Last Updated on 2 years by admin
Exciting news! Apple has opened up beta testing to the general public, giving users the option to test prerelease software based on their preferences. Enabling the feature is super easy, simply turn it on from the software updates menu in the upcoming release of iOS 16.4. Testing Apple’s prerelease software has never been easier! You no longer need to download a configuration profile from Apple’s developer portal, and can now test out the beta versions directly from Software Updates. Whether you’re a developer or an enthusiast, you can take advantage of this new feature to stay ahead of the curve.
How to Activate Beta Updates on your iPhone / iPad
As we said above, a simple section switch under “software update” makes it possible to turn on beta updates for your iDevice. Before proceeding, make sure that you are already on iOS 16.4 or iPadOS 16.4. Step guide is provided below.
- Tap on Settings
- Go to General
- Look for Software Update menu
- Under Software Updates enable Beta Updates
- Further in this section you can select between iOS 16 Developer Beta or iOS 16 Public Beta
Following the new version, both developer and public betas are attached to your Apple ID, and developers no longer can share beta profiles with other testers by making them publicly available. This could be considered a disadvantage
Why you need to be registered member of Apple Developer Program
To install the developer beta, you need to be a member of Apple’s developer program, which you can sign up for at developer.apple.com with your Apple ID. Enrolling in the program comes at a cost of $99 per year. If you are not enrolled, you can only install public beta releases.
If you are a developer and want to test your apps on your device, you’ll need to enable a special mode by following the steps shown below.
Settings → Privacy & Security → Developer Mode.
Apple also offers a similar option in iOS 16’s Home app for installing HomePod software betas, and you can install public betas of tvOS software via Software Update on your Apple TV.
iOS 16.4 Launch Date
Apple has released the initial betas of iOS 16.4, iPadOS 16.4, macOS Ventura 13.3, watchOS 9.4, and tvOS 16.4 for developer testing on February 16, 2023. Additionally, the public betas are now available for download and installation via the beta.apple.com website.
We expect to release these updates, including iOS 16.4, iPadOS 16.4, and macOS Ventura 13.3, to the public in the Spring, most likely around April, after undergoing testing for several weeks.
The over-the-air Software Update feature makes upgrading to the latest software easy as it allows you to install the updates without deleting your data or settings.
