3 Reasons Not to Install iOS 11.4 Beta & 5 Reasons You Should

Installing Apple’s iOS 11.4 beta might seem like a good idea, but most iPhone and iPad users should stay put on an official version of iOS 11.

The iOS 11.4 update is live for developers and those enrolled in Apple’s Beta Software Program. The Beta Software Program allows anyone with a working Apple ID to try pre-release software for free.

There are certainly some reasons why you might want to give the iOS 11.4 update a shot before its official release. You might want to help Apple improve the software before it lands for the public. Maybe you want to try Messages in iCloud again. Or perhaps you want to test iOS 11.4’s performance on your device before you commit to the official version when it arrives later this year.

It’s exciting to test unreleased software before it lands for millions of devices around the world, but pre-release software is buggy and often unsuitable as a daily driver.

If you depend on your one iPhone or iPad to get through the day, you probably want to stay put on iOS 11.3.1 or whatever you’re currently running on your device.

If you’re on the fence about the iOS 11.4 beta, allow us to take you through the best reasons to install it and the best reasons to pass.

Remember this is a big decision for a lot of you. If you’re currently on iOS 11.0-iOS 11.2.6 or iOS 10, and you decide to make the move to iOS 11.4 beta, you’re permanently stuck with iOS 11.3 and iOS 11.3.1. You can’t downgrade to anything older than those two updates.

Install to Help Apple Improve iOS 11.4

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If you want to help Apple improve the iOS 11.4 update you should think about installing the beta right now or sometime during the testing process.  Testing pre-release software can be annoying, but your efforts could help the company squash some annoying bugs ahead of the official iOS 11.4 release.  If you're tired of dealing with iOS problems or if you're tired of your friends complaining about bugs and other issues, you should take action.  Remember, the iOS 11.4 beta is free for those in the Beta Software Program and you can always jump back to an official version of iOS 11 if it becomes too much to handle.  If you do find an issue in the iOS 11.4 beta, make sure you report it to Apple. This way, its engineers can get to work on a fix. We expect the iOS 11.4 update to be in beta for a few more weeks at least so you've got time to make your decision.

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