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iOS 17 Release Date: When’s It Landing?

iOS 17 is releasing in 2023, but when can you expect it? The iOS 17 release date depends on whether you are a developer, beta tester, or user…


It’s 2023, which means another year of Apple hardware and software releases. We’ve already detailed what hardware to expect from Apple in 2023 and what software to expect from Apple in 2023 – including iOS 17. We’ve also examined what iPhones are likely to have support for iOS 17.

But what most people really want to know is when is the iOS 17 release date (okay, and iOS 17 features, too)? The new iOS is always the largest and most high-profile release of the year – of any software from any company.

But the release date of iOS 17, as with past iOS’s, like iOS 16, will actually vary depending on if you are a developer, a beta tester, or a general user.

iOS 17 Release Date Method

iOS 17, even if it lacks many new features, is still a major feat of software engineering. Apple’s engineers are busy developing it right now (and likely have been for nearly a year). But Apple’s engineers can only go so far – eventually, they want other people to look at iOS 17 before its final release.

This is because the more people who look at iOS 17, the more bugs are likely to be found – and thus fixed – before iOS 17 ships to the general public.

Apple usually has two distinct rounds of testers for iOS – developers and public beta testers.

Developers actually do more than test iOS, however. They use the beta software to test their apps on iOS as well, to make sure their apps work right with it – and by doing so, they also discover bugs in iOS itself, which only helps Apple’s software engineers.

Public beta testers, on the other hand, mainly beta test iOS because they want access to it sooner than the general public gets it. However, they also can report bugs to Apple, which helps iOS’s overall development before a final public release is made.

iOS 17 Release Date: When's It Landing?Pin
Credit: Apple

iOS 17 Release Date: For Developers

As already stated, iOS 17 will likely have three major release dates. The first is for the developer release of iOS 17. This release is now complete. Apple released the iOS 17 Developer Beta #1 at the company’s Worldwide Developers Conference on June 5, 2023. WWDC is where Apple always shows off the upcoming iOS to the public for the first time.

Developers got access to the new version of iOS 17 on the same day the WWDC keynote was held.

iOS 17 Release Date: For Public Beta testers

Following the release of the developer beta, Apple usually releases a public beta of iOS. The public beta is aimed at iPhone users who can’t wait to try out the new features of the latest iOS. It also helps Apple out as these beta testers can send their feedback on iOS to the company.

But because betas are buggy, public beta testers do take on some risk to their data when running the latest iOS beta. But Apple tries to mitigate this risk by releasing the public beta two to four weeks after the first developer’s beta. This way, Apple can find (hopefully) and stamp out any critical bugs developers discover before public beta testers try out iOS 17.

Apple has said we can expect the public beta of iOS 17 in July 2023.

iOS 17 Release Date: For The General Public

The final release of iOS is always the public release. This is the release that ALL iPhone users can have access, too (as long as their iPhone supports it). This release comes after 3 to 4 months of extensive testing and refinement of iOS.

The public release of iOS 17 is likely to come in early- to mid-September 2023.

Michael Grothaus

Michael Grothaus is an American author and journalist with a flair for exploring the intersection of technology, creativity, and digital culture. With a background in film, journalism, and creative writing, he brings a unique perspective to the world of mobile technology. His work has been featured in renowned publications like Fast Company, The Guardian, and Engadget. At KnowYourMobile, Michael leverages his extensive knowledge to guide readers through the complexities of mobile devices, helping them make informed choices in the fast-paced tech landscape.

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