recovering from problems. Conversely, if you're
   comfortable with the technical implications, have fun exploring and
   reporting bugs! I certainly intend to.

   To try one or more of the betas, go to the [12]Apple Beta Software
   Program, [13]read the FAQ, and sign up for the beta program. Once
   you're in, you can select which betas to install in Software Update and
   proceed with the installation.

   Finally, remember that the main reason to test public betas is so you
   can report bugs, so revisit David Shayer's advice in '[14]How to Report
   Bugs to Apple So They Get Fixed' (17 June 2020).

References

   Visible links
   1. https://www.apple.com/macos/macos-sequoia-preview/
   2. https://www.apple.com/ios/ios-18-preview/
   3. https://www.apple.com/ipados/ipados-18-preview/
   4. https://www.apple.com/watchos/watchos-preview/
   5. https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2024/06/updates-to-the-home-experience-elevate-entertainment-and-bring-more-convenience/
   6. https://www.apple.com/visionos/visionos-2-preview/
   7. https://tidbits.com/2024/06/10/14-compelling-features-coming-to-apples-operating-systems-in-2024/
   8. https://sixcolors.com/post/2024/07/first-look-macos-sequoia-public-beta/
   9. https://sixcolors.com/post/2024/07/first-look-ios-18-public-beta/
  10. https://sixcolors.com/post/2024/07/first-look-ipados-18-public-beta/
  11. https://tidbits.com/2024/07/12/the-real-system-requirements-for-apples-2024-operating-systems/
  12. https://beta.apple.com/
  13. https://beta.apple.com/faq
  14. https://tidbits.com/2020/06/17/how-to-report-bugs-to-apple-so-they-get-fixed/

   Hidden links:
  15. https://tidbits.com/wp/../uploads/2024/07/Apple-Beta-Software-Program.jpg
  16. https://tidbits.com/wp/../uploads/2024/07/Beta-updates.jpg

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