News from Apple. Starting with the iOS 16.4 beta, the iPhone has a new “Beta Updates” menu. It’s found in the Settings app under General and then Software Update. This menu will allow Apple developer program members to enable iOS betas directly on an iPhone, without having to install a configuration profile from the Apple developer website. So, the new iOS 17 Developer Beta update will be paid. Here are the details.
The iOS 17 Developer Beta update will be paid
Apple has decided to make it paid iOS 17 Developer Beta update. However, this only happens if the user is signed in with the same Apple ID used to sign up for Apple developer program. In upcoming versions of iOS, Apple has decided that the menu will be the only way to enable developer betas.
This setting mode will prevent users who are not enrolled in the Apple developer program from $99 a year to install the beta version of the iOS 17 update for free when it is released during WWDC in June.
Until now, all iPhone owners could install the Apple developer beta for free by simply downloading the profiles to be entered in the settings from websites. The latter have already been cracked down, one of them being BetaProfiles.com.
The free version of the update will also be released
For those desperate for the $99/year cost, fear not. Anyone who doesn’t want to or can’t pay the requested amount will have to wait the public beta update of iOS 17, probably released at July.
Despite this, users may be able to install the iOS 17 developer beta for free. How? Using a file IPSW. But whether that will be a viable option remains to be seen. In fact, years ago, Apple only allowed beta IPSW files to be installed on devices registered to an Apple developer account.