For the first time, Apple is opening its developer beta versions for its new operating systems across iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS and tvOS to everyone for free.
Users with free Apple developer accounts will be able to install the latest OS beta releases without paying the annual $99 USD fee for the Apple Developer Program, which was previously required to access the tech giant’s latest interfaces. Per an update to Apple’s support page, anyone with an Apple ID or an account enrolled in the Developer Program can access the betas now, versus having to wait for the public betas to launch in July, like in past years.
Developer betas for software including iOS 17, iPadOS 17 and macOS Sonoma are available for testing. It’s important to note, however, that these betas are in their early stages, and it is not recommended to download them on primary devices, as they can oftentimes pose disruptions.
Some betas, like those for watchOS 10, tvOS 17, HomePod 17 and AirPods, will bar users from reverting back to their initial operating systems. In these cases, devices will remain on the betas until Apple puts out its next public release, which usually arrives in the fall. Apple will release public betas next month, which will provide less risk to users looking to test out the new features.
In more tech news, here’s everything that went down at Apple’s WWDC 2023.
