What build number is iOS 27 Public Beta 4?

iOS 27 Public Beta 4 and iPadOS 27 Public Beta 4 both carry build 24A5418b, the same build number Apple used for developer beta 6 released the same day.

How do I install iOS 27 Public Beta 4?

Enroll your Apple Account at beta.apple.com, then go to Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates on your iPhone or iPad and select the iOS 27 or iPadOS 27 public beta track before installing.

Is iOS 27 Public Beta 4 the same as developer beta 6?

The two share identical build numbers, but Apple releases them through separate programs. Developer beta 6 requires a paid developer account, while public beta 4 only needs a free Apple Account enrolled in the public beta program.

What's new in this beta compared to Public Beta 3?

Changes are minor at this stage: iOS 27 has a new Shortcuts splash screen, a redesigned Game Center icon, and reported speed improvements to app launches, AirDrop and keyboard responsiveness. macOS 27 adds new wallpapers.

Is it safe to install a public beta on my main phone?

Apple recommends installing public betas on a secondary device when possible. If you only have one device, back it up fully first, since pre-release software can still contain bugs that affect daily use.

Apple Releases iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27 Public Beta 4

What's actually new at this stage

This is the fourth public beta in a cycle that started with the developer preview announced earlier this year, and it arrives just a week after Public Beta 3. Late-stage betas like this one are focused on stability rather than headline features, but a few visible changes made it into the build. iOS 27 picks up a new splash screen when Shortcuts launches and a redesigned Game Center icon. Testers have also reported quicker app launches, faster AirDrop transfers and more responsive on-screen keyboard input compared with earlier betas.

macOS 27 Golden Gate adds a fresh set of wallpapers in this build. The redesigned traffic-light window controls that arrived in developer beta 6 carry over unchanged, giving the red, yellow and green buttons their rounder shape and HDR highlight effect.

How to install the public beta

Installing a public beta requires enrolling a device through Apple's beta software program at beta.apple.com with your Apple Account. Once enrolled, the update appears under Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates on iPhone and iPad, where you select the iOS 27 or iPadOS 27 beta track before installing. Mac users update through System Settings > General > Software Update after enrolling the same Apple Account.

Public betas are still pre-release software. Apple recommends installing on a secondary device where possible, or backing up a primary device fully before updating, since beta builds can carry bugs that a shipping release would not.

Where this fits in the release schedule

Public Beta 4 tracking exactly with Developer Beta 6 signals Apple is in the final stretch of testing before the stable releases of iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, tvOS 27 and watchOS 27 ship alongside new iPhone hardware this fall. Apple has not given an exact release date, but the pattern of weekly public betas converging with developer builds typically continues for a few more rounds before Apple locks a release candidate.

Anyone running last year's iOS 26.6.1 or macOS 26.6.2 stable releases can jump straight into the iOS 27 public beta track without installing intermediate updates, provided their device meets the minimum hardware requirements for iOS 27.

What to watch for in the next beta

Apple has continued to seed code referencing unreleased hardware inside these OS betas, including strings tied to camera-equipped AirPods expected to launch alongside iOS 27 features. Whether the next beta round surfaces new details on that hardware, or simply keeps polishing bugs, will depend on how close Apple is to a release candidate build.