Update: iOS 10 Public Beta 1 is now live. It features the same build version (14A5297c) as iOS 10 Developer Beta 2.

Following the latest iOS 10 beta for registered developers, Apple is releasing the very first iOS 10 public beta for non-developers to test on iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch today. Back in mid-June at WWDC 2016, Apple first promised iOS 10 would hit public beta status sometime in July. The iOS 10 public beta will bring new features including a redesigned Apple Music app, an overhauled Messages experience, and much more.

Apple’s public beta program is free to participate in unlike its paid developer program. The first public beta will follow the second developer beta of iOS 10, which included several new changes:

Tweaked HomeKit iconography in Control Center

Notification Center ‘Missed’ becomes ‘Recent’

Today view for widgets in Notification Center can once again be accessed with swipe down from Home screen, not just within apps

Iconography for Apple TV and speakers tweaked in AirPlay settings in Control Center

HomeKit app icon updated from solid yellow to Home app icon in Settings

Apple Music replaces ‘Downloaded Music’ with ‘Downloads’, no longer removable

Maps now includes option for ‘Show Parked Location’ plus feature explanation in Settings

Messages now has Low Quality Image Mode toggle in Settings

Mail has new filter icon (was previously a filter, now lines within a circle

Notification Center now has Weather Channel credit once again

Control Center 3D Touch options have tweaked language, icons

New Organ Donation changes available in Health app

Music now has Shuffle option from Songs section (previously had to play a song before shuffling)

‘Rest Finger to Unlock’ option in Accessibility Settings

Lock screen adds ‘Unlocked’ animation in status bar when unlocked, previously just removed lock icon

App Store now works with Split View on supported iPads

iMessage App Store introduced over the weekend now promoted with splash screen

Feedback app available for more users

3D Touching folders with badges now shows badges per apps, previously said ‘Unread’ per app

Interactive notifications now work differently on non-3D Touch devices (swipe down versus slide over to access options)

Subtle new Siri animation (Home screen minimizes in background)

Connect Posts now appears below For You content on For You tab, Connect tab appears when you disable Apple Music, new banner promoting sign ups

Apple News is now a “removable” app (holding out hope for Photo Booth)

Keyboard click sound has reverted to classic version, iOS 10 beta 1 included updated sound

New ‘Featured Complications’ section in Apple Watch app

AirPlay/Bluetooth headphones and speakers now appear from Now Playing screen in Music

Autofill sync option for Music to Apple Watch (Smart and Random options)

Background App Refresh toggles for Apple Watch

Use Previous Duration option in Breathe app settings for Apple Watch

New CarPlay button to skip directly to a message

Check out our hands-on coverage plus video below:

And from this week’s beta 2:

Stay tuned for the iOS 10 public beta 1 release shortly as Apple pre-announced its release just ahead of availability today.

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