How to download the iPadOS 15 public beta now

How to download the iPadOS 15 public beta now
(Image credit: Future)

Apple's a day early, as we can download the iPadOS 15 public beta today (June 30), a step ahead of the "July" window that the folks at Cupertino originally stated. This beta is important for two reasons: it's free (no Developer account required) and likely a heck of a lot more stable.

The big news of iPadOS 15 is that Apple's upgrading its multitasking methods with a
button that should make things a lot simpler for everyday people to understand. It's also adding two big iOS 14 features: widgets anywhere on your screen and the App Library — which make even more sense on the iPad than they did the iPhone. Better late than never.

As usual, the iPadOS 15 beta comes with some things that everyone should be aware of before they dive in — especially if you're new to Apple's betas. 

This is the second iPadOS 15 beta, following the developer beta released last month. The developer betas are a little riskier, as they come out first and have less testing done. Also, as the name implies, the Developer Betas aren't for regular users — as they require an Apple Developer account that costs $100 (and can be purchased here). 

The iPadOS 15 public beta, on the other hand, is more reliable, as it's benefitted from the previous testing.

That said, it's still a beta, so you need to back up your iPad now. 

You can do this easiest via iCloud Backups.

iPadOS 15 public beta: Backup before you download

There are two ways to do this, but Apple advises you perform a local archived backup to restore from. I recommend that way, but the faster way to make sure your data is backed up is via iCloud. 

  1. Open the Settings app. 
  2. Select your user profile.
  3. Tap iCloud.  
  4. Tap iCloud Backup.
  5. Turn on the iCloud backup switch.
  6. Check the time of the "last successful backup."

To backup locally to a Mac by: plug in your iPad, opening Finder (or iTunes if you're on iOS 12), selecting that iPad in the menu on the left and click Summary.

Then select This Computer under Backups (as opposed to iCloud) and then click Back Up Now.

If you back up via a Mac, archive that backup (under Manage backups, select your backup and click Archive) to make it so you can restore from this backup.

iPadOS 15 public beta: supported iPads

If you're already on iPadOS 14, don't worry about compatibility. iPadOS 15 supports the exact same iPads as iPadOS 14. 

If you're not on iPadOS 14, here's the list of supported iPads:

How to download the iPadOS 15 public beta

Just a warning: Apple's servers may be slammed at first by all the demand, so maybe take a break if the sites below aren't operating as quickly as you'd expect.

iPadOS 15 public beta 1: navigate to beta.apple.com

(Image credit: Apple)

1. On your iPad, navigate to beta.apple.com

iPadOS 15 public beta: 2. Click Sign In

(Image credit: Apple)

2. Tap Sign In

iPadOS 15 public beta step 3: sign in

(Image credit: Apple)

3. Sign in

iPadOS 15 public beta 4: tap Trust

(Image credit: Apple)

4. Tap Trust

iPadOS 15 beta 5. Tap Enroll Your Devices

(Image credit: Apple)

5. Tap Enroll Your Devices

iPadOS 15 public beta select iPadOS

(Image credit: Apple)

6. Tap iPadOS. You're going to get a reminder to archive your backup to a Mac. I'd take that advice.

iPadOS 15 beta how to download: Download Profile

(Image credit: Apple)

7. Tap Download profile

iPadOS 15 beta how to download: tap Allow

(Image credit: Apple)

8. Tap Allow

iPadOS 15 beta how to download: Close

(Image credit: Apple)

9. Tap Close

iPadOS 15 beta how to download: tap Profile downloaded

(Image credit: Apple)

10. Open Settings and tap Profile Downloaded

iPadOS 15 beta how to download: tap Install

(Image credit: Apple)

11. Tap Install

iPadOS 15 beta how to download: Passcode

(Image credit: Apple)

12. Enter your passcode (presuming you have one)

iPadOS 15 beta how to download: tap install again

(Image credit: Apple)

13. Tap Install.

iPadOS 15 beta how to download: Tap install again

(Image credit: Apple)

14. Tap Install.

iPadOS 15 beta how to download: tap Restart

(Image credit: Apple)

15. Tap Restart (or tap Not Now, close your work and then restart your iPad)

iPadOS 15 beta how to download: settings > general > software update

(Image credit: Apple)

16. After restarting, open Settings and tap Software Update, under General.

iPadOS 15 beta how to download: tap download and install

(Image credit: Apple)

17. Tap Download and Install

You'll now need to wait for iPadOS 15 download and restart your iPad, and that might take a while. But you'll soon have the iPadOS 15 public beta up and running!

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Henry T. Casey
Managing Editor (Entertainment, Streaming)

Henry is a managing editor at Tom’s Guide covering streaming media, laptops and all things Apple, reviewing devices and services for the past seven years. Prior to joining Tom's Guide, he reviewed software and hardware for TechRadar Pro, and interviewed artists for Patek Philippe International Magazine. He's also covered the wild world of professional wrestling for Cageside Seats, interviewing athletes and other industry veterans.