How to Register iOS Devices in Apple Developer Portal

Registering iOS devices in the Apple Developer Portal is a crucial step for developers who want to test their apps and run tests on physical devices. This process allows you to associate specific devices with your Apple Developer account, enabling you to deploy and run your apps outside of the App Store. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to register your iOS devices in the Apple Developer Portal.

Step 1: Access the Apple Developer Portal

  1. Sign In to Your Account:
    Open your web browser and navigate to the Apple Developer Portal. Click on Account and sign in with your Apple ID that is linked to your developer account.

  2. Navigate to Certificates, IDs & Profiles:
    Once signed in, click on the Account tab at the top of the page. From the sidebar on the left, select Certificates, IDs & Profiles.

Step 2: Gather Your Device Information

Before you can register a device, you'll need to obtain its Unique Device Identifier (UDID). The UDID is a 40-character string that uniquely identifies your device.

Find Your Device’s UDID:

  1. Using Finder (macOS Catalina and later):

    • Connect your iOS device to your Mac.

    • Open Finder and select your device from the sidebar.

    • Click on the device model name of couple of times. The label will change to show your device's UDID.

    • Right-click on the UDID and select Copy UDID to copy it to your clipboard.

  2. Using iTunes (macOS Mojave and earlier):

    • Connect your iOS device to your Mac or PC.

    • Open iTunes and select your device.

    • On the Summary tab, click on the Serial Number. The label will change to display the UDID.

    • Right-click the UDID and select Copy.

Step 3: Register the Device in the Apple Developer Portal

  1. Access the Devices Section:
    In the Certificates, IDs & Profiles section of the Developer Portal, select Devices under the heading on the left sidebar.

  2. Add a New Device:
    Click the "+" button to add a new device.

  3. Enter Device Details:

    • Platform: Select iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, watchOS, visionOS.

    • Device Name: Provide a name for the device. This can be anything that helps you identify it, such as Yuri's iPhone 15 Pro.

    • UDID: Paste the UDID you copied earlier.

  4. Register the Device:
    After entering the details, click Continue and then Register to complete the process.

Step 4: Use the Registered Device

Once your device is registered, it will be added to the list of devices associated with your developer account. You can now include this device in provisioning profiles, allowing you to install your apps and run accessibility tests with Abra Desktop on the device.

Update Provisioning Profiles:

If you use a provisioning profile to resign Abra Desktop, you need update your provisioning profile to include the newly registered device. Create a brand new profile and use it within Abra Desktop resigning process in order to be able to run accessibility tests.

Step 5: Troubleshooting Tips

Common Issues:

  • Invalid UDID: Ensure that the UDID is correctly copied. Double-check the length and format.

  • Device Limit Exceeded: Apple limits the number of devices you can register per membership year. If you reach this limit, you may need to remove old devices to add new ones.

  • Extended processing time: In some cases Apple might take an extended period of time (up to 72 hours) to process the device registration. For more information, follow Apple’s Reference article.

Conclusion

Registering your iOS devices in the Apple Developer Portal is an essential step for any developer who wants to test their apps and run UI tests on real hardware. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can quickly and efficiently register your devices and ensure that they are ready for app testing.