Apple seeds fourth iOS 16.1 and tvOS 16.1, fifth iPadOS 16.1 betas to developers

Apple has reached the fourth builds of iOS 16.1 and tvOS 16.1, and has handed them over to developer beta testers alongside a fifth for iPadOS 16.1.

The latest builds can be downloaded by developers taking part in the beta-testing program via the Apple Developer Center, or as an over-the-air update for any hardware that's already running the beta builds. Public beta versions of the releases generally arrive a short while after their developer counterparts, available through the Apple Beta Software Program website.

The fourth betas of iOS 16.1, tvOS 16.1, as well as the fifthh of iPadOS 16.1, arrive after the previous betas from September 27, and the betas before that collection landed on September 20. The first landed on September 14 for iOS, tvOS, and watchOS.

The first beta of iPadOS 16.1 landed on August 23, the same day that Apple confirmed the first public release of iPadOS will be 16.1 and not version 16.

The skipping of iPadOS 16 places the betas in almost version lockstep, with only build iterations being different.

The new iOS 16.1 and iPadOS 16.1 beta build number is 20B5064c, replacing build 20B5056e. The fourth tvOS 16.1 build number is 20K5062a, in place of 20K5052c.

While usually there is a beta for watchOS 9.1 alongside the iOS, iPadOS, and tvOS betas, there has yet to be a release at the time of publication.

Both AppleInsider and Apple itself strongly advise users don't install beta operating systems, or beta software in general, on to "mission-critical" or primary devices, as there is the chance of issues that could result in the loss of data. Testers should instead use secondary or non-essential hardware, and to make sure they have sufficient backups of their important data at all times.

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