Replace: It seems this was not a bug however an unannounced change in coverage, the place free developer accounts now have OS beta entry. This story has been up to date all through to mirror the change.
Beginning with iOS 16.4, Apple modified the best way beta distribution works. You beforehand wanted to enroll on a particular system after which obtain and cargo a profile, however the capability of customers to make illicit profile downloads doable meant that betas may very well be utilized by those that didn’t register for them. It was additionally clunky and annoying.
The brand new technique checks your Apple ID to see in the event you’re registered with Apple and makes each beta for which you’re allowed entry out there in a drop-down menu. Previous to the iOS 17 Developer Beta launch, you needed to have a $99/yr paid developer membership with a purpose to entry Developer Betas.
Apple additionally has a free developer membership, which solely offers you entry to Xcode and the developer boards. Beginning June 6, Apple seems to have modified the phrases of that free membership to incorporate beta entry. The Apple Developer “Selecting a Membership” web page has a chart evaluating options which, as of June 5, didn’t record OS beta releases as a free profit. Now it does.
This triggered many individuals, together with those that haven’t had any kind of developer account for a few years, to see the iOS 17 Developer Beta listed of their Software program Updates part.
Foundry
Use warning putting in the iOS 17 Developer Beta
In the event you’re not a developer and you discover this in your iPhone, we propose you train excessive warning.
For starters, this stage of the beta is fairly properly damaged. It’s stuffed with bugs and plenty of issues don’t work proper. There’s a cause the general public beta comes weeks after the preliminary developer beta–you possibly can anticipate degraded efficiency, bugs, crashes, lacking options, and extra.
In the event you determine to obtain the iOS 17 Developer Beta, we propose you utilize a tool that isn’t chargeable for any crucial exercise–alarms, automobile entry, digital ID playing cards or bank cards, and so forth. Essential apps can and do cease working with these early betas, particularly the earliest Developer Betas.