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How to install iOS 8 beta 2 without a developer account

Published Jun 18th, 2014 10:10AM EDT
iOS 8.1 Beta 2: How to Install Without Developer Account

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Apple on Tuesday released iOS 8 beta 2, which is available to any iOS user who has a compatible device and access to a developer account. However, people with devices that aren’t enlisted in Apple’s developer program can still install iOS 8 beta 2 thanks to a trick, though it’s definitely not a hassle-free process.

Just like iOS 8 beta 1, which can be installed without a dev account, iOS 8 beta 2 has a similar security flaw that allows users to bypass Apple’s checks. BestTechInfo tells us the company has blocked the previous method used to install iOS 8 beta 1, but the new beta can still be installed on supported devices.

However, interested users should know that once iOS 8 beta 2 is installed, users won’t be able to retrieve data back from previous iOS 7 backups, and they also won’t be able to connect to iTunes as long as the device’s UDID isn’t registered with a developer account.

Furthermore, once the beta is installed, activation errors may occur, and devices may have issues running the new beta.

Finally, those iOS users who are on iOS 8 beta 1 without a developer account won’t be able to simply upgrade to iOS 8 beta 2. Instead, they’ll have to revert back to iOS 7.1.1 and then install the new beta.

The video below shows how this procedure works, although it doesn’t actually provide links to the iOS 8 beta 2 file required during the installation process, which can be legally obtained only by having access to a developer account.

Just like before, BGR advises against installing iOS 8 betas on devices that aren’t legally allowed to run betas, as such procedures can come with unwanted side effects.

Did you install an iOS 8 and now you want to roll back ? Here’s how you can undo the damage and go back to iOS 7.1.1.

Chris Smith Senior Writer

Chris Smith has been covering consumer electronics ever since the iPhone revolutionized the industry in 2008. When he’s not writing about the most recent tech news for BGR, he brings his entertainment expertise to Marvel’s Cinematic Universe and other blockbuster franchises.

Outside of work, you’ll catch him streaming almost every new movie and TV show release as soon as it's available.