To install iOS 18.1 on eligible models, go to Settings > General > Software Update. From the top of the screen, you’ll see two settings with one that says Automatic Update and one underneath that reads “Beta Updates.” Press the latter button and make sure your checkmark is set on iOS 18 Developer Beta. This year, Apple has removed the $99 fee it used to charge developers to have that title.
If you want to use Apple Intelligence as soon as you receive your iPhone 16 model, you’ll need to install iOS 18.1 Developer Beta. | Image credit PhoneArena
After you place the checkmark on iOS 18 Developer Beta, tap the back button at the upper left of the display and you should see the invitation to install the latest iOS 18.1 Developer Beta on the screen. Once you install it, you need to follow the directions to install the Apple Intelligence Beta on your phone.
More AI features are expected with the December release of iOS 18.2 and there will be even more next year. So far we have yet to see Apple’s ChatGPT infusion with Siri, Genmoji which will create custom emoji from the user’s brief description, the Image Playground which will create images to be used in such apps as Messages, Notes, Keynote, Pages, and more.
Remember that Beta software is typically not stable and certain features that you are used to using every day might not work correctly. Your daily battery life will also be diminished. However, since we are so close to the release of the final version of iOS 18.1, installing that Beta build should not pose too much of a problem. Still, you should back up your iPhone before installing the Beta.
