Apple today posted a third public beta of iOS 11, which packs in the same features as the developer-only iOS 11 beta 4 release that dropped on Monday.
You’re wholeheartedly recommended to perform a full iCloud or iTunes backup of the device before installing any beta software. Please do not install the public beta on your daily driver due to bugs, crashes, battery drain and other issues. Apple will optimize iOS code for speed and power consumption ahead of iOS 11’s launch this fall.
To file bugs, use Apple’s included Feedback Assistant app.
Before you can install the iOS public beta, sign in with your Apple ID at beta.apple.com. Next, visit beta.apple.com/profile in iOS Safari to download Apple’s configuration profile, which permits your device to receive over-the-air public beta software updates.
Lastly, go to Settings → General → Software Update to install the latest iOS public beta.
Here’s our overview of the changes in iOS 11 beta 4.
Subscribe to iDownloadBlog on YouTube
Here’s the full list of changes in iOS 11 beta 4 and its corresponding public beta 3:
Notifications & Lock screen
- Lock screen notifications can be swiped right to Open
- Lock screen notifications can be swiped left to View or Clear
- Full swipe to the left clears the notification
- Tapping a Lock screen notification brings up a new Touch ID interface
App switcher
- App switcher automatically closes when you force-quit all apps
- App switcher won’t open if there are no recent apps
Visual tweaks
- Slightly redesigned app icons for the Contacts, Reminders, Notes and Safari apps
- New splash screens in the Photos and Notes apps
- Updated Timer icon in Control Center
- Revamped Contacts icon in the Settings app
- Thicker Wi-Fi bars in the iOS status bar
- Cleaner icon for cellular data in the iOS status bar
- Icons for Web, App Store and Maps search options in Spotlight
- “Broadcasting” for Screen Recording in Control Center renamed to “Start Recording”
- Subtle Maps design changes on iPad
- Tweaked photo drawer in the Messages app
- New gray bar to scroll through photos in the Messages app
- Vertically oriented key icon in Settings → Accounts & Passwords
Animations
- New animation for Low Power Mode toggle in Control Center
- New Mute animation on Control Center on iPad
- Faster animations on Plus iPhone models
- Screen Recording in Control Center has 3-second countdown animation
Miscellaneous
- New Capacity section in Settings → General → About shows total amount of storage
- Pull-to-refresh for the Updates tab on App Store
- Airdrop settings are now under Settings → General
- 32-bit apps (unsupported by iOS 11) are now greyed out in App Store
- Fewer crashes and unexpected quits
- Icons can be moved around the Home screen more easily
- Message sync settings now appear in iCloud preferences
- Bluetooth toggle in Control Center now stops devices from connecting
- Siri settings moved from the General section to its own section within Settings
- New male/female Siri voices for Brazilian Portuguese, Canadian French, Dutch and Swedish
- New female Siri voices for English and Mexican Spanish
- Upgraded Siri voice for both genders of Japanese and Chinese
- “On my iPhone/iPad” location has been removed from the Files app
- Updated settings in the Camera app on iPad
- New Arabic keyboard for the Najdi dialect
Originally released as a developer-only preview at WWDC in June, iOS 11 includes all-new iPad multitasking features with the Dock and drag and drop, a customizable Control Center, a redesigned App Store, a new Files app, AirPlay 2 with multi-room audio, additional Siri capabilities, visual refinements with Apple Music-like bolder headings across stock apps, an improved Messages app with a redesigned app drawer and more.
TUTORIAL: How to switch from iOS beta to official release
What’s your favorite new thing in iOS 11 beta 4? Don’t be shy, tell us in comments!
iOS 11 will release this fall for the supported iPhone, iPad and iPod touch models.