Apple Moves to Prevent iPhone Users From Getting iOS 17 Developer Beta for Free
Starting with the iOS 16.4 beta, the iPhone has a new “Beta Updates” menu in the Settings app under General → Software Update. This menu will allow members of Apple’s Developer Program to enable iOS developer betas directly on an iPhone, without needing to install a configuration profile from the Apple Developer website.
The menu will only appear if a user’s iPhone is signed into the same Apple ID they used to enroll in Apple’s Developer Program. In future iOS releases, Apple says this menu will be the only way to enable developer betas, as profiles will stop working.
This change will prevent iPhone users who aren’t enrolled in Apple’s Developer Program for $99 per year from installing the iOS 17 developer beta for free when it is released at WWDC in June. Until now, anyone could easily install iOS developer betas for free by downloading the profiles from websites such as BetaProfiles.dev.
Apple already cracked down on websites sharing developer beta profiles last year. BetaProfiles.com shut down in August to avoid a “legal battle with Apple,” while Apple lawyers provided Twitter with DMCA takedown notices for over a dozen tweets containing links to IPSW.dev. BetaProfiles.dev remains live and appears to be a carbon copy of BetaProfiles.com, but it’s unclear if the website has the same ownership.
iPhone users who don’t want to pay $99 per year for Apple’s Developer Program will have to wait for the public beta of iOS 17, which will likely be released in July. Users can enroll in Apple’s public Beta Software Program for free.
Users may still be able to install the iOS 17 developer beta for free using an IPSW file, but it remains to be seen if this will be an option. Many years ago, Apple only allowed beta IPSW files to be installed on devices registered to an Apple developer account, and Apple could choose to reintroduce this former policy. At a minimum, the elimination of configuration profiles will make the task more tedious in the future.
Popular Stories
iPhone Driver’s License Feature Coming to These 9 U.S. States
Apple has been slowly rolling out a feature that lets residents of participating U.S. states add their driver’s license or ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age.
The feature has only launched in Arizona, Colorado, and Maryland so far, but Apple shared a list of additional U.S. states committed to…
iPhone 15 Pro’s USB-C Port Shown Off in Leaked Image
With the iPhone 15 lineup, Apple is planning to adopt a USB-C port instead of a Lightning port in order to comply with regulatory changes that are being introduced in Europe. The USB-C port has been widely rumored at this point, but a first look at the actual iPhone 15 Pro chassis with included USB-C port was today provided to MacRumors and later shared on Twitter by leaker Unknownz21.
It’s…
All-New Apple CarPlay Launching This Year Starting With These 14 Car Brands
In June 2022, Apple previewed the next generation of CarPlay, promising deeper integration with vehicle functions like A/C and FM radio, support for multiple displays across the dashboard, personalization options, and more.
Apple says the first vehicles with support for the next-generation CarPlay experience will be announced in late 2023, with at least 14 automakers committed so far.
Comm…
iPad Mini 7: Key Upgrades to Expect
Apple launched the sixth-generation iPad mini in September 2021, bringing the first major redesign to the device in its entire history, so what can customers expect from the seventh-generation version?
There have been few concrete rumors about the features the next iPad mini will offer as yet. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman recently said that an update this year with a minor “spec bump” is not out…
Comments are closed.