iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 RC for iPhone and iPad is releasing next week. Here’s what it means for you, as a user or beta tester.
You Can Download and Install iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 Final Version a Week Before Everyone Else by Simply Signing up for the RC Build
Quick update: iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 RC is now available for download.
iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 has been in beta for a long time – a total of 8 developer betas and 6 public betas, in case you’re wondering. This coming Monday, Apple is set to announce a brand new lineup of iPhones, and if history has taught us anything, it’s that new iPhones are announced alongside RC software. Whether that software is released on the same day or a few days later is entirely Apple’s call.
However, as a user or a beta tester, you should know what iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 RC is and what it means for you.
RC – short for release candidate – is the final version of the software that is released to developers and public beta testers. This is potentially the full and final version of the software that is later released to the general public. If bugs and issues are found, Apple may seed a slightly updated version of the software with a slightly different build number to the general public on release day.
Here comes the part you want to hear.
Usually, it takes a week for Apple to release major iOS and iPadOS updates to the public after it releases the RC update. This also means if you sign up to the Apple Developer Program or the Beta Software Program right now, you can download and install iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 final before everyone else. You don’t have to wait an extra week for it.
Now, do I recommend installing the update a week early? Sure, go ahead, it’s the final version. But, you’ve waited since June for iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 to come out, an extra week is not going to make any dent at all.
Though downloading the update a week early will make you the popular one in your group of friends.
You can enroll yourself in the Apple Developer Program by going here. Or, sign up for the Beta Software Program by going here. Once done, just go to Settings > General Software Update > Beta Updates to enable iOS 18 or iPadOS 18 updates. It’s as simple as that. When the RC is available for download on the big day, install it right away.
You also have to make sure you have an iPhone or iPad compatible to run iOS 18. and iPadOS 18.
As ever, I highly recommend that you take a backup of everything using iCloud or Finder before making this leap.
