How to Download and Install iPadOS 17.8 Beta on Your iPhone to Explore New Features Before Everyone Else

Apple has already released iPadOS 18, but there still may be work to complete on iPadOS 17. That brings us to iPadOS 17.8. Is there one, and can you test-drive it on your iPad?

Following the feature-rich launch of iPadOS 17, which first became available with iPadOS 17.1, subsequent updates — including iPadOS 17.2, iPadOS 17.3, iPadOS 17.4, iPadOS 17.5, iPadOS 17.6, and iPadOS 17.7 — have brought additional enhancements to the iPad experience.

Now, iPadOS 17.8 may offer developers and public beta testers a chance to explore upcoming improvements and potential hidden gems before they're widely available. However, this update may not happen now that Apple's focused on iPadOS 18 updates.

• Don't Miss: iPadOS 17.6 Has 13 New Features and Changes for iPad You Need to Know About

Anyone enrolled in the Apple Beta Software Program may be able to download the iPadOS 17.8 Public Beta when and if it comes out. The Developer Beta, however, remains exclusive to app developers within the Apple Developer Program, but developers may not even get access to an iPadOS 17.8 Beta build. The first 17 developer beta arrived on June 17, 2024, and the first public beta appeared on June 20.

Eager to be among the first to experience iPadOS 17.8 if it happens? We've got you covered. Follow these simple instructions to install the beta on your iPad. (If you want to install iOS 17.8 Beta on your iPhone, head over to that guide to see how.

Jump to a Section:

• iPadOS 17 Release History
• Backing Up Before You Continue
• Installing iPadOS 17 Public Beta Software
• Installing iPadOS 17 Developer Beta Software
• Compatible iPadOS 17 Devices

