Apple today began releasing the second beta of iOS 17 to registered developers with build number 21A5268h. The new iOS 17 beta comes more than two weeks after the company seeded the first developer beta following its WWDC 2023 keynote on Monday, June 5. Apple also released new betas for macOS 14 Sonoma and watchOS 10.
iOS 17 introduces several major new features and changes to iOS, including a complete redesign of the call screen for friends and family, Messages and FaceTime enhancements, interactive widgets, all-new keyboard autocorrect, and more. Registered developers with the Apple Developer Program and those who signed up with their Apple ID on the Apple Developer website can now install iOS 17 on supported devices before its public launch in the fall.
As a refresher, iOS 17 beta 1 brought many minor changes that Apple didn’t cover on stage during its WWDC 2023 keynote. We’ve rounded up our coverage of some of these changes below.
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- Multiple timers, more aware Siri, and better photos privacy controls
- Improved automatic switching on AirPods
- Audio transcription of articles in Safari and verification codes autofill from Mail
- SMS texts editing and replying in-thread
- Collaborative playlists and crossfade playback in Apple Music
- Private tabs in Safari can now be locked behind Face ID
- Major enhancements in Spotlight
We will keep this article updated with any additional changes found in iOS 17 beta 2, including references to new features or unreleased products. Find something new in this beta? Send us over an email or just tag us on Twitter!
How to download iOS 17
With iOS 16.4 released in March, Apple introduced a new method to install developer betas. Now, devices enrolled with a linked Apple Developer Program account or those who signed up with their Apple ID on Apple Developer will see a new menu within General -> Software Update in Settings that allows users to opt into receiving beta updates. Devices that aren’t enrolled and linked to an Apple Developer account won’t see the menu and therefore aren’t able to install the upcoming versions of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS before their public debut.
Last week, it was revealed that Apple changed how to get access to developer betas. Previously, only those who enrolled as part of the Apple Developer Program were able to get their hands on developer betas after paying a $99 annual program fee. The changes made last week mean anyone who signs up on the Apple Developer website also gets access to developer betas. Signing into the Apple Developer website without enrolling in the Developer Program is free, effectively opening up developer betas access to everyone.
Apple also does a public beta program, which is free and open to anyone who wishes to join. Public beta program members won’t get access to iOS 17 and the rest of the new updates until later in the summer, once the software has been tested with developers and deemed satisfactorily stable.
