Apple says the iOS 26 developer beta is now the most-installed developer seed in its history. During the July 31 earnings call, CEO Tim Cook praised “great momentum building for our platforms” and revealed that iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS 26 surpassed every previous beta within hours of release. The milestone landed on the same day Apple reported June-quarter revenue of 94 billion dollars, a record for the period.
The news arrives less than two months after Apple seeded the beta straight after WWDC 25. For many indie coders and hobbyists, this was the first chance to explore the major “Liquid Glass” overhaul without waiting for the public beta. Apple’s decision in 2023 to drop the 99-dollar Developer Program fee for beta access also widened the pool of testers, making today’s adoption record partly a reflection of a broader, more open programme.
Many developers have also rushed to install the build so their apps will be ready when iOS 26 ships alongside the iPhone 17 family in September. Apple did not share exact installation figures, but internal rankings now list the build as the company’s most popular developer beta ever.
Cook connected the strong beta numbers to Apple’s financial momentum. iPhone, Mac, and Services sales all posted double-digit growth, and Apple pointed to the upcoming software cycle as a key driver for continued gains. A larger, more diverse test pool gives engineers earlier feedback, raising the odds that iOS 26 will arrive in September with fewer headline bugs than last year’s release.
Anyone enrolled in Apple’s public beta programme can try iOS 26 today: open Settings > General > Software Update, choose Beta Updates, and select iOS 26 Public Beta. Apple still recommends a full backup before upgrading, but the larger feedback window means bug reports filed in August can influence the release candidate expected in early September. With millions already exploring Liquid Glass and Apple Intelligence, iOS 26 is on track to be one of the most battle-tested iPhone updates in recent memory.
