How to Install and Update Chrome Beta on iPhone and iPad

I never get tired of Chrome. Despite Safari gaining traction on the iPhone and iPad recently, Google’s flagship browser is too good to be let go. I especially like that it seamlessly syncs data across all my devices. And considering that I almost always stay outside of the Apple ecosystem, it’s a game changer.

If you can’t get enough of Chrome either, you should seriously consider giving Chrome Beta a shot. It’s one step ahead of stable build and you can try the latest Chrome features long before anyone else.

But unlike Windows and macOS or even Android, installing Chrome Beta for iOS can be a bit complicated. Not hard. If you want to run Chrome Beta on your iPhone or iPad, here’s everything you need to get it set up.

Briefly

Privacy as always, Apple is very restrictive in allowing third parties to ‘test’ beta versions of their apps for the masses without having control over the entire process. That’s why you won’t find the Chrome Beta listed in the App Store. Instead, you should install it via TestFlight.

If you don’t know yet, TestFlight is a dedicated app that handles all aspects of app betas (invites, installs, updates, feedback, etc.).

That aside, there’s also a big downside to having Chrome Beta. Install it and it will overwrite the stable build on your iPhone or iPad. If you plan to use both the stable and beta versions together, you won’t be able to.

If neither of these are a problem, it’s time to start.

Install TestFlight

As mentioned above, you must install the TestFlight app to get started. And it is easy to install. Go to the App Store, search for TestFlight, then tap Install to install it. After that, you are ready to go.

Download TestFlight

Alternatively, use the Download button above if you want to avoid the hassle of searching for the app.

Don’t Be Invited

Installing an app beta through TestFlight requires an invitation from the app developer. However, you don’t need to do anything crazy to get a Chrome Beta invite, as Google is pretty generous with the job of distributing them.

All you have to do is go to the official Google Chrome Beta page using any web browser on your iPhone or iPad and then click the Download Chrome Beta button.

The Chrome Beta invitation should launch automatically in the TestFlight app.

Accept Chrome Beta

You must accept the Chrome Beta invitation before continuing. This allows Google to access all crash logs and usage information about Chrome Beta. This helps Google develop the stable version later.

See the invitation’s Terms of Service for more details. If you’re comfortable, tap Accept.

Install Chrome Beta

After accepting the Chrome Beta invitation, a popup will appear with an Install button. Tap on it to start installing Chrome Beta.

If you have the stable version of the browser installed, you will receive a warning about overwriting your data. But you need to sign in to your Google Account and save your bookmarks, passwords, settings, etc. Provided you sync them, you don’t have to worry about losing them.

However, if you haven’t synced your data yet, do so before tapping the Install button. Otherwise you will lose your data.

Using the Chrome Beta

Chrome Beta should look pretty similar to the stable version. Since beta is usually only a single release cycle from stable build, don’t expect drastic differences in terms of aesthetics. However, when new Chrome Beta updates arrive on your iPhone or iPad, you should see new additional features and other minor visual changes.

Note:

If you’re signed into stable build, you’ll be automatically signed into Chrome Beta with all your data intact. Syncing data with your Google Account will also work as before.

Updating Chrome Beta

To update Chrome Beta, you must use the TestFlight app. If you have clear notifications for the TestFlight app, you’ll get an alert when a new update is available.

But if you have notifications turned off, simply launch TestFlight and tap Install next to Chrome if you see an update available. An alternative way to check for updates faster is to do a Tap Tap gesture on the TestFlight app icon and then follow by tapping on Update All.

Sending Feedback

TestFlight will automatically collect various data about usage of Chrome Beta – crash logs for example. Alternatively, you can send feedback to the Chrome developers. Open the TestFlight app and tap Send Feedback to submit a report with or without screenshots.

Uninstalling Chrome Beta

If you want to revert to the stable build of Chrome for iOS, simply search for it in the App Store and then tap Install. This will automatically overwrite the beta version. You can also choose to delete the app directly.

However, it is much better to exit beta beforehand; this will then stop all Chrome Beta related notifications on your iPhone or iPad. To do this, open the TestFlight app, select Google Chrome, then tap Stop Test.

Beta Tester

If you hate having to wait weeks for features like dark mode or switching between search engines, you should install Chrome Beta. And also mostly quite stable. I’d say it’s worth what you get in return for a weird crash or bug.

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