Apple issues beta version of TestFlight for Mac to developers

Apple on Tuesday issued a beta version of TestFlight for Mac, bringing the app beta testing platform to macOS for the first time.

Announced in a post to Apple's developer portal, the availability of TestFlight beta 3.2 allows developers to seed beta apps to other registered developers who are also running TestFlight for Mac.

Like iOS and tvOS versions of the platform, TestFlight for Mac streamlines the app prototyping process by allowing developers to create, distribute and manage beta software tests through one service.

According to Apple, the beta iteration of TestFlight is limited to macOS Monterey beta 5, which was issued on Aug. 10.

Developers using the first TestFlight version on macOS Monterey beta 5 or earlier will need to quit the beta version of their native Mac app before updating it, as the current system does not include prompts to do so, Apple says. VoiceOver is also not fully functional in the latest version of the software.

Signs of the service's launch were seen earlier today when developers reported new affordances that allowed them to submit macOS app beta builds to App Store Connect through Xcode 13 beta.

TestFlight for Mac was first announced at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference in June.