Every year after WWDC, everyone who wanted to install beta versions of firmware started an interesting game. How can I download a new operating system without a developer account? At first, this trick was only possible using a computer, iTunes, pre-loaded firmware, and an “Update” button. Then the procedure was simplified, and by installing a special developer profile, the firmware could be obtained over the air. But at the beginning of this year, Apple closed the loophole, and it became possible to install the Developer Beta only with the appropriate account.
But something has changed in the plans of the company from Cupertino and with the release of iOS 17, iPadOS 17, macOS Sonoma and watchOS 10, a free plan has appeared in the developer program that opens access to all beta versions. To use it, you need, do not believe it, a regular Apple ID. In this article, we will tell you how it works and what you need to do to download the fresh beta.
Apple developer account
Previously, to become a developer, you had to pay $99 annually to Apple. For this amount, you received official access to beta versions and all kinds of development tools. The same cost included the placement of your application in the App Store . But either Apple realized that this amount is very large for learning how to create applications and someone needs basic things in the form of Xcode and testing on the device, or the further appearance of third-party app stores in iOS 17 prompted this step, but after WWDC 2023 there was a free tariff for those wishing to create programs for the iPhone. When using any tariff, you become a developer, just with a different set of features and tools.
In addition to access to beta versions, the free account just includes Xcode, testing, and access to the developer forum with the ability to send feedback about errors. There is no placement in the App Store and support at the code level here. And this is not necessary for those who plan to add programs to third-party application stores. And for us, this is a great opportunity to get the coveted beta versions for free. You can read more about paid and free developer programs on the Apple website . In the meantime, we will try to install a fresh beta.
Create an Apple ID account
First of all, you will need an Apple ID for this. I am sure that most users of Apple technology already have it, so registering a new one is not necessary. But if for some reason you suddenly use your gadgets without it, or just bought the coveted iPhone and want the very, very new firmware, then here’s how you can create an Apple ID :
- Follow this link from any device;
- Enter all the necessary information about yourself and select a method for verifying your phone number;
- Click “Continue” and follow the instructions on the screen to enter all the data that the site requests.
After that, log in using your iPhone account and try to download some applications from the App Store. If you see an error that the Apple ID has not yet been used in the iTunes Store.
How to install the iOS 17 beta
After the Apple ID is registered and entered on the device, I recommend that you go to the Apple Developers website under it. Doing this is optional. Some beta versions of new firmware became available without this step. But for reliability, it’s better to let the system know that you kind of want to create applications. This is done as follows:
- From any device, follow this link and log in with your Apple ID. Even a Russian account will do. There are no restrictions;
- Upon signing in, accept the license agreement and choose whether you want to receive newsletters;
- Once logged in, you will see the tools available to you. Do not sign up for a paid membership in the beta testing program.
You can now proceed directly to download and install iOS 17 , iPadOS 17, watchOS 10, or macOS Sonoma. You don’t need any certificates, everything is done from the settings:
- Make sure your iPhone is connected to the Internet;
- Open the multitasking panel and force unload settings from it;
- Re-launch the settings on the iPhone and go to the “General” section;
- Select “Software Updates” and open “Beta Updates”;
- Check the box “iOS 17 Developer Beta” and return to the previous page.
The system will think a little and offer you a new firmware to download. For all operating systems, the actions are similar. The main thing to remember is that watchOS is updated through the Watch app . By the way, in addition to the systems that were shown at WWDC 2023, beta versions for iOS 16 , iPadOS 16 and watchOS 9 developers will also become available to you. So there is where to roam. Be very careful when installing betas. We do not recommend installing them on mainstream devices, as the system may be unstable and some applications will stop running. The latter happens very often on macOS, so you may end up without the right software. In any case, be sure to create backups so as not to lose important data.