iPadOS 17 Release History

• TBD: iPadOS 17.8 Beta
• September 16: iPadOS 17.7 Official Release (21H16)
• September 9: iPadOS 17.7 Release Candidate (21H16)
• August 19: iPadOS 17.6.1 Official Release Update (21G101)
• August 7: iPadOS 17.6.1 Official Release (21G93)
• July 29: iPadOS 17.6 Official Release (21G80)
• July 23: iPadOS 17.6 Release Candidate (21G79)
• July 16: iPadOS 17.6 Developer and Public Beta 4 (21G5075a)
• July 10: iPadOS 17.6 Public Beta 3 (21G5066d)
• July 9: iPadOS 17.6 Developer Beta 3 (21G5066d)
• July 2: iPadOS 17.6 Public Beta 2 (21G5061c)
• July 1: iPadOS 17.6 Developer Beta 2 (21G5061c)
• June 20: iPadOS 17.6 Public Beta 1 (21G5052e)
• June 17: iPadOS 17.6 Developer Beta 1 (21G5052e)
• May 20: iPadOS 17.5.1 Official Release (21F90)
• May 13: iPadOS 17.5 Official Release (21F79)
• May 7: iPadOS 17.5 Release Candidate (21F79)
• April 30: iPadOS 17.5 Developer and Public Beta 4 (21F5073b)
• April 24: iPadOS 17.5 Public Beta 3 (21F5063f)
• April 23: iPadOS 17.5 Developer Beta 3 (21F5063f)
• April 17: iPadOS 17.5 Public Beta 2 (21F5058e)
• April 16: iPadOS 17.5 Developer Beta 2 (21F5058e)
• April 4: iPadOS 17.5 Public Beta 1 (21F5048f)
• April 2: iPadOS 17.5 Developer Beta 1 (21F5048f)
• March 21: iPadOS 17.4.1 Official Release (21E236)
• March 5: iPadOS 17.4 Official Release (21E219)
• February 27: iPadOS 17.4 Release Candidate (21E217)
• February 20: iPadOS 17.4 Developer and Public Beta 4 (21E5209b)
• February 14: iPadOS 17.4 Public Beta 3 (21E5200d)
• February 13: iPadOS 17.4 Developer Beta 3 (21E5200d)
• February 8: iPadOS 17.3.1 Official Release (21D61)
• February 7: iPadOS 17.4 Public Beta 2 (21E5195e)
• February 6: iPadOS 17.4 Developer Beta 2 (21E5195e)
• January 30: iPadOS 17.4 Public Beta 1 (21E5184i)
• January 25: iPadOS 17.4 Developer Beta 1 (21E5184i)
• January 22: iPadOS 17.3 Official Release (21D50)
• January 17: iPadOS 17.3 Release Candidate (21D50)
• January 10: iPadOS 17.3 Public Beta 3 (21D5044a)
• January 9: iPadOS 17.3 Developer Beta 3 (21D5044a)
• January 3: iPadOS 17.3 Developer Beta 2 (21D5036c) – unstable: removed Jan. 3
• December 14: iPadOS 17.3 Public Beta 1 (21D5026f)
• December 12: iPadOS 17.3 Developer Beta 1 (21D5026f)
• December 11: iPadOS 17.2 Official Release (21C62)
• December 5: iPadOS 17.2 Developer and Public Release Candidate (21C62)
• November 30: iPadOS 17.1.2 Official Release (21B101)
• November 28: iPadOS 17.2 Developer and Public Beta 4 (21C5054b)
• November 15: iPadOS 17.2 Public Beta 3 (21C5046c)
• November 14: iPadOS 17.2 Developer Beta 3 (21C5046c)
• November 10: iPadOS 17.2 Public Beta 2 (21C5040g)
• November 9: iPadOS 17.2 Developer Beta 2 (21C5040g)
• November 7: iPadOS 17.1.1 Official Release (21B91)
• October 27: iPadOS 17.2 Public Beta 1 (21C5029g)
• October 26: iPadOS 17.2 Developer Beta 1 (21C5029g)
• October 25: iPadOS 17.1 Official Release (21B74)
• October 17: iPadOS 17.1 Release Candidate (21B74)
• October 10: iPadOS 17.1 Public Beta 3 (21B5066a)
• October 10: iPadOS 17.1 Developer Beta 3 (21B5066a)
• October 4: iPadOS 17.0.3 Official Release (21A360)
• October 4: iPadOS 17.1 Public Beta 2 (21B5056e)
• October 3: iPadOS 17.1 Developer Beta 2 (21B5056e)
• September 28: iPadOS 17.1 Public Beta 1 (21B5045h)
• September 27: iPadOS 17.1 Developer Beta 1 (21B5045h)
• September 26: iPadOS 17.0.2 Official Release (21A351)
• September 21: iPadOS 17.0.1 Official Release (21A340)
• September 18: iPadOS 17.0 Official Release (21A329)
• September 12: iPadOS 17.0 Release Candidate (21A329)
• August 29: iPadOS 17.0 Public Beta 6 (21A5326a)
• August 29: iPadOS 17.0 Developer Beta 8 (21A5326a)
• August 22: iPadOS 17.0 Public Beta 5 (21A5319a)
• August 22: iPadOS 17.0 Developer Beta 7 (21A5319a)
• August 15: iPadOS 17.0 Public Beta 4 (21A5312c)
• August 15: iPadOS 17.0 Developer Beta 6 (21A5312c)
• August 9: iPadOS 17.0 Public Beta 3 (21A5303d)
• August 8: iPadOS 17.0 Developer Beta 5 (21A5303d)
• July 31: iPadOS 17.0 Public Beta 2 (21A5291j)
• July 31: iPadOS 17.0 Developer Beta 4 Revised (21A5291j)
• July 25: iPadOS 17.0 Developer Beta 4 (21A5291h)
• July 12: iPadOS 17.0 Public Beta 1 (21A5277j)
• July 11: iPadOS 17.0 Developer Beta 3 Revised (21A5277j)
• July 5: iPadOS 17.0 Developer Beta 3 (21A5277h)
• June 21: iPadOS 17.0 Developer Beta 2 (21A5268h)
• June 5: iPadOS 17.0 Developer Beta 1 (21A5248v)

Backing Up Before You Continue

If you think you may want to downgrade from an iPadOS 17 Beta version, you'll want to archive a backup of the current iPadOS 17 software on your iPad before installing the latest beta update. Once you install the latest iPadOS 17 Beta, a backup of the new software may replace your iPadOS 17 backup on your Mac, so it's important to prevent that.

1. Connect your iPad and Mac with a compatible cable.
2. Select your iPad from Finder's sidebar on your Mac.
3. Choose the "General" tab if not already open.
4. Check "Back up all of the data on your iPad to this Mac" in the Backups section.
5. Check "Encrypt local backup to protect it with a password. (This is optional.)
6. Click "Back Up Now."
7. Click "Manage Backups" after Finder finishes backing up your iPad.
8. Right-click on the backup you want to archive.
9. Choose "Archive" from the contextual menu.
10. A date should appear in the backup's name, indicating it is now protected from overwriting.

