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iOS 15: Watch out for these 7 bugs after downloading the beta on your iPhone

Apple's iOS 15 could arrive soon. You can download the beta now in the meantime, but be aware of these issues.

Alison DeNisco Rayome Managing Editor
Managing Editor Alison DeNisco Rayome joined CNET in 2019, and is a member of the Home team. She is a co-lead of the CNET Tips and We Do the Math series, and manages the Home Tips series, testing out new hacks for cooking, cleaning and tinkering with all of the gadgets and appliances in your house. Alison was previously an editor at TechRepublic.
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Alison DeNisco Rayome
3 min read
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The iOS 15 public beta is now live.

Apple/Screenshot by Sarah Tew/CNET

Apple's latest iPhone software may be available just days after Apple's event on Tuesday, which is rumored to feature the iPhone 13 and Apple Watch 7. But, if you can't wait for the general release, the iOS 15 public beta is now live. (Here's how to download the iOS 15 public beta and how to check if your phone is compatible.) Just don't expect the operating system to work perfectly during the beta.

Apple disclosed a variety of known bugs in its iOS 15 release notes -- pretty standard for beta releases -- and there are likely more that aren't yet listed. We never recommend downloading a beta version of any software on your primary device due to bugs. In the case of iOS 15, you should only download this public beta if you have a second iPhone that you can use for testing -- not on your main device. 

Read more: iOS 15 beta on iPhone: 3 things you need to know before you install

Here are some of the problems to watch out for in the iOS 15 public beta and some workarounds from Apple. (If you download the beta and decide you don't like it or are having too many issues with battery life and other bugs, you can restore your iPhone to iOS 14.)

Watch this: iOS 15 best features: How Focus mode improved my iPhone

iOS 15 bugs

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Apple/Screenshot by Jessica Dolcourt/CNET

Here are a few of the bigger issues you may find in iOS 15, according to Apple's developer release notes

Finder might become unresponsive

If you install the iOS 15 public beta using Restore Images, your Finder may not work properly. Apple's workaround is to install device support for iOS 15 beta, available from Apple's Beta Software Downloads page. 

Camera problems

In the camera app, live text may be unavailable. And if your iPhone is in Low Power mode, Panorama mode "might produce unexpected results," according to Apple. It did not list any workarounds. 

Watch this: We found these amazing features in the iOS 15 beta

CarPlay connectivity

When you share your screen in a SharePlay session, connecting your phone to CarPlay might fail. Apple recommends that you stop screen-sharing before you connect your phone.

Files quitting

If you choose Open in New Window for a file, that file may quit unexpectedly. 

Find My network issues

In the iOS 15 beta, Notify When Left Behind isn't supported for Intel-based Macs or Apple Watches. Also, the text indicating that the Find My network is active when your iOS device needs to be charged only displays if your device language is set to English. 

Read more: Apple's Find My app can do more than locate a lost iPhone

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Public betas help developers identify and fix bugs before wider launches. Here's what to look out for in the iOS 15 beta.

Jason Cipriani/CNET

Home screen widget problems

Apple noted a few different issues with widgets in the public beta. When you select a category in the widget gallery, you might see the wrong category appear, in which case you should dismiss and reopen the gallery. The home screen might also quit unexpectedly when you drag a widget from the gallery. 

SharePlay unavailable message

Apple noted several different problems with SharePlay in the beta, including that it might appear to be unavailable. (Try signing out of FaceTime and signing in again if that happens.) If more than five people are on a call, performance might drop. On some devices, your FaceTime camera may turn off when a screen-sharing session begins. 

Read more: Fun FaceTime date idea: Try Apple's new SharePlay feature in iOS 15

For more, check out all of iOS 15's best new features and every iPhone 13 rumor we've heard so far. If you're on the look out for latest on Apple Watch's operating system here's some cool features for WatchOS 8. We also have a guide to download the MacOS Monterey public beta and how to see if your computer is compatible with the new MacOS. If you already download the public beta, here are some of the best new things you can do with MacOS Monterey.