How to Install macOS 26 Beta - Complete Guide for Mac
Updated for macOS 26

How to install
macOS 26 Beta

A complete library of installation methods for Mac. From OTA updates via System Settings to creating a Bootable USB Installer.

Chapter 1: The Backup

Time Machine
Manual
Recommended

Time Machine Backup

The easiest way to backup and restore your entire Mac environment.

  1. 1 Connect an external hard drive or SSD to your Mac.
  2. 2 Go to System Settings > General > Time Machine.
  3. 3 Click Add Backup Disk and select your drive.
  4. 4 Wait for the initial backup to complete. This creates a snapshot you can revert to.
Why Time Machine?

If macOS 26 Beta has bugs or breaks your apps, Time Machine allows you to "roll back" your entire Mac to exactly how it was before the update.

Recovery Reliability

Method A

System Settings (OTA)

Public Beta
Developer
1

Enroll Apple ID

To see the beta option on your Mac, your Apple ID must be registered.

For Public Beta, sign up for the Apple Beta Software Program. It's free and more stable.

Go to beta.apple.com
2

System Settings

On your Mac, go to System Settings > General > Software Update.

Software Update
Beta Updates
i
Off
3

Upgrade Now

Click the (i) next to Beta Updates, select macOS 26 Public/Developer Beta, and click Done. Then click Upgrade Now.

Connect your Mac to power. The installation can take 30-60 minutes.
Method B

Bootable USB Installer

Why use a Bootable USB?

This method allows you to erase your Mac completely and install a fresh copy of macOS 26 Beta. It's ideal for removing old system junk or fixing persistent issues.

1 Download Installer

Download the "macOS 26 Beta Full Installer" from the Apple Developer portal or using the `softwareupdate` terminal command.

2 Format USB Drive

Insert a USB drive (16GB+). Open Disk Utility, select the drive, and erase it as Mac OS Extended (Journaled) scheme GUID Partition Map. Name it "MyVolume".

3 Terminal Command

Open Terminal and run the following command to create the installer:

sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ 26\ Beta.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume

4 Boot & Install

Apple Silicon: Shut down. Hold Power button until "Loading startup options" appears. Select USB.
Intel Mac: Restart and hold Option (Alt). Select USB.

Troubleshooting Library

Enter Recovery Mode

If your Mac won't start, use Recovery Mode to reinstall macOS.

Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3/M4):
Turn off Mac. Press and HOLD Power button until "Options" appears.

Intel Mac:
Restart and immediately hold Command + R.

How to Downgrade

To go back to macOS 25 (Stable):

Requires wiping the disk!
  1. Enter Recovery Mode (see left).
  2. Open Disk Utility and erase your Macintosh HD.
  3. Select "Reinstall macOS" or restore from your Time Machine backup.

Beta Option Missing

If "Beta Updates" is not in System Settings:

  • Ensure you are on macOS 13.4 or later.
  • Sign out and back in to Apple ID.
  • Try this Terminal command to force refresh:
    sudo /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/Seeding.framework/Versions/A/Resources/seedutil enroll DeveloperSeed

Installation Errors

"Installation Failed": Often due to low disk space. Ensure you have at least 30GB free.
"Gateway Timed Out": Apple servers are busy. Wait and try again later.

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Are you sure of this?

By downloading and installing this profile, you are enrolled in Apple's Developer Beta program.

The iOS 16 developer beta is still in development, which means some applications and services may not work as expected and their data may not be backwards compatible. Be sure to back up your iOS device with iTunes before installing the software.

Learn how to backup your iPhone →​

Check out our FAQs page →

Install