Apple has now released the first iOS 17 beta for developers and is the first company to offer non-developers the opportunity to download the beta to their iPhones for free. Read on to learn how it’s done.
In years past, when Apple announced a major new operating system update, the first wave of beta was officially downloadable only if you’re a paid subscriber to Apple’s Developer Program, which costs $99 a year. Public betas then become available to users enrolled in Apple’s public beta software program with a delay of a few days or weeks after the release of the developer beta. This year, however, you don’t have to wait for the public beta to be one of the first to try iOS 17.
In an unexpected change for 2023, anyone who signs in to Apple’s developer account website with their Apple ID also gets access to developer betas, even if they’re not a paying member of Apple’s developer program. That means anyone with an Apple ID can download and install the iOS 17, iPadOS 17, and macOS Sonoma betas without waiting for the public betas to start.
Should I Install iOS 17 Developer Beta?
Before downloading the update, it’s worth noting that Apple doesn’t recommend installing iOS 17 beta on your main iPhone. So if you have a second device, use that one. As this is beta software, bugs and issues are common, which may prevent the software from working properly or cause other problems.
With this limitation in mind, the following steps will show you how to get iOS 17 beta versions on your iPhone. Note that iOS 17 is compatible with iPhone XS and newer, which means support for the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X has been dropped. Make sure to back up your iOS device before installing the software using the method outlined here. Otherwise, you can’t go back to iOS 16 if something goes wrong.
How to Download iOS 17 Developer Beta
As of this writing, the option to download and install the iOS 17 Developer Beta is also available for users who have previously signed up for Apple’s beta software program, although the program is officially for public betas only. This suggests that the option is a bug and Apple will likely remove it. But until that happens, if you’re currently registered to receive public betas, you can skip to step 6.
Open Safari on your iPhone and visit Developer.apple.com. Tap the menu icon in the top-left corner of the page, then tap Account. Under Sign In to Apple Developer, use the arrow keys to enter and submit your Apple ID and password. Then enter the two-factor authentication code sent to your devices.
Tap the menu icon in the top left again, then tap Account. Accept the legal terms of the Apple Developer Agreement by scrolling down the page, checking the box and tapping “I Agree”.
Make sure your iPhone is running iOS 16.4 or later by going to Settings -> General -> Software Update. If this is the case and you just completed Steps 1-5 to register a developer account, restart your iPhone. If it doesn’t, download the latest update, install it on your device, and then wait for it to restart. Now go back to Settings -> General -> Software update. Tap Beta Updates. If you don’t see the option, turn off “Download iOS updates” (Automatic updates -> Download iOS updates) and then tap “Back”. The option should appear. Select iOS 17 Developer Beta from the list, then tap Back. Wait for the Software Update screen to appear to check Apple’s servers. When the iOS 17 Developer Beta comes out, tap Download and Install, then follow the prompts and wait for the installation to complete.
iOS 17 features
“iOS 17” is a major update that introduces a customized appearance for each person making the call, allowing the person making the call to customize their appearance. With StandBy, a horizontally placed iPhone turns into a small home hub that displays information like calendar, time, home controls and more, and Live Activity can also be viewed in full screen mode.
Widgets on the home screen are interactive, so you can, for example, check off an item on a to-do list or turn off the light without having to open an app. AirDrop has been improved and there is a NameDrop feature for quick sharing of contacts. Also, you can hold two iPhones together to start a SharePlay session. SharePlay now also works with CarPlay, so passengers can also play their music in the car.
Other new features include a journaling app coming later this year, AirPlay in select hotel rooms, improvements to AirPods Pro 2 thanks to a new Adaptive Audio feature, Offline Maps, Siri not requiring “Hey” activation , and improvements to search and headlights.
iOS 17 is expected to be officially released in the fall.
