The iPadOS 27 developer beta is available today, ahead of the public stable release in September 2026. Apple seeded the first developer beta (build 24A5355q) immediately after the WWDC 2026 keynote on June 8, 2026, and a paid Apple Developer Program membership is no longer required. A free Apple Developer account is all you need. Before starting, confirm your iPad is on the supported list and have a recent backup ready.
Check compatibility before you install the iPadOS 27 beta
iPadOS 27 does not run on every iPad. The following models are supported:
- iPad mini (6th generation and later)
- iPad (9th generation and later)
- iPad Pro 11-inch (2nd generation and later)
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th generation and later)
- iPad Air (4th generation and later)
Several previously supported models are cut entirely: the iPad mini 5, iPad (8th gen), iPad Air (3rd gen), iPad Pro 11-inch (1st gen), and iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd gen). If your iPad is on that list, iPadOS 27 will not install regardless of the method used.
Full Siri AI and Apple Intelligence features require an M-series chip or the A17 Pro iPad mini. Older supported iPads will still receive iPadOS 27 and its performance improvements, but the AI features will not be available on them.
Install the developer beta
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- Back up your iPad. Open Settings, tap your Apple Account name at the top, then tap iCloud and turn on iCloud Backup. Tap Back Up Now and wait for it to complete. You can also back up to a Mac or PC using Finder or iTunes. Betas can introduce unexpected bugs, and a current backup is your safety net.
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- Create a free Apple Developer account. In any browser, go to developer.apple.com and sign in with your Apple ID. If you do not already have a developer account, follow the prompts to enroll. The free account tier is sufficient. As with the iOS 27 developer beta, the $99 per year paid membership is no longer needed to access the beta.
- Enable beta updates on your iPad. On the iPad, open Settings and tap General, then Software Update. Tap Beta Updates. Select “iPadOS 27 Developer Beta” from the list. If the option does not appear immediately, wait a few minutes and return to this screen.
- Download and install. Back on the main Software Update screen, iPadOS 27 developer beta 1 should now appear. Tap Download and Install. The download is substantial, so connect to Wi-Fi first. Keep the iPad plugged into power during installation to avoid any interruption.
- Complete setup. The iPad will restart and show the standard setup screens. Walk through any prompts, re-enter your passcode, and allow a few minutes for the system to settle after first boot. Battery life and performance may seem slightly off for the first hour or two while background tasks finish.
Early reports from users who installed developer beta 1 describe it as unusually stable for a first developer build, with solid battery life. This is still a beta, though, and app compatibility issues can appear without warning. Installing on a secondary iPad rather than a daily driver is the more cautious approach.
Prefer to wait? The public beta option
A public beta is expected in early July 2026, seeded through Apple’s public beta program at beta.apple.com with no developer account required. Public betas are typically more refined than the first developer release and are a safer option for an iPad you use every day.
Once iPadOS 27 is installed, open Settings and tap Siri to join the Siri AI waitlist. Access is granted gradually and can take anywhere from a few hours to several days. Siri AI launches in English only and is not available in the EU or China at this stage.
The full stable release of iPadOS 27 arrives in September 2026, alongside Apple’s next iPhone lineup. Between now and then, the developer beta will receive regular updates, and stability should improve steadily with each build.
