How to install iOS 26 on iPhone 16 Plus?

In addition to what muguy suggested, make sure you ONLY install the pre-release, untested software on a device other than your primary device. iOS 26 Beta was released just yesterday and all day today, we've seen post after post after post of people who simply don't get that Beta software is buggy and many things won't work, so now they want to know how to remove it.

Still want the beta on your phone?

If you want a stable version of iOS 26, you wait until it is released in the fall.

If you want to be a lab rat for testing unfinished software that may be full of bugs, and you have a spare device to install it on, then you sign up for the beta. I believe the beta s currently only available to developers and to people who got invitations from Apple, although a public beta is coming "soon".

Apple Beta

From the FAQ:

"Please note that since the beta software has not yet been commercially released by Apple, it may contain errors or inaccuracies and may not function as well as commercially released software. Be sure to back up your iPhone or iPad and your Mac using Time Machine before installing beta software … Install the beta software only on non-production devices that are not business critical. We strongly recommend installing on a secondary system or device …"

Visit developer.apple.com to log into your developer account.

Are you a Registered Developer? If yes, you have the instructions.

Otherwise, wait for the Public Beta to install software on a spare phone.

You wait until it's released in the fall.

The beta is available now for registered developers. The public beta will be available probably in a few weeks.

You absolutely do NOT want to run a beta on a device you rely on. Betas are inherently buggy and unstable. Many app developers will not have fully compatible versions of their apps ready until the final release comes out in the fall. Things like banking apps will probably break and not function until the final release.

Betas are intended for testing, not daily use. If you do decide to enroll in the beta program, you can NOT get help here. The beta can not be discussed outside of Apple's dedicated forums for beta program enrollees.

But iTunes and Apple Devices would block the installation of the OS.