You’ll be able to obtain the visionOS 26 developer beta free of charge — proper now. You may get a have a look at the thrilling new spatial widgets coming to the Imaginative and prescient Professional earlier than the replace is shipped to everybody. Not like different platforms, there isn’t any public beta choice, solely the developer beta.
In fact, there are some things it is best to look out for. Beta software program may be buggy and might result in information loss or apps that don’t work.
In the event you’re nonetheless positive you need to attempt it out, it is best to be sure to have a backup of your most essential information with two copies of your picture library earlier than you attempt putting in. I’ll present you ways.
The way to obtain the visionOS 26 developer beta
Desk of contents: The way to obtain the visionOS 26 developer beta
- Verify that you’ve an iCloud backup
- Verify that your picture library is backed up
- Swap to permit beta software program updates
- Set up the replace
1. Verify that you’ve an iCloud backup

Screenshot: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
Earlier than you obtain the visionOS beta, it is best to make it possible for your Imaginative and prescient Professional is backed up. In the event you lose essential information, if the software program replace is unsuccessful or if you wish to roll again to the steady model of visionOS after attempting out the beta, this backup will save your pores and skin.
Double verify in Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup. Proper beneath the button that claims “Backup Now,” it is best to see small textual content that claims, “Final profitable backup”. When you’ve got it arrange correctly, it’ll most likely say it final backed up in a single day.
If not, it’s good to make a backup. To take action, faucet Again Up Now.
2. Verify that your picture library is backed up
Subsequent, open Pictures > Library. Scroll all the way in which down under the latest picture to see in case your pictures are backed up. If it says “Synced with iCloud,” you’re golden. In any other case, faucet Sync Now to be sure to don’t lose something.
When you’ve got a Mac with sufficient storage (or with an exterior drive) it is best to have one other copy of your picture library, too. Backing as much as iCloud will assist if one thing occurs to your Imaginative and prescient Professional, but when a bug corrupts your picture library and people adjustments are synced to iCloud, a separate copy will be sure to have a secure copy.
In your Mac, click on on the Finder and open the House folder along with your identify (⇧⌘H). Open Photos. It is best to see a file referred to as Picture Library. Make a neighborhood copy by clicking File > Duplicate (⌘D), or copy it to an exterior drive by clicking and dragging it over. Then, rename it one thing descriptive, like Picture Library (Backup).
3. Swap to permit beta software program updates

Screenshot: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
Go to Settings > Basic > Software program Replace. After it checks for updates, you’ll see the choice seem for Beta Updates. Faucet that and also you’ll see the choices at present obtainable: Off, visionOS 26 Developer Beta and visionOS 2 Developer Beta. There is no such thing as a visionOS public beta, so if you wish to be cautious, it is best to wait a day or two after a software program replace is launched earlier than putting in.
Faucet visionOS 26 Developer Beta to get the flashy new replace with all the good options like Spatial Pictures, new House and Management Heart gestures, a customizable House View and extra.
4. Obtain the visionOS beta replace
Faucet again and also you’ll see the visionOS 26 replace obtainable. Faucet Replace Now to obtain the visionOS beta and Set up Now when it’s prepared. It could take longer than a standard software program replace.
On the finish, you’ll reboot into the shiny new beta working system! You’ll be able to anticipate to get a brand new software program replace about each few weeks till September.
We initially printed this text on find out how to obtain the visionOS beta on June 11, 2024. We up to date it with the most recent info on June 10, 2025.