Apple’s Surprise Move: iOS 17 Developer Beta Now Open to All Users at No Charge

Apple has made a surprising move by making the iOS 17 developer beta and other betas available for free to all registered developers. This decision marks a departure from the previous practice of requiring a $99/year developer account to access these beta builds.

Users first became aware of the change when they noticed the availability of the iOS 17 developer beta for installation, even in the absence of a developer account. Initially believed to be a bug, it has now been confirmed by Apple as an intentional shift in their approach.

The announcement was made on Apple’s Developer website, where they outlined the new free and paid membership options. While the betas are now free to access without the $99 fee, individuals are still required to sign up and register as developers.

To install the iOS 17 beta, users are advised to follow a few steps. Firstly, it is recommended to create a fresh backup of their iPhone or iPad in case they decide to downgrade to iOS 16.4. Then, by navigating to Settings > General > Software Update, they can select the Beta Updates button and choose the Developer Beta option. If needed, users can also change their Apple ID associated with the beta. The iOS 17 Developer Beta will appear for download and installation.

However, some users might not immediately see the option to enable beta updates or the iOS 17 beta itself. In such cases, Apple suggests quitting and relaunching the Settings app and ensuring that the device is running at least iOS 16.4. If these steps do not work, signing in with the Apple ID at developer.apple.com and retrying the process is recommended.

The iOS 17 developer beta is approximately 3 GB in size and comes with certain device compatibility changes. Apple has dropped support for specific devices with this release.

iOS 17 brings various new features and improvements, including updates for Messages, FaceTime, Phone, a new landscape “StandBy” always-on feature, and more. It is important to note that the developer beta may contain bugs and performance issues, so it is advised not to install it on primary devices.

While Apple has not revealed the reason behind this sudden decision to offer the developer beta for free, it is likely to encourage more developers to explore and provide feedback on the upcoming iOS version. The move is expected to foster a larger and more diverse developer community, ultimately leading to enhanced software quality and user experiences. The first iOS 17 public beta is scheduled for release in July, following the initial availability of the developer beta.

Overall, this shift in policy by Apple has been met with excitement from developers and users alike, who can now explore the latest iOS features and contribute to the development process without any financial barrier.

How to Install iOS 17 Developer Beta

To install the iOS 17 developer beta, you can follow these steps:

• Make sure to create a fresh backup of your iPhone or iPad before proceeding. This is important in case you want to revert back to iOS 16 or encounter any issues.
• Launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad that is running at least iOS 16.4.
• Scroll down and tap on “General.”
• In the General settings, select “Software Update.”
• On the Software Update page, you should see a new option called “Beta Updates.” Tap on it. Note that it may take a moment for this option to appear.
• Now, choose “Developer Beta” from the available options.
• If you need to change the Apple ID associated with the beta, you can tap on it at the bottom of the screen and make the necessary adjustments.
• Once you have selected the Developer Beta option, tap on “Back” to return to the Software Update page.
• Look for the iOS 17 Developer Beta update, which should now appear. Tap on “Download and Install” to begin the installation process.

If you are unable to see the option to turn on beta updates or the iOS 17 update doesn’t appear:

• Try quitting the Settings app completely and relaunching it.
• Double-check that your device is running at least iOS 16.4. If not, you’ll need to update to that version before you can access the beta option within the Settings.
• If the issue persists, sign in with your Apple ID at developer.apple.com for free. Once signed in, try the steps mentioned above again.

Please note that installing the developer beta comes with certain risks, such as bugs and performance issues. It is recommended to install the beta on a secondary device and not on your primary device, as it may impact the overall functionality of your device.

Source

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