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Apple Beta Software Program

Seeking clarification on this mention in FAQ

“Install the beta software only on non-production devices that are not business critical. We strongly recommend installing on a secondary system or device”

My confusion is mainly “secondary system or device” Why the separation of the two?

Any feedback or information is appreciated!!


Apple Beta Software Program



Posted on Nov 19, 2022 8:36 AM

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Posted on Nov 19, 2022 8:43 AM

Because, by definition beta software is a work in progress, and Apple does not guarantee that it will work in all situations. “Beta” is short for “beta test”, and by joining you are agreeing to test the software and report any problems that you find. And also you can’t get support for any problems you encounter, other than to wait for your reported problem to be fixed. It’s possible that there are problems in a beta release that might break your phone, so Apple recommends not using it on any device that you can’t do without.

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Nov 19, 2022 8:43 AM in response to versalized

Because, by definition beta software is a work in progress, and Apple does not guarantee that it will work in all situations. “Beta” is short for “beta test”, and by joining you are agreeing to test the software and report any problems that you find. And also you can’t get support for any problems you encounter, other than to wait for your reported problem to be fixed. It’s possible that there are problems in a beta release that might break your phone, so Apple recommends not using it on any device that you can’t do without.

Nov 19, 2022 8:43 AM in response to versalized

You are addressing this to another user and not to Apple in this forum.


Apple Support Community Forum


This is Apple Support Community forum, primarily for a user to user interaction for information & idea sharing between users, if need be, extend support on technical know-how in handling Apple products from a more experienced fellow user, This is not the right forum to discuss with Apple Inc.




Nov 19, 2022 10:43 AM in response to Lawrence Finch

Lawrence Finch wrote:

Not a separate Apple ID - a separate device.


Both.


Beta software can potentially render a device or a Mac unstable or unusable, can potentially corrupt associated local data, and can potentially corrupt associated iCloud data, or can potentially convert the iCloud data into a format older versions cannot access.


Do not run a beta with any device or any Mac needed to work and work reliably, with any data needed available, and with any Apple ID and any associated iCloud data needed available.


If you aren’t able and willing to “nuke and pave” — to perform a factory reset and re-install with no restoration — after something goes badly weird with an install or with iCloud, don’t run a beta.

Apple Beta Software Program

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