iOS 16.3: The first beta arrives for testers

On December 13, Apple released iOS 16.2, its biggest iOS 16 update yet. On December 14, the first developer beta of iOS 16.3 was released. There is no rest for the weary, as they say.

We don’t yet know what to expect from iOS 16.3. With the latest update, we got the last of the big features promised for iOS 16, but Apple often has surprises in store. Apple Music Sing is a perfect example of a feature no one knew about until a few days before release – it arrived late in the iOS 16.2 test cycle and hadn’t been announced or rumored before.

The beta is usually released first for developers, with a public beta usually following that day. We don’t expect the final version until January or February.

Update 01/10/23: The second beta version of iOS 16.3 has been released. There was only one major new feature in the first beta, but we’ll update this article as more features are discovered.

iOS 16.3: New Features

Several features were announced but not released, such as Apple Music Classical. We’ll update this section as we find out what’s new.

Physical security keys for Apple ID: You can now secure your Apple ID with a FIDO-certified physical key. Learn more about recent security enhancements from Apple.

iOS 16.3: release date

The first beta was released on December 14, and with the holidays slowing things down in late December, we certainly don’t expect a release until late January, and February is certainly a possibility.

iOS 16.3: How to install the public beta

This is the version of iOS 16.3 that most of us will be using before launch, because the developer beta is, as the name suggests, only for registered developers.

When the public beta of iOS 16 is released, you can install it by following the instructions below.

1. Click Register on the Apple Beta page and register with your Apple ID.
2. Log in to the beta software program.
3. Click on Enroll your iOS device. (If you signed up for the beta of a previous version last year, you might need to uninstall the profile for that and then sign up again for the new one.)
4. Go to beta.apple.com/profile on your iOS device.
5. Download and install the configuration profile.
6. You may need to go to settings to activate the profile. Go to General > VPN and device management and tap the iOS 16 beta profile there.
7. This will make the beta available in the Settings app, under General > Software update.

How to Install iOS 16.3 Developer Beta

Each stage of the iOS 16.3 development cycle will roll out first to developers and then to public beta testers (usually within about a day). If you are a developer and need to test your apps with the most recent OS version possible, this is the version to run.

First, check that your device is compatible. Quickly find out which iPhones and iPads can get iOS 16?

You will need to be registered as an Apple Developer. Joining the Apple Developer Program costs $99 per year.

Everything is ready ? Okay! Here’s how to install the iOS 16.3 developer beta, in eight easy steps:

1. In Safari on your iPhone or iPad, go to developer.apple.com and sign in using your Apple ID.
2. Go to the Downloads section (you’ll find it in the left menu), scroll down to iOS 16 or iPadOS 16 beta and tap Install profileafterwards Accept.
3. Open the Settings application. You should see Profile downloaded at the top of the main screen – tap it. If you don’t see it, go to General > VPN and device management and tap the iOS 16 or iPadOS 16 beta profile there.
4. Faucet To install in the top right to install the iOS or iPadOS 16 beta profile.
5. Read the developer consent form and (assuming you’re happy with the terms) give your consent.
6. Restart your iPhone.
7. Now go to Settings > General > Software update, where you should see that the beta version of iOS or iPadOS 16 is available. Faucet Download and install.
8. Wait for your iPhone to finish downloading the update, then tap To install when prompted.

And if everything worked as it should, your iPhone will now be running iOS 16 beta.

iOS 16.3: Risks and precautions

First of all, note that betas are test versions of upcoming software. They are by definition unfinished, and while they should include most or all of the functionality of the finished product, there will be cosmetic differences and, inevitably, some bugs and other issues that will need to be ironed out during the development process.

In other words, don’t expect a perfect user experience. In particular, some existing apps (including those you may rely on) may not work perfectly with the new version. In extreme cases, you may even find that your device is beta-locked and cannot be used until the next beta release arrives. It is not uncommon for early beta software to also have issues such as excessive battery drain.

We can’t stress enough the importance of backing up your iPhone before installing a beta on your device, or better yet, using a secondary device rather than your primary iPhone or iPad.