Apple removes $99 dev account requirement for first iOS 17 and macOS 14 betas

Often when Apple publicizes huge new working system updates at WWDC, it releases early, work-in-progress developer betas for app builders who’ve paid for an Apple Developer account. A number of weeks later, as soon as the betas have been up to date a few occasions, it has launched considerably more-stable public beta variations for normal consumption.

That has altering this yr. Anybody who indicators in to Apple’s developer site with their Apple ID can have entry to the developer beta builds of iOS 17, macOS Sonoma, and Apple’s different working programs at no cost. Truly submitting apps to Apple for App Retailer distribution (or, on the Mac, signing them so that you could distribute them exterior the App Retailer with out setting off macOS’ many unsigned app warning messages) will nonetheless value $99 per yr. However lovers and testers who use developer accounts to get early beta entry will now not must pay to do it.

Apple will nonetheless launch public beta builds of all its working programs by its public beta program someday in July.

It ought to go with out saying, however do not set up these beta working programs on something that you simply depend on each day. That is doubly true for these preliminary developer betas, which have traditionally been particularly buggy and vulnerable to crashes and compatibility points. Previous public betas from Apple have corresponded to the third or fourth developer beta construct, so in case you’ve solely skilled the general public betas earlier than, know that the primary developer betas are often in fairly tough form.

set up, and the way issues have modified

The pricing is not the one factor that has modified about how Apple releases its beta software program because the first iOS 16 and macOS Ventura betas a yr in the past.

The method differed barely for iDevices and Macs, however traditionally you wanted to obtain and run a file in your gadget to level it on the beta replace servers as an alternative of the general public ones. On iDevices, this was a “provisioning profile,” whereas Macs simply had a bundle that used the command-line seedutil instrument behind the scenes. (Putting in developer betas on macOS has been “free” for a very long time, in case you regarded up the appropriate seedutil command.)

That modified circa the iOS 16.4 and macOS 13.3 releases. You now choose in or out of Apple’s beta packages within the Software program Replace part of the Settings app. The listing of betas accessible to you is tied to your Apple ID, so you may must have signed in to your gadget utilizing the identical Apple ID you used to check in to Apple’s developer website.

It is somewhat annoying to wish to check in with an Apple ID to entry the betas, although you’ll be able to signal out as soon as you have put in the software program and do a manufacturing unit reset if you need a contemporary “clear” set up of the brand new OS. You may additionally have to be operating a latest model of macOS or iOS in your units, which might add some further replace time in case you’re utilizing a check cellphone, pill, or Mac that you do not all the time actively use and replace.

However the brand new system helps clear up one downside I’ve sometimes encountered whereas testing software program. This time of yr, Apple is often testing two completely different beta working programs—proper now, iOS 17 and macOS 14 can be found alongside iOS 16.6 and macOS 13.5, for instance. The brand new system makes it simple to know precisely which beta you are opting in to and to simply change between (or choose out of) beta packages if you wish to.

Apple does nonetheless supply full IPSW restore pictures for a lot of units. These are the identical type of working pictures that macOS or the Apple Configurator software program would obtain to revive a soft-bricked device, and you’ll boot your device into recovery mode and set up it instantly while not having to check in. That is additionally the quickest technique to get a clear set up, in case you desire a clean slate once you begin testing new software program, and the one actual technique to roll again to a non-beta model of the working system.

That mentioned, restore pictures are solely accessible for iPhones, iPads, Apple Silicon Macs, and the previous Apple TV HD. Intel Macs, Apple Watches, and newer Apple TVs will have to be up to date through Software program Replace. Apple Watches and newer Apple TVs cannot be downgraded after they’re upgraded, so proceed with further warning there.