When to Expect iOS 18 on Your iPhone as Beta Testing Wraps Up

iOS 18 has been in beta testing for nearly three months, and the software update should finally be widely released later this month.

Generic iOS 18 Feature Real Mock
Below, we outline when to expect iOS 18 to be available on all compatible iPhones.

iOS 18: Beta Testing Wraps Up

In his Power On newsletter last weekend, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said iOS 18 beta 8 will likely be the final developer beta version for the update. This is a reasonable prediction, as previous updates like iOS 17, iOS 16, and iOS 15 each had a total of eight developer betas. iOS 12 was the last update with at least nine developer betas.

If history repeats itself, Apple should release the iOS 18 Release Candidate immediately following the iPhone 16 event on September 9. Apple considers a Release Candidate to be a "near final" version of an upcoming iOS update.

iOS 18: Release Timing

Apple will likely announce a release date for iOS 18 during its September 9 event. The update is most likely to be released on Monday, September 16, but Tuesday, September 17 and Wednesday, September 18 are also possibilities.

Gurman said Apple has already been installing iOS 18 on iPhone 16 models at factories. Those devices will likely be released on Friday, September 20.

iOS 18: Compatible iPhones

iOS 18 is compatible with the same iPhone models as iOS 17 is:

  • iPhone 15
  • iPhone 15 Plus
  • iPhone 15 Pro
  • iPhone 15 Pro Max
  • iPhone 14
  • iPhone 14 Plus
  • iPhone 14 Pro
  • iPhone 14 Pro Max
  • iPhone 13 mini
  • iPhone 13
  • iPhone 13 Pro
  • iPhone 13 Pro Max
  • iPhone 12 mini
  • iPhone 12
  • iPhone 12 Pro
  • iPhone 12 Pro Max
  • iPhone 11
  • iPhone 11 Pro
  • iPhone 11 Pro Max
  • iPhone XS
  • iPhone XS Max
  • iPhone XR
  • iPhone SE (2nd generation or later)

iOS 18 will be available in the Settings app under General → Software Update.

Related Forums: iOS 18, iPadOS 18

Popular Stories

Apple Wallet ID Illinois

Apple Plans to Expand iPhone Driver's Licenses to These 7 U.S. States

Wednesday December 24, 2025 8:40 am PST by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Apple Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, and then use it to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. The feature is currently available in 13 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, and it is expected to launch in at least seven more in the future. To set up the...
iPhone Top Left Hole Punch Face ID Feature Purple

iPhone 18 Pro Launching Next Year With These 12 New Features

Tuesday December 23, 2025 8:36 am PST by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not expected to launch for another nine months, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we have recapped 12 features rumored for the iPhone 18 Pro models. The same overall design is expected, with 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display sizes, and a "plateau" housing three rear cameras Under-screen Face ID Front camera in...
maxresdefault

Where's the New Apple TV?

Monday December 22, 2025 11:30 am PST by
Apple hasn't updated the Apple TV 4K since 2022, and 2025 was supposed to be the year that we got a refresh. There were rumors suggesting Apple would release the new Apple TV before the end of 2025, but it looks like that's not going to happen now. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said several times across 2024 and 2025 that Apple would...
iOS 26

iOS 26.2 Adds These 8 New Features to Your iPhone

Monday December 22, 2025 8:47 am PST by
Earlier this month, Apple released iOS 26.2, following more than a month of beta testing. It is a big update, with many new features and changes for iPhones. iOS 26.2 adds a Liquid Glass slider for the Lock Screen's clock, offline lyrics in Apple Music, and more. Below, we have highlighted a total of eight new features. Liquid Glass Slider on Lock Screen A new slider in the Lock...
airpods color prototypes

Apple Tested AirPods in Bright Colors

Saturday December 27, 2025 6:06 am PST by
Apple reportedly tested a version of the first-generation AirPods with bright, iPhone 5c-like colored charging cases. The images, shared by the Apple leaker and prototype collector known as "Kosutami," claim to show first-generation AirPods prototypes with pink and yellow exterior casings. The interior of the charging case and the earbuds themselves remain white. They seem close to some...
maxresdefault

10 Mac Apps Worth Trying in 2026

Wednesday December 24, 2025 9:27 am PST by
2026 is almost upon us, and a new year is a good time to try out some new apps. We've rounded up 10 excellent Mac apps that are worth checking out. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Alt-Tab (Free) - Alt-Tab brings a Windows-style alt + tab thumbnail preview option to the Mac. You can see a full window preview of open apps and app windows. One Thing (Free) -...
top stories 2025 12 27

Top Stories: iPhone Fold Mockup, Where's the New Apple TV?, and More

Saturday December 27, 2025 6:00 am PST by
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from MacRumors! News in the Apple world has unsurprisingly been relatively slow over the past week, but Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone managed to make its way back into the news, while we also shared updates on current and future Apple TV news. iOS 26.3 will be bringing some new features, particularly for users in the EU, so we'll look for additional...

Top Rated Comments

zarmanto Avatar
17 months ago

iOS 18 public beta isn't ready for anyone to use daily. ...
That hasn't been my experience. I've been using Apple's public betas for many years (I'm not quite adventurous enough to run the more buggy developer betas, these days) so I've likewise been running the public iOS 18 beta more recently. Personal opinion: It seems to me that this has been one of the least buggy iOS public beta releases, to date.

Of course, you and I likely use a completely different combination of apps, so the old "YMMV" disclaimer obviously applies.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
al256 Avatar
17 months ago

That hasn't been my experience. I've been using Apple's public betas for many years (I'm not quite adventurous enough to run the more buggy developer betas, these days) so I've likewise been running the public iOS 18 beta more recently. Personal opinion: It seems to me that this has been one of the least buggy iOS public beta releases, to date.

Of course, you and I likely use a completely different combination of apps, so the old "YMMV" disclaimer obviously applies.
Same. iOS 18 has more polish than my previous experiences.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
stars_fan Avatar
17 months ago
iOS 18 public beta isn't ready for anyone to use daily. Tons of app crashes and general unstable behavior.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kerr Avatar
17 months ago
When to expect iOS 17.6.2?
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
zarmanto Avatar
17 months ago

Probably a dumb question, but if we are on the beta, how do we transition to the final release version?
Not a dumb question at all: if memory serves, when you receive the final "release candidate" version during the usual update cycle, you'll effectively be on the same version that everyone else will be receiving as the "final" release, with no further action required on your part. That last release candidate typically arrives at least a week or three before the final release becomes generally available.

What's perhaps more important is that I believe your agreement to participate in the beta program basically concludes with that release; if you want to participate in the iOS 19 betas when they start to become available, you'll have to specifically select that release option in the automatic update settings, just as you did for the iOS 18 betas.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Danilamak Avatar
17 months ago

iOS 18 public beta isn't ready for anyone to use daily. Tons of app crashes and general unstable behavior.
In my daily use iPad as desktop (stage manager and external monitor) it feels more stable than 17

So I want to say that I was surprised how stable this beta was, because 16 and 17 were nightmare no matter stable it or beta
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)