iOS 26: iPhone 11 users should now also be able to test it
Due to technical problems, users of the oldest iPhones supported by iOS 26 were not allowed to test for a short time. Now they can.
The iPhone 11 in six colors. It was released in fall 2019.
(Image: Apple)
Since last week, it has been possible to test iOS 26 and the other new Apple operating systems as part of a public beta, even as a normal user. However, there was one exception: owners of the iPhone 11, the oldest model from 2019 still supported by iOS 26, did not initially receive the pre-release version.
There were apparently technical reasons for this, which Apple has now rectified: Anyone who has not yet seen the beta despite officially signing up should try again. The build suitable for the iPhone 11 has the number 23A5297n, which is one letter "further" than the build for the other devices (23A5297m).
Folder not displayed correctly
According to Apple, there were difficulties with the display of folders on the home screen –, and only on the iPhone 11. These were apparently noticed by testers of the developer beta. When opening folders, only those apps that were visible on the left-hand side of the "grid" were displayed. The other two icon columns were missing, meaning that they could not be clicked on.
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It is not yet clear exactly how this happened. The iPhone 11 is the successor to the iPhone XR and comes with an A13 Bionic including a "notch" for the TrueDepth camera, which enables Face ID facial recognition. The second-generation iPhone SE (from 2020), which uses the same chip, did not have the difficulties – the public beta of iOS 26 was distributed here from the start.
Which devices support the beta
As mentioned, iOS 26 runs from the iPhone 11 – in all three variants (Pro and Pro Max do not appear to have been affected by the above bug). It also includes the SE 2 mentioned above and all generations of the 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 series. iPhone XR and XS are out.
Before installing, you should urgently back up – either locally or, if you have sufficient iCloud storage, to Apple. However, it is generally advisable not to test with real data and it is best to use an iPhone that you still have "left over". You should also play it safe with regard to iCloud data and log in to the device with a specially created Apple account. You can read tips and information about the iOS 26 beta and the other pre-release versions, which include the new Liquid Glass interface, in a detailed article at heise+.
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