The Modern Warfare 4 Beta is the first real hands-on with Infinity Ward's new game, and nothing kills a beta weekend faster than watching a download bar crawl while your friends are already in a lobby. The good news: Activision has locked in the beta dates and platforms, so you can get everything queued up in advance. This guide covers exactly when the MW4 Beta unlocks, how to preload it, how big the download is expected to be, and the step-by-step to install it on PS5, Xbox, PC (Steam and Battle.net), and Nintendo Switch 2 — with confirmed facts kept strictly separate from the parts Activision hasn't published yet.
Quick answer (TLDR): The Modern Warfare 4 Beta runs across two weekends. Weekend One (Early Access Beta) is August 21–25, 2026 for anyone who pre-ordered any edition. Weekend Two (Open Beta) is August 28–September 1, 2026 and is free for everyone on all platforms, including Nintendo Switch 2 (Switch 2 gets the Open Beta only). Beta servers go live right after the Call of Duty: NEXT broadcast on August 21. Preload usually opens ~48 hours before each weekend, so plan to start your download around August 19–20. Activision hasn't published the official beta file size yet, but based on recent Call of Duty betas expect roughly 25–35 GB — free that space now. MW4 itself launches October 23, 2026.
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When does the Modern Warfare 4 Beta unlock?
The beta is split into two weekends, and which one you can play depends on whether you pre-ordered.
| Beta phase | Dates | Who can play | Platforms | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early Access Beta (Weekend 1) | Aug 21 – Aug 25, 2026 | Pre-order / pre-purchase any edition | Xbox Series X\ | S, Xbox on PC, PS5, Battle.net, Steam |
| Open Beta (Weekend 2) | Aug 28 – Sep 1, 2026 | Everyone, free — no pre-order | All of the above + Nintendo Switch 2 |
Two details matter for timing. First, the beta kicks off immediately after the Call of Duty: NEXT showcase on August 21 — that broadcast is where the full map and mode lineup is revealed, so the servers flip on once it wraps. Second, Nintendo Switch 2 players only get access in the Open Beta weekend (August 28), not the Early Access weekend. If you're on Switch 2, mark August 28, not August 21. (See our Modern Warfare 4 on Nintendo Switch 2 guide for the full platform breakdown.)
For a full breakdown of eligibility, codes, and how to redeem access, see our companion MW4 Beta release date & early access guide.
What time does the beta go live? (Confirmed vs expected)
Activision has not yet published a to-the-minute unlock time or a regional schedule for the MW4 Beta — the official page states only that "availability of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Open Beta will vary by territory and retailer." What we do know: because the beta starts after the Call of Duty: NEXT stream on August 21, it will go live in the late morning to afternoon Pacific Time window, matching how the last several Call of Duty betas unlocked (typically 10 AM PT). Treat that as the expected window and check the in-game timer on launch day for the exact minute.
How to preload the Modern Warfare 4 Beta
Preloading means downloading the beta files before the servers go live, so you can jump straight into a match the moment it unlocks instead of starting a fresh download.
Important: Activision has not officially confirmed the exact MW4 Beta preload date. However, every recent Call of Duty beta has opened preload roughly 48 hours before the weekend begins. So the realistic plan is:
- Early Access preload: expect it to open around August 19–20 (ahead of the Aug 21 start).
- Open Beta preload: expect it around August 26–27 (ahead of the Aug 28 start).
Here's how to queue the download on each platform once preload goes live.
PlayStation 5
- Search "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Open Beta" on the PS Store (or find it on your Games home if you pre-ordered digitally).
- If you pre-ordered, the beta entitlement appears automatically — select Download. If you have a physical/retail code, redeem it at callofduty.com/betaredeem through your Activision account first.
- The beta installs as its own separate app tile — you don't need the full game installed.
Xbox Series X|S
- Go to the Microsoft Store on your console and search for the MW4 Open Beta, or find it under My Games & Apps → Full Library.
- Digital pre-orders get the beta added automatically; retail-code buyers redeem at callofduty.com/betaredeem.
- Select Install. Enable automatic updates so the pre-download patch grabs any day-one beta hotfix.
PC — Steam
- Open your Steam Library, search "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 – Open Beta," and add it to your account.
- When preload opens, right-click the beta in your library and choose Install.
- Make sure Steam isn't throttling background downloads (Settings → Downloads → Limit bandwidth).
PC — Battle.net
- Open the Battle.net app and select Call of Duty in the left sidebar.
- Choose the Modern Warfare 4 Beta version from the game dropdown, then hit Install.
- Set your install location on a drive with enough free space (see the file-size section below).
Nintendo Switch 2 (Open Beta only, Aug 28)
- From the Nintendo eShop, search for the MW4 Open Beta and download it — no pre-order or code required for the Open Beta.
