Registering and Managing Devices in Apple Developer
To test an app on a real iPhone or iPad outside the App Store, the device needs to be explicitly registered with Apple Developer. Here’s how to do it, where to find the UDID, and what the yearly device limit actually means.
Why devices need to be registered
Development and Ad Hoc provisioning profiles only work on devices explicitly registered under the Devices section of your Apple Developer account. It’s part of how Apple controls who tests unpublished apps and on what hardware.
How to find a device’s UDID
Through Xcode
- Connect the device to a Mac with a cable.
- Open Xcode → Window → Devices and Simulators.
- Select the device in the list — its UDID appears in the device info (click to copy).
From the device’s own settings (no Mac needed)
Starting with iOS 17, you can copy the UDID directly on-device: Settings → General → About → tap and hold the serial number to bring up a copy menu that includes the UDID.
Through Apple Configurator
For registering many devices at once (relevant for teams with a lot of testers), Apple Configurator on a Mac is more convenient — it can pull UDIDs from several connected devices at the same time.
How to register a device on the portal
- Go to developer.apple.com/account → Certificates, Identifiers & Profiles → Devices.
- Click “+.”
- Choose the platform (iOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS).
- Enter the UDID and a friendly device name (for easy identification in the list).
- Click “Register.”
Once registered, the device becomes available when creating Development/Ad Hoc provisioning profiles — but existing profiles need to be regenerated to include the new device.
The device registration limit
Apple caps how many devices of a given type (e.g., iPhone) you can register within a membership year — the limit resets on your membership renewal date, not on a calendar basis. Check Apple’s current official terms for the exact number, since it’s subject to change.
Important nuance: removing a device from your Devices list during the year does not free up the limit — Apple counts unique devices registered during the period, not your current active list. Worth remembering if you’re testing on users’ or partners’ devices that rotate frequently.
Common problems
“Device is not registered” when trying to install a build
The device wasn’t registered before the profile was created, or the profile hasn’t been regenerated since registering the new device.
The yearly device limit has been hit
The only standard option is waiting for the limit to reset on your membership renewal date, or (for the Enterprise Program) using internal distribution, which isn’t restricted by UDID.
The UDID isn’t detected through Xcode
Usually fixed by: unlocking the device, confirming “Trust This Computer” on the device itself when connecting, and updating Xcode to the latest version.
FAQ
Do I need to register a device to test via TestFlight?
No — TestFlight works differently, through an email invite or a public link, with no need to register the device’s UDID.
Can I register a device without having physical access to it?
Yes — if the user sends you their UDID some other way (Apple Configurator can’t be used remotely, but they can send you the value manually), registering it on the portal doesn’t require the device to be physically connected to your Mac.
Do simulators count toward the device limit?
No — the limit applies only to physical devices; Xcode simulators don’t require UDID registration.
This article is independent and not affiliated with Apple Inc. For official information, see developer.apple.com/account/resources/devices.
Related: Provisioning Profiles in Apple Developer: Creating and Managing Them · Certificates, Identifiers & Profiles: A Beginner’s Guide · Renewing Apple Developer Program Membership