iPadOS 27 pushes the iPad further into laptop territory, and testing it early is the best way to see whether the new multitasking fits your workflow. Installation works exactly like a normal software update once your Apple Account is enrolled — no profile files, no computer required.
Because many iPads are shared family devices or work machines, this guide leans harder on the backup-and-rollback side than most: know your exit before you enter.
What you'll need
A supported iPad
Recent iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad (9th gen and later) and iPad mini (6th gen and later) models. The compatibility list has the full breakdown — iPadOS 27 drops several older models that ran 26.
A free Apple Account
Enrolled at beta.apple.com (public) or developer.apple.com (developer).
An archived backup
Finder or Apple Devices, encrypted. iCloud backups made on the beta can't be restored to iPadOS 26.
Storage headroom
Keep 15 GB free — beta installers are larger than release updates.
Step-by-step
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1Back up locally
Connect the iPad to a computer and create an encrypted backup in Finder or Apple Devices. Archive it so it isn't overwritten — this snapshot is what gets your data back onto iPadOS 26 if you downgrade.
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2Enroll your Apple Account
Public beta: sign up at beta.apple.com. Developer beta: sign in once at developer.apple.com and accept the agreement. Both are free; the developer channel simply gets builds about a week earlier.
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3Choose the beta channel
On the iPad open Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates and select iPadOS 27 Developer Beta or iPadOS 27 Public Beta.
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4Install
Return to Software Update, tap Update Now and keep the iPad plugged in. Expect 25–45 minutes end to end depending on the model and Apple's server load.
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5Revisit your Stage Manager settings
iPadOS 27 reworks multitasking defaults. After first boot, spend two minutes in Settings > Multitasking & Gestures choosing the windowing mode you actually want — it saves a week of accidental gestures.
After installing
Test the apps you rely on for work first — PDF editors, drawing apps and external-display workflows are historically the ones that stumble in early iPadOS betas. Everything else tends to follow within a beta or two.
Troubleshooting
Beta Updates menu is missing
Make sure the iPad is signed in with the enrolled Apple Account (Settings > your name at the top). Re-visit the enrollment site once while signed in, then check again.
Apple Pencil or keyboard acting up after the update
Detach and re-pair the accessory. Early builds occasionally reset accessory firmware handshakes; a re-pair fixes it in almost every reported case.
External display shows a black screen
Toggle the display connection under Settings > Displays, or switch the windowing mode once. This is a known early-beta quirk that Apple typically patches quickly.
Frequently asked questions
Does the beta erase the iPad?
No. It installs like a regular update and keeps your data. Downgrading later is what requires an erase-and-restore — hence the backup.
Can I run the beta on a managed (school/work) iPad?
Technically often yes, practically don't — MDM profiles and managed apps frequently misbehave on betas, and your administrator may not be able to help you.
How do I stop receiving beta updates?
Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates > Off. The iPad rejoins the stable channel at the next public release.