Does the Apple Vision Pro (M5) Support visionOS 27?
Yes — the Apple Vision Pro (M5) is on Apple's visionOS 27 compatibility list, so it can run the visionOS 27 beta. It shipped with visionOS 26, which means visionOS 27 is another major version running on the same M5 with R1 hardware. There is plenty of road left: four or more major versions beyond visionOS 27 is the realistic expectation for this generation.
Being on the list and getting every feature are two different things, though. Every visionOS 27 feature including the full Apple Intelligence stack is available on the M5 Vision Pro from beta 1.
How to Install the visionOS 27 Beta on the Apple Vision Pro (M5)
There is no beta profile to download — Apple removed configuration profiles from the process in 2023. Enrol your Apple Account free at beta.apple.com (public beta) or developer.apple.com (developer beta), then open Settings → General → Software Update → Beta Updates on your Apple Vision Pro (M5), sign in with the same Apple Account and select visionOS 27 Public Beta or visionOS 27 Developer Beta.
The beta then appears in Software Update like any ordinary update. Download it over Wi-Fi with the device on a charger, and let the first-boot indexing pass finish before judging how it runs. Our full visionOS 27 install guide walks through every step with screenshots.
Apple Vision Pro (M5) Specifications That Matter for the Beta
The Apple Vision Pro (M5) launched in 2025 with the M5 with R1, 16 GB of memory, a dual micro-OLED, 23 million pixels combined display and storage options of 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB. Three of those numbers decide how a beta behaves on it: the chip sets raw speed, the memory decides how many apps survive in the background, and the free space determines whether the installer will even start.
The current Vision Pro, with the newest silicon and the highest refresh rate Apple has shipped on the platform. visionOS 27 betas run without performance caveats.
What the Apple Vision Pro (M5) Gets in visionOS 27 — and What It Doesn't
Apple Intelligence is fully supported on the Apple Vision Pro (M5). The M5 with R1 and its 16 GB of memory clear Apple's on-device model requirement, so the writing tools, image features, notification summaries and the expanded Siri all appear in Settings after you install.
Everything else in visionOS 27 — the interface changes, the new Settings layout, Control Centre, Messages, Photos, Safari and the system apps — installs and works on the Apple Vision Pro (M5) exactly as it does on current hardware. Feature-by-feature availability across every model is on our supported devices page.
Performance and Battery on the Apple Vision Pro (M5)
The external battery means beta overhead shows up as shorter sessions rather than a dead device. Expect the first days after an install to run noticeably shorter while the system reindexes. On the thermal side, the M5 model runs cooler than the original under sustained mixed-reality workloads, which matters more on a headset than anywhere else.
The pattern is consistent across every device: the first two to three days after a beta install look far worse than the software actually is, because Spotlight is reindexing, Photos is re-analysing your library and iCloud is re-syncing all at once. If it has not settled after four days, our battery drain fix guide covers the settings that actually help.
Before You Install a Beta on Your Apple Vision Pro (M5)
Apple Vision Pro can be erased and restored from Settings, and it stores comparatively little locally, but a failed build on a headset is far more disruptive to recover from than on a phone. Treat it as a considered decision rather than a casual one.
Check free space too. A visionOS 27 beta wants roughly 20 GB free before it will begin, which is more than the download size suggests. If you depend on this Apple Vision Pro for work, consider whether the public beta channel suits you better than the developer channel.
How to Get Back to visionOS 26 on the Apple Vision Pro (M5)
Turn off Beta Updates, then erase Apple Vision Pro from Settings → General → Transfer or Reset and set it up again on the shipping release. There is no in-place downgrade, and the device must be reconfigured from scratch including eye and hand setup.
If you simply want to stop receiving new betas without erasing anything, set Beta Updates to Off and stay where you are until the finished visionOS 27 release arrives and overtakes your build. Our guide to leaving the beta program covers both routes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the Apple Vision Pro (M5) run visionOS 27?
Yes. The Apple Vision Pro (M5) is on Apple's visionOS 27 compatibility list and can install both the developer and public beta through Settings → General → Software Update → Beta Updates.
Does the Apple Vision Pro (M5) support Apple Intelligence in visionOS 27?
Yes. The M5 with R1 with 16 GB of memory meets Apple's requirement, so every Apple Intelligence feature is available on the Apple Vision Pro (M5).
Is there a visionOS 27 beta profile for the Apple Vision Pro (M5)?
No. Apple removed beta profiles in 2023. Beta access is now tied to your Apple Account: enrol free at beta.apple.com, then choose the channel in Settings → General → Software Update → Beta Updates.
How much free space does the visionOS 27 beta need on the Apple Vision Pro (M5)?
Around 20 GB free, which is considerably more than the download size. The Apple Vision Pro (M5) ships in 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB configurations, so check the smallest one carefully before you start.
Will the beta hurt battery life on the Apple Vision Pro (M5)?
Temporarily, yes. The external battery means beta overhead shows up as shorter sessions rather than a dead device. Expect the first days after an install to run noticeably shorter while the system reindexes.