Apple is making a change in the iOS 16.4 beta, making it a bit easier to install for registered developers while making it tougher to install if you’re not a registered dev.
Beginning with the first iOS & iPadOS 16.4 beta, members of the Apple Developer Program will have the option to enable developer betas directly in Software Update in Settings. Apple will automatically be enabled on devices that are already enrolled in the program that update to the latest beta release.
The change will prevent iPhone users who aren’t enrolled in Apple’s Developer Program from installing the iOS 17 developer beta for free when it is released at WWDC in June.
A user’s iPhone or iPad must be signed in with the same Apple ID used to enroll in the Apple Developer Program. In future iOS and iPadOS releases, this new setting will be the way to enable developer betas and configuration profiles will no longer grant access
In the past, beta profiles for iOS and iPadOS have been made available on the internet by groups and individuals not directly associated with Apple. This change has likely been made to foil such distribution.
Apple released the initial betas of iOS 16.4 and iPadOS 16.4 on Thursday. The betas bring a number of new emoji characters, including shaking head, pink heart, blue heart, gray heart, donkey, moose, blackbird, goose, wing, jellyfish, hyacinth, ginger, fan, comb, left and right facing hand options, and more.
Safari Web Push notifications are also included, but require web developers to add support. The feature will allow users to add a website to their Home Screen and the website can send them push notifications.
A new add to Home Screen option for third-party browsers allows users to add a favorite Chrome site directly to their Home Screen. The HomeKit architecture upgrade that was pulled from iOS 16.2 has returned.