How did I get access to developer betas?!

[PKIDelirium]

I just did the rapid security response update for 16.4.1, but while in software update, I noticed a toggle for “Beta Updates” on the page, and within that page itself, it’s offering me the iOS 16 developer beta…

But I don’t have a developer account, and am also not in the public beta program!

I signed into Apple Developer with my Apple ID looking for support, but couldn’t find anything of use. Apparently beta OS versions require enrollment in the $99/year developer program, which I don’t have, so why is my phone offering me a developer beta?

 

[russell_314]

I just did the rapid security response update for 16.4.1, but while in software update, I noticed a toggle for “Beta Updates” on the page, and within that page itself, it’s offering me the iOS 16 developer beta…

But I don’t have a developer account, and am also not in the public beta program!

I signed into Apple Developer with my Apple ID looking for support, but couldn’t find anything of use. Apparently beta OS versions require enrollment in the $99/year developer program, which I don’t have, so why is my phone offering me a developer beta?

I see the same option on my iPhone, and I'm not signed up for any developer account.


I don't know exactly why because I haven't messed with it. I wouldn't touch a beta OS on my main iPhone with a 10 foot pole

 

[Nermal]

The option showed up for me when I first opened Software Update, then disappeared a second or so later. It seems that it might be visible by default, and if it fails to check your eligibility then maybe it doesn't disappear when it should.

 

[papbot]

I signed into Apple Developer with my Apple ID looking for support

That right there does it. On AppleSeed we were told that if you ever used your Apple ID on the developer site, as many have done to download specific logging profiles for battery, Mail, or various other features/functions, you would see an option for the developer beta. However we were told to use the Customer beta option for AppleSeed purposes, though I don’t know if it really makes any difference. I do not have a paid developer account, never been a developer, but I did use my Apple ID once years ago to install a requested logging profile from the developer site.

Interestingly my wife and I share an Apple ID/iCloud account for media and app purchases which I used as my primary account ages ago. Because that account is on my wife’s devices, and gets scanned when software checks are run, she now has both Customer and Developer beta options on her devices. She’s never come within a mile of any beta and never will. So I’ve told her to just make certain that the “Off” option is selected.

 

[PKIDelirium]

I did that AFTER seeing it show up in Software Update, thinking I might find a way to ask about it or file a support ticket/bug report. I had never signed into Developer before.

 

[papbot]

I did that AFTER seeing it show up in Software Update, thinking I might find a way to ask about it or file a support ticket/bug report. I had never signed into Developer before.

I’ve not gotten a definitive answer either. We were told that if we ever used our Apple ID on the developer site we would see that option. But then when I saw the option on my wife’s devices when she had never visited the developer site or used any beta the only suggestion was the presence of that secondary joint ID that we use for media and app purchases, but that seems a little odd to me. And I’ve seen other posts like yours so I have to wonder if this is just some glitch in their software since configuration profiles for beta installations has been done away with and replaced with these options. It’s possible they might disappear in a later release.