For years, joining an Apple beta meant downloading a small configuration profile (.mobileconfig) and installing it from Settings. Apple retired that system with iOS 16.4, iPadOS 16.4, watchOS 9.4, tvOS 16.4 and macOS 13.4. Today, beta access comes from your Apple Account through the Beta Updates switch in Settings.
That is why searches for old profiles such as “beta profile 16.3” or “iOS 13 beta profile” lead to confusing results. This page explains what each one did and what to do instead.
Which method each iOS version used
| iOS version | How betas were installed | Does it work today? |
|---|---|---|
| iOS 12 – 16.3 | Beta profile (.mobileconfig) | No — those beta programs have ended |
| iOS 16.4 – 17 | Beta Updates in Settings | No — Apple only seeds the newest version |
| iOS 18 | Beta Updates in Settings | No — the iOS 18 betas have ended |
| iOS 27 (current) | Beta Updates in Settings | Yes — install guide |
“I’m on iOS 16.3 or earlier and want the beta”
Installing the old iOS 16 profile won’t give you anything today, because Apple no longer publishes iOS 16 betas. Instead, update to the latest public version your iPhone supports (iOS 27.0.1 on recent models). Once you are on iOS 16.4 or later, the Beta Updates option appears automatically.
Old iPhones that no longer get betas
Apple keeps shipping security updates for some older devices, but never betas. These are their final software lines:
- iPhone 5s, 6, 6 Plus — iOS 12.5.8. There are no iOS 12 betas; a “12.5.7 beta profile” does not exist.
- iPhone 6s, 7, SE (1st gen) — iOS 15.8.8
- iPhone 8, X — iOS 16.7.16
- iPhone XS, XR — iOS 18.7.10
Download the latest signed version for these models from the legacy devices list.
Legacy files (archive)
We keep the original files for reference and for devices that still run old software. They will not unlock current betas.
- iOS 16 beta profile (iPhone, iOS 16.3 and earlier)
- iPadOS 16 beta profile (iPad, iPadOS 16.3 and earlier)
- watchOS 9 beta profile (watchOS 9.3 and earlier)
- tvOS 16 beta profile
- tvOS 18 beta profile
- HomePod AppleSeed profile
- macOS Developer Beta Access Utility (macOS 13.3 and earlier)
Installed one by mistake? Here is how to remove a beta profile.
