Managing Beta OS Updates via Addigy

Addigy integrates with Apple's Beta OS updates to let you enroll managed devices into beta OS programs or offer beta tracks for users to opt into, all via Declarative Management. This article walks through what you need in place before getting started, how to configure beta enrollment, and what to expect given Apple's current limitations around beta update delivery.

For full details on Apple's beta testing program for organizations and how Addigy helps manage this, see Testing software updates with the AppleSeed for IT beta program.

Note: Managed beta enrollment is only supported for devices running iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS 15, or later.

Before You Begin

There are a few things that need to be in place before beta OS update settings will be available.

Register for AppleSeed for IT

First, your Apple Business Manager (ABM) instance must be registered for AppleSeed for IT. To do this, an ABM administrator needs to sign in to the AppleSeed for IT portal and accept the Beta Software Program Agreement for the current beta period. Without this step, Addigy won't have any beta programs to pull in and display.

Beta OS Updates can only be configured in the eligible ADE policy

Second, beta OS update settings can only be configured in the exact policy that contains the linked MDM server tied to that ABM instance. This means beta OS updates cannot be configured in a child or parent policy that does not contain the MDM server.
You can verify which MDM server is associated with a policy by going to Policies > (select policy) > Integrations & Settings > Automated Device Enrollment. If the MDM server isn't linked to an AppleSeed-registered ABM instance, the beta options won't be available.

You must send the latest OS version

Finally, your update configuration must be configured to send the latest available version rather than a max version. If a max version is set, beta enrollment will not be available to configure in Addigy.

Configuring Beta Programs

Once the prerequisites are met, follow these steps:

Navigate to Policies > (select policy) > Updates.
Expand the OS type you want to configure (e.g., iOS/iPadOS, macOS).
Click "Advanced Settings..." at the bottom of the section.
Enable the Beta Updates toggle. Addigy will automatically retrieve the beta programs your organization is registered for in AppleSeed for IT and display them as selectable options.
Enable Program Enrollment and use the dropdown to select one of three modes. These map directly to Apple's SoftwareUpdateSettingsBetaObject configuration:
- Allowed - The user can enroll in any applicable beta programs associated with the Apple Account they're signed in with. If you've also configured offered programs (see Offer Program below), those will be presented to the user alongside their account-based options.
- Always On - The organization controls which beta programs are used, and the user cannot enroll on their own through their Apple Account. When this mode is selected, you'll choose between two sub-options:
  - Required Program - Automatically enrolls all devices in the policy into a single beta track that you select from the dropdown (for example, iOS 26 AppleSeed Beta). This is the best choice when you want every device in a test group on the same beta version with no user interaction needed.
  - Offer Program - Presents one or more beta tracks to devices for the user to choose from, giving more flexibility when you're managing devices across different beta programs. Check the boxes next to each program you'd like to make available.
Always Off - Prevents the device from enrolling in any beta programs entirely. If a device is already enrolled in a beta program, this setting will remove it.
Click Save in the Advanced Settings window, then click Save Settings in the Updates page to finalize the changes.
Optional: Hit Deploy Now in the policy to immediately apply the settings to applicable devices.

A Note on Forcing Beta Updates

It's important to understand that Apple does not allow the ability to force the installation of beta OS updates. At the moment, it's only possible to enroll in or offer devices these beta programs. The actual update installation is handled on-device.

As an option to help encourage beta OS updates, you can use the AI update settings to configure Automatic Actions. This feature leverages on-device machine learning to attempt auto-updating when conditions are favorable, such as when the device is charging, on Wi-Fi, and idle. It doesn't guarantee immediate installation, but it significantly improves the chances that enrolled devices will pick up the beta update without requiring manual user action. More info here:
Overview: Declarative Updates in Addigy (DDM)

FAQ

How can I force install beta versions?

At the moment, Apple does not support the ability to force install beta OS versions via declarations.

Beta versions are not showing

If you notice that beta versions are not showing in System Settings:

Double-check to make sure that everything has been correctly configured
Verify if there are any conflicting OS update policies assigned to the device(s)
- We suggest devices only belong to one OS update policy, as assigning multiple can lead to conflicts and cause certain versions not to be sent
Ensure devices are communicating with MDM
Wait about 1-2 hours, or hit Deploy Now in the policy to force Addigy to run our update logic, which will send the settings if they have not already been applied
If all of the above have been ruled out, if you are deploying a Restrictions MDM profile, ensure that these two settings are enabled within it:
If that does not help, something might be stuck on the device regarding the OS update and beta enrollment, which you will need to pull the OS update settings and re-apply it:
- Unassign the device from the policy with beta OS updates configured
- In whichever policy the device is still assigned to, hit Deploy Now in the policy and wait ~10-15 minutes to ensure it removes the beta OS update settings
- Assign the device back to the beta OS update policy and hit Deploy Now
- Wait another ~10-15 minutes and confirm if the beta version is offered in System Settings > General > Software Update

If you require further assistance with troubleshooting this, please reach out to Addigy support with a screenshot of what is showing in System Settings > Software Update.