Apple Moves to Prevent iPhone Users From Getting iOS 17 Developer Beta for Free - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Moves to Prevent iPhone Users From Getting iOS 17 Developer Beta for Free

by

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.

iOS 17 Icon Mock Feature Feature
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.

iOS 16 4 Beta Updates Menu
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.

Related Forums: iOS 17, iPadOS 17, iOS 16

Popular Stories

Apple Event Logo

Apple's Next Era Begins September 1

Thursday May 7, 2026 10:36 am PDT by
Apple recently announced that Tim Cook will be stepping down as CEO later this year, after 15 years of leading the company. Effective September 1, Apple's hardware engineering chief John Ternus will become the company's next CEO, while Cook will become executive chairman of Apple's board of directors. In his new role, Apple said Cook will assist with "certain aspects" of the company,...
Read Full Article
Four iPhone 18 Pro Colors Mock Feature

iPhone 18 Pro Launching in September With These 10 New Features

Saturday May 9, 2026 6:03 am PDT by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not launching until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. It was initially reported that the iPhone 18 Pro models would have fully under-screen Face ID, with only a front camera visible in the top-left corner of the screen. However, the latest rumors indicate that only one Face ID component will be moved under the...
Read Full Article
Apple Watch Series 10 Jet Black Touch ID

Apple Watch Series 12 and watchOS 27: What to Expect Later This Year

Friday May 8, 2026 2:07 pm PDT by
While not too much has been reported about the next Apple Watch models, there are a few rumors about potential design changes and watchOS 27 features. Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 models are expected to be released in September, and we have outlined some of the key rumored hardware and software changes below. A new Apple Watch SE is not expected this year, as that model was...
Read Full Article • 59 comments

Top Rated Comments

WiiDSmoker Avatar
WiiDSmoker
42 months ago

Is there a benefit to the Dev beta other than earlier access?
Not when even official releases are riddled with bugs and incomplete features.
Score: 66 Votes (Like | Disagree)
P
posguy99
42 months ago

Many youtubers are going to be pissed about this xD
That's a plus, not a minus.
Score: 64 Votes (Like | Disagree)
T
till
42 months ago
There are very few reasons for a non-developer to use a beta, I assume this has been done mostly to cut down on support requests from people who don't know what they're doing.
Score: 59 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Beatrix Kiddo Avatar
Beatrix Kiddo
42 months ago

I would not be surprised if Apple completely eliminates the public beta program. The public is there to provide good feedback which is to provide improvement and stability. However, Apple doesn’t seem to think that sat anymore.

Bottom line: Pay the $99 Developer Fee. That’s what Apple wants.
No this exactly the opposite what Apple wants.

Regular people on public beta, developpers on developper beta. I don’t see why that might anger some people.
Score: 52 Votes (Like | Disagree)
P
posguy99
42 months ago

Is there a benefit to the Dev beta other than earlier access?
The entertainment provided when the 'l33t install it and then whine about it?
Score: 31 Votes (Like | Disagree)
W
willyx
42 months ago
Many youtubers are going to be pissed about this xD
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments