Apple’s developer program has recently made a notable change to its policy. Previously, to download beta versions of iOS 17, iPadOS 17, macOS 14, watchOS 10, and tvOS 17 required a paid membership to the developer program. However, now with a free basic access to Apple’s developer portal, pre-release versions of these systems can now be obtained. This change was noted on an updated support page.
Upon the release of iOS 17 & Co on Monday evening, Apple had also released the first developer betas. As per Apple’s usual practice, the group of testers will be expanded with a public beta from July, which would be more mature than the initial developer betas. However, users must take caution before installing the beta versions as these betas may result in paralyzing core functions and apps on their iPhone, iPad, or Mac, especially for those solely interested in new features.
Though the participation in Apple’s developer program is free of charge, paying developers have additional features and support, and only they are permitted to submit apps for release on the App Store. The cost for this is just about $100 annually. Previously, beta versions were linked only to paid developer memberships. All users need to do is to log in with an Apple ID and accept the long terms of use to be a part of the basic access level.
Additionally, Apple has stopped allowing activation of betas via configuration profiles with the latest iOS 16 betas, opting to link beta updates directly to the Apple ID instead. While some users have criticized this step as being a ploy for Apple to earn more from developer memberships, it’s more likely that Apple’s decision stems from having more control over the process, as well as ensuring a more convenient process for developers and public beta members. Further, this change reduces the chances of users downloading device-setting profiles from obscure websites.
Despite this change in policy, several million users usually install iOS betas. As such, it’s always important to exercise caution when installing these early versions, as they may come with their fair share of glitches and issues.