- Because internal storage is limited, install to a fast microSD Express card if your console's onboard space is tight.
How big is the Modern Warfare 4 Beta? (Expected file size)
Activision has not published the official MW4 Beta file size yet — expect the confirmed number a day or two before preload opens. For planning, here's what recent Call of Duty betas actually weighed in at, so you can free the right amount of space now:
| Recent CoD beta | Approx. beta download |
|---|---|
| Modern Warfare III beta | ~24–28 GB |
| Black Ops 6 beta | ~28 GB |
| Black Ops 7 beta | ~30 GB |
Based on that trend, a realistic estimate for the MW4 Beta is roughly 25–35 GB, with PC installs typically landing at the higher end and console builds often compressed slightly smaller. The safe move: clear at least 40 GB of free space before August 19 so preload doesn't stall halfway. Note this is only the beta — the full MW4 launch build on October 23 will be much larger, and we cover those numbers in our MW4 preload, file size & unlock times launch guide.
If you're on PC and unsure your rig can even run the beta smoothly, check our Modern Warfare 4 PC system requirements breakdown before you commit the download.
Do you need to pre-order to download the beta?
Only for Weekend One. Here's the clean split, straight from Activision's beta FAQ:
- Early Access Beta (Aug 21–25): requires a pre-order or pre-purchase of any edition. Digital pre-orders get beta access registered automatically — no code needed. Physical/retail pre-orders get an Early Access code on the receipt or by email, redeemable at callofduty.com/betaredeem.
- Open Beta (Aug 28–Sep 1): Activision's page is explicit — "No preorder required. Open to all players on all platforms." You can download and play it free.
So if you don't want to pay a cent, you can still play the entire second weekend — you just miss the four-day head start.
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What carries over from the beta to launch?
Progress you earn inside the beta (weapon XP, levels) does not carry into the full October 23 release — betas always reset. What you can earn are beta rewards: playing during the weekends typically unlocks calling cards, emblems, weapon blueprints, and XP tokens that unlock in the full game at launch. Activision hasn't published the complete MW4 beta reward tiers yet, so treat specific reward names as unconfirmed until the Call of Duty: NEXT reveal. For how account progression and unlocks move between titles more broadly, see does your progress carry over to Modern Warfare 4.
MW4 isn't out yet — get lobby-ready in Warzone and BO7 now
The beta is a taste; the full grind starts October 23. Between now and launch, the players who dominate MW4's first week are the ones already warmed up — high account level, guns pre-leveled, camos in progress. There's no MW4 product yet, but you can get set up in the current Call of Duty ecosystem so you hit the ground running:
Skip the slow grind and start MW4 season already ahead:
- Warzone / CoD Bot Lobbies — farm easy lobbies to warm up your aim and level guns fast.
- BO7 Account & Weapon Leveling — get your account and arsenal pushed up so you're not starting from zero.
- BO7 Mastery Camo Unlock — lock in prestige camos while you wait for MW4.
- Warzone Ranked Boost — climb the ranked ladder before the MW4 reset.
Everything is handled by verified boosters at timesaver.gg, so you spend beta weekend playing, not grinding menus.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can I preload the Modern Warfare 4 Beta? Activision hasn't confirmed the exact preload date, but recent Call of Duty betas have opened preload about 48 hours before each weekend. Expect the Early Access preload around August 19–20 (before the Aug 21 start) and the Open Beta preload around August 26–27 (before Aug 28). Check the store page or in-game as those dates approach.
How many GB is the MW4 Beta download? The official size isn't published yet. Based on the Modern Warfare III (~24–28 GB), Black Ops 6 (~28 GB), and Black Ops 7 (~30 GB) betas, plan for roughly 25–35 GB and free up at least 40 GB to be safe. PC installs usually run a little larger than console.
What time does the MW4 Beta go live? The beta starts right after the Call of Duty: NEXT broadcast on August 21, which points to a late-morning-to-afternoon Pacific Time unlock (recent CoD betas have gone live around 10 AM PT). Activision hasn't published a minute-exact regional schedule, so confirm with the in-game timer on launch day.
Do I need to pre-order to download the beta? Only for Weekend One (Early Access, Aug 21–25), which requires a pre-order of any edition. The Open Beta (Aug 28–Sep 1) is free for everyone on all platforms with no pre-order and no code required.
Is the MW4 Beta on Nintendo Switch 2? Yes, but only during the Open Beta weekend starting August 28 — Switch 2 is not part of the Early Access weekend. Download it free from the Nintendo eShop; installing to a fast microSD Express card helps if onboard storage is tight.
Does beta progress carry over to the full game? No — weapon XP and levels earned in the beta reset for the October 23 launch. You can still earn beta rewards (calling cards, blueprints, XP tokens) that unlock in the full game, though Activision hasn't confirmed the complete MW4 reward list yet.
