Apple is working to push its first developer beta update for the upcoming iOS 17. Ahead of it, the company has started to push a new menu in the Settings App to avoid users installing developer beta on their iPhones. The latest iOS 16.4 beta update for iPhones brought a new Beta Update menu in the Settings app. The newly added menu can be found inside the General menu in the Software Update option. For those unaware, Apple’s developer beta updates are available for those registered as Apple developers. The registration cost for the Apple developer programme costs USD 99.
Beta Update Menu to Restrict Unauthorized Installation of iOS 17 Developer Beta Updates
The menu will allow the members of the Apple Developer Programme to enable iOS developer betas directly on the iPhone. Earlier, one had to rely on Apple’s developer website to install a profile. The developer beta update will only reach your iPhone after the profile installation.
However, Apple wants to improve the experience of its users and curb unauthorized people from installing developer beta updates. The new Beta update menu will only appear if the iPhone is signed into the same Apple ID used for enrolling into the Apple Developer Program.
Apple has confirmed that with the future versions of iOS, the beta update menu will be the only way to enable developer betas. The smartphone giant adds that the provisioning profiles will no longer grant access to developer beta updates. As said, the introduction of the beta update menu will prevent users who aren’t enrolled in Apple’s developer program from installing iOS 17 developer beta for free.
Apple will release the iOS 17 developer beta at Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June 2023. There are many websites like BetaProfiles.dev that gives access to downloading profile that ultimately provides access to developer beta updates. The brand has been working legally to shut down websites that provide options for downloading profiles.
In 2022, Apple cracked down on websites that share developer beta description files. Popular websites like BetaProfiles.com had to shut down in August 2022 to avoid a legal battle with Apple. The company’s lawyers also urged Twitter with the DMCA takedown notices for tweets with links to downloading profiles.
A few other websites like IPSW.dev and BetaProfiles.dev are still running. There needs to be more information about the ownership of BetaProfiles.dev, a clone of BetaProfiles.com. Those users who haven’t enrolled in Apple’s developer programme will have to wait for July 2023 for the public Beta of iOS 17.
Apple doesn’t charge any fees for its users interested in signing up for Apple’s public beta software programme. The users may still be able to install the iOS 17 developer beta for free using an IPSW (system firmware) file.
But we are still determining the possibility of the same, which can be known only after the developer beta release. A few ago, Apple allowed beta IPSW files to be installed only on devices registered with an Apple developer account. There are chances for Apple to reintroduce this policy.
Are you excited about the iOS 17 developer beta update release in June 2023? Please let us know your thoughts and opinions in the comments section.
