Since the iOS 16.4 beta, there is a new "Beta Updates" menu on the iPhone in the Settings app under General -> Software Update. Using this menu, members of Apple's developer program can activate iOS developer betas directly on the iPhone without having to install a configuration profile from Apple's developer website.
The menu will only appear if a user's iPhone is signed in with the same Apple ID that they used to sign up for the Apple Developer Program registered has. In future versions of iOS, Apple says this menu will be the only way to enable developer betas, as the profiles will no longer work. This change will prevent iPhone users who are not enrolled in the $99-a-year Apple Developer Program from being able to install the iOS 17 developer beta for free when it is released at WWDC in June. Until now, anyone could install the iOS developer betas for free by downloading the profiles from sites like BetaProfiles.dev. Apple has already cracked down on sites distributing developer betas over the past year. BetaProfiles.com was shut down in August to avoid a "litigation with Apple," while Apple lawyers served Twitter DMCA notices for more than a dozen tweets that contained links to IPSW.dev.
Apple Developer Beta Terms of Service: Sharing profiles has always been prohibited
BetaProfiles.dev is still active and appears to be a copy of BetaProfiles.com, but it is unclear if the site is owned by the same owners. iPhone users who do not want to pay $99 per year for the Apple Developer Program will have to wait for the iOS 17 public beta, which is expected to be released in July. Users can sign up for Apple's public beta software program for free. It may be possible to install the iOS 17 developer beta for free using an IPSW file, but it remains to be seen if that will be an option. Many years ago, Apple only allowed beta IPSW files to be installed on devices registered with an Apple developer account. At the very least, the elimination of configuration profiles will make the task more tedious in the future. (Photo by Unsplash / Thom Bradley)
