The first iOS 17 developer beta was released on the first day of WWDC, as is tradition. Although it is intended for developers to start building applications using new frameworks and APIs, and to test and submit bug reports if their applications do not work with the new software, it is technically available to anyone. person with a developer account.
In fact, the Developer Beta previously required a paid subscription to the Developer Program, which costs $99 per year. With iOS 17, Apple changed its policy to allow even those with free developer accounts (which otherwise only provide access to developer forums and Xcode) to download the iOS 17 developer beta.
Nevertheless, we recommend waiting for the start of the public beta, probably in June; the third or fourth developer beta will likely be Public Beta 1.
iOS 17: new features
As iOS 17 is a major release, it is packed with new features. Some of our favorite iOS 17 features include live voicemail transcription, vastly improved autocorrect, better Siri (including the ability to trigger it with “Siri” rather than “Hey Siri”), posters of contact and StandBy.
Our iOS 17 guide has more information on all the features coming to your iPhone this fall. Here, we’ll highlight particularly interesting changes and updates from the latest beta.
Some of the changes in Beta 2 include more app tips showing new app features, the ability to set a crossfade time in Apple Music, the ability to turn off notifications in sleep mode, and Apple widgets Additional music. The ability to hold phones next to each other for AirDrop is finally implemented in beta 2 as well.
iOS 17: How to install the public beta
If you want to be among the first to test iOS 17, you can sign up for the public beta test. The process for installing a beta has changed in iOS 16.4. Here’s how the new process now works:
- Click Register on the Apple Beta page and register with your Apple ID.
- Log in to the beta software program.
- Click on Enroll your iOS device.
- Open the Settings app, tap GeneralSO Software update.
- In the Beta updates section, select the iOS Public Beta.
It may take a few moments after signing up for the beta option to appear in Software update.
Public beta testing for iOS 17 is scheduled to begin in July, and we suggest most users wait for it.
iOS 17: How to install the developer beta
You will need to be registered as an Apple Developer. Starting with iOS 17, you don’t need to be in the $99-per-year developer program to access the developer beta. A free developer account will do. You can get one through Xcode or the Apple Developer app in iOS. Here’s how to do it through the Apple Developer app:
- Download the Apple Developer app from the App Store.
- Open the app.
- Tap Account.
- Sign in with your regular Apple ID.
If you want to sell apps on the App Store, you’ll need to pay $99 / £79 per year for a paid account. Sign up for the Apple Developer Program (here) or through the Apple Developer app. You can compare free and paid accounts here.
Registered developers can choose to get the public beta instead by selecting iOS Public Beta in the software update screen. It may take a while after signing up as a developer for the option to appear in Software Updates.
Some developers have an Apple ID registered for developer access that is different from the Apple ID associated with their personal Apple account and data. To use a different Apple ID for beta access than the one used in the rest of iOS, open Settings > General > Software update > Beta updates and select the Apple ID at the bottom of the screen.
iOS 17 beta: Risks and precautions
Betas are test versions of upcoming software. They are by definition unfinished, and while they should include most or all of the features of the finished product, there will be cosmetic differences and, inevitably, a few glitches and glitches that will need to be ironed out. Glitches and glitches are why Apple bothers to test iOS in the first place.
In other words, don’t expect a perfect user experience. In particular, don’t expect existing apps (including ones you can rely on) to work properly. In extreme cases, you may even find that your device is beta-locked and cannot be used until the next beta comes along and hopefully fixes the problem. It is not uncommon for early beta software to also have issues such as excessive battery drain.
The closer we get to the final launch and iOS release, the more refined and comprehensive we can expect the available betas to be. The counterbalance to that, of course, is that there will be less time left to wait for the official launch anyway.
We can’t stress enough the importance of backing up your iPhone before installing a beta version of iOS, or better yet, using a secondary device rather than your primary iPhone. You won’t lose everything if something goes wrong while installing the beta, and you can roll back to the latest version if you want.
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