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First macOS Big Sur 11.3 developer beta now available for download [u]

macOS Big Sur 11.3 developer beta 1

Apple on Tuesday released the first macOS Big Sur 11.3 developer beta with bug fixes and improvements.

Apple offers downloads of its betas through the Apple Developer Center, for participants in its developer test program, though hardware already running beta software can also receive an over-the-air update. Public beta variants usually arrive a short time after developer versions, and can be accessed through the Apple Beta Software Program website.

Release notes highlight redesigned tabs in Apple News+, a new Made for You shortcut and live events in Listen Now for Apple Music, better sorting options in the Reminders app and the usual assortment of bug fixes and performance improvements. Apple has been focused on optimizing its latest Macs running the M1 processor.

Other betas released on Monday for iOS 14.5, iPadOS 14.5, tvOS 14.5, and watchOS 7.4 include an assortment of new features and functionality including App Tracking Transparency, unlock iPhone with Apple Watch when Face ID recognizes a face mask, new controller support and more.

The new beta cycle arrives after Apple released macOS 11.2 to the public on February 1. It included bug fixes for Bluetooth issues on M1-based Macs and other minor improvements.

AppleInsider, and Apple itself, highly recommend users don't install betas on to "mission-critical" or primary devices, due to the potential for data loss or other issues. It is instead recommended to install betas onto secondary or non-essential devices, and to ensure there are sufficient backups of important data beforehand.

Find any changes in the new betas? Reach out to us on Twitter at @AppleInsider or @Andrew_OSU, or send Andrew an email at [email protected].

Update, Feb. 4: Apple has released a public beta version of macOS 11.3. Members can download the release through the Apple Beta Software Program website.