How to install the iOS 16.4 beta to get new emoji and these other new features

February 17, 2023

3 min read

Want to check out all the latest iOS features early? Follow along for how to install the iOS 16.4 beta on iPhone to test out the new emoji, Safari/browser capabilities, fresh Apple Music animations, and more.

The iOS 16.4 beta isn’t intended by Apple to be installed on your primary iPhone as performance issues and bugs can be a normal part of the testing process. However, .x releases like 16.4 are typically stable.

The first iOS 16.4 beta comes with a number of new features and changes including new emoji, new Safari and third-party browser capabilities, 5G Standalone support, Shortcuts and Focus mode changes, fresh animations in the Apple Music app, a beta toggle in Settings, and more.

Roundup: Here’s every new feature and change in iOS 16.4 beta 1

How to install the iOS 16.4 beta

iOS 16.4 is currently just available as a developer beta, but the free public beta build should arrive soon.

Installing the iOS 16.4 developer beta

If you’re not already enrolled as an Apple Developer, you’ll need to do that ($99/year).

Make a fresh backup of your device in case you want or need to downgrade
On your iPhone, head to Apple’s Developer website
Tap the two-line icon in the top left corner, sign in if you’re not already under Account
Now swipe down and choose Software Downloads (under Additional Resources)
Tap Install Profile next to the iOS 16.4 beta
Tap Allow to download the profile, hit Close
Head to Settings on your device and tap Profile Downloaded near the top
Tap Install in the top right corner – enter your passcode if needed
Read the consent agreement, then tap Install two more times
Your iPhone will prompt you to restart to complete the changes
After it reboots, head back to Settings > General > Software update
You should see iOS 16.4 available, tap Download and Install
When iOS 16.4 is installed, Apple says to head to Settings > Privacy & Security to enable a new Developer Mode if you’re working on app development

Here’s how the start of the process looks:

How to install iOS 16.4 beta on iPhone walkthrough

If you’re willing to wait a few days or maybe a week, you can test out iOS 16.4 beta 1 with Apple’s free public beta program soon. The process is roughly the same, but you’ll just start from Apple’s public beta website instead of its Developer site.

Notably, after updating to iOS 16.4, one of the changes is a toggle to opt-in to beta software, both for devs and public, so you won’t have to go through the above process again. But that also means developers won’t be able to share beta profiles with others going forward.