Apple OS dev betas no longer require $99 fee

Apple has made a major change by permitting users with free Apple developer accounts to access the company’s latest software developer betas simultaneously with those who pay, without requiring the annual USD 99 fee for the Apple Developer Program.

In the past, Apple has only allowed those with a paid Apple Developer account to access early developer betas of new operating system updates. However, this year, anyone who signs in to the Apple Developer site using their Apple ID can access the developer beta builds of iOS 17, macOS Sonoma, and other operating systems for free.

This means that users who are eager to try out the various betas, including iOS 17, can do so for free starting today, instead of waiting until July for the public beta. The only requirement is to have an Apple Developer account.

It is worth noting that using betas on your primary devices can be buggy and hazardous. These betas are intended for developers who typically use secondary devices to test their applications with the new software.

Those who wish to install the betas can do so by opting in through the Settings app. The list of available betas is linked to the user’s Apple ID, so they must sign in to their device using the same Apple ID used to sign-in to Apple’s developer site.

Although Apple provides full IPSW restore images for certain devices, including iPhones, iPads, and Apple Silicon Macs, they are not available for all devices.

Certain devices, like newer Apple Watches and Apple TVs, are unable to be downgraded after installing a beta version. This means that users will be unable to revert back to a stable version until the next public release is available. So, be careful in installing such unstable versions.