Apple has rolled out a new “Beta Updates” menu, starting with iOS 16.4 beta, which is located in the Settings app under Settings → General → Software Update. The menu allows members of the Apple Developer Program to enable the iOS Developer Beta directly on their iPhone without having to install a profile from the Apple Developer website. The menu only appears when a user’s iPhone is logged into the same Apple ID they used to sign up for Apple’s developer program. In future versions of iOS, Apple says the menu will be the only way to enable developer Beta, as the profile will stop working.
The change will prevent iPhone users not enrolled in Apple’s developer program from installing the iOS 17 developer beta for free when WWDC launches in June. Previously, anyone could easily install the iOS developer Beta for free by downloading configuration files from a number of websites. Last year, Apple cracked down on large sites that shared developer beta profiles, making it easier to do so.
iPhone users who don’t want to pay $99 a year for Apple’s developer program will have to wait for the public beta of iOS 17, which is likely to be released in July. Users can sign up for the Apple Beta software program for free. Users may still be able to install the iOS 17 developer Beta for free using IPSW files, but whether that’s an option remains to be seen. Many years ago, Apple only allowed Beta IPSW files to be installed on devices registered with Apple Developer accounts, and Apple had the option of reintroducing the previous policy. Eliminating configuration files will make future tasks more tedious.