• Full Guide: How to Create an Archived Backup of Your Current iPadOS Version So You Can Restore After a Downgrade

Installing iPadOS 17 Public Beta Software

These instructions for installing the iPadOS 17 Public Beta work best when your iPad is already updated to iPadOS 16.4 or later. If it's not, you'll need to install a configuration profile.

Skip to Step 4 if you're already an Apple Beta Software Program member.

1. Enroll your Apple ID in the Apple Beta Software Program if it hasn't already been enrolled from previous beta installations. Visit beta.apple.com, then hit "Sign Up" or "Sign In."

2. Log in with your Apple ID, read the agreement, and tap "Agree." Skip to Step 4 if you're already on iPadOS 16.4 or later. Otherwise, proceed to Step 3.

3. If you're using iPadOS 16.3 or earlier, visit beta.apple.com/download/1015832 and tap "Allow" to download the iPadOS 17 configuration profile. Then, go to Settings » General » VPN & Device Management, tap on the downloaded Beta Software profile, and tap "Install" to install it.

4. Go to Settings » General » Software Update » Beta Updates.

5. Ensure the Apple ID listed at the bottom is the one you enrolled in the Apple Beta Software Program. If not, tap it, select "Use a different Apple ID," and sign in with the correct email address and password. Switching Apple IDs here will not affect any Apple IDs used for other apps and services on the device — it only affects software updates, so you can install betas on other devices you own that don't use your Apple Beta Software Program Apple ID as the device's primary Apple ID.

6. With the correct Apple ID, ensure the iPadOS 17 Public Beta is checked.

7. Hit "Back" to return to Software Update to see if the iPadOS 17 Public Beta is ready to install.
8. Install iPadOS 17 Beta like any other software update when it becomes available.

9. Optional: Provide feedback to Apple about any software issues you experience, which will help get the iPadOS 17 stable update as bug-free as possible. You can provide feedback via the Feedback Assistant app on your iPad. The app is usually hidden on stable iPadOS software but visible when on a beta. If you want to attach a sysdiagnose report with your feedback, to help Apple determine what led up to the issue, use the volume buttons shortcut.

Installing iPadOS 17 Developer Beta Software

These instructions assume you are already a registered developer in the Apple Developer Program running iPadOS 16.4 or later on the target iPad. On iPadOS 16.4 or later, it's much easier to install beta software.

1. Go to Settings » General » Software Update » Beta Updates.

2. Ensure the Apple ID listed at the bottom is the one assigned to your Apple Developer Program subscription. If not, tap it, select "Use a different Apple ID," and sign in with the correct email address and password. Switching Apple IDs here will not affect any Apple IDs used for other apps and services on the device — it only affects software updates, so you can install betas on other devices you own that don't use your Apple Developer Program Apple ID as the device's primary Apple ID.

3. With the correct Apple ID, ensure the iPadOS 17 Developer Beta is checked.

4. Hit "Back" to return to Software Update to see if the iPadOS 17 Developer Beta is ready to install.
5. Install iPadOS 17 Beta like any other software update when it becomes available.

6. Optional: Provide feedback to Apple about any software or developer-related issues you experience, which will help get the iPadOS 17 stable update as bug-free as possible. You can provide feedback via the Feedback Assistant app on your iPad. The app is usually hidden on stable iPadOS software but visible when on a beta. If you want to attach a sysdiagnose report with your feedback, to help Apple determine what led up to the issue, use the volume buttons shortcut.

Compatible iPadOS 17 Devices

The iPadOS 17.8 Beta is available on the following iPad models. Apple did not include the iPad (5th generation), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (1st generation), or iPad Pro 9.7-inch on its list of supported iPadOS 17 models, so those devices now max out at the latest iPadOS 16 software.

• iPad Air (5th generation)
• iPad Air (4th generation)
• iPad Air (3rd generation)

• iPad mini (6th generation)
• iPad mini (5th generation)

• iPad (10th generation)
• iPad (9th generation)
• iPad (8th generation)
• iPad (7th generation)
• iPad (6th generation)

• iPad Pro 11-inch (4th generation)
• iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation)
• iPad Pro 11-inch (2nd generation)
• iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation)

• iPad Pro 12.9-inch (6th generation)
• iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation)
• iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th generation)
• iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation)
• iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2nd generation)

• iPad Pro 10.5-inch

Cover image via Apple; screenshots by Justin Meyers/Gadget Hacks