Apple Invites Developers to Vision Pro Coding Labs, Reveals Top-Secret Rules for Tester Kits

by

Earlier this week, Apple started accepting applications for one-day Vision Pro developer labs in Cupertino, London, Munich, Shanghai, Singapore, and Tokyo. These coding labs will allow developers to test and optimize their apps on visionOS, and Apple employees will be available to help with setup and troubleshooting.

Apple Vision Pro with battery Feature Blue Magenta
Apple has since started emailing the first developers invited to attend these labs, which will begin next week and continue into August in the chosen cities.


"In these self-directed coding and design labs, you'll be able to test and optimize your apps on visionOS," Apple's website says. "Bring your Mac, code, and everything you need to modify, build, run, and test your app on Vision Pro."

Apple Developer Program members who are at least 18 years old can apply to attend one of the labs. Developers must have a new visionOS app in active development, or an existing iPadOS or iOS app, and Apple says priority will be given to developers who are building apps that are specially optimized for the Vision Pro.

Top-Secret Rules

Apple has made an SDK and visionOS simulator available for developers to build Vision Pro apps. For developers who need continuous, direct access to the headset, Apple has also opened applications for Vision Pro developer kits. Apple has very strict terms and conditions for these kits, which developers must keep secure at all times.


Developers must keep the kit in a "private, secure workspace," and cannot show it to any family, friends, or other unauthorized individuals, according to Apple. The kit also must be in a developer's "direct line of sight" at all times, and stored in a locked Pelican case in a locked space when not in use, the company adds.

Apple says the Vision Pro will launch in the U.S. early next year, and third-party visionOS apps will be available through the App Store on the headset.

(Thanks, @aaronp613!)

Related Roundups: Apple Vision Pro, visionOS 2
Buyer's Guide: Vision Pro (Buy Now)
Related Forum: Apple Vision Pro

Popular Stories

ios 18 4 carplay

Apple Upgrades CarPlay in Two Ways

Wednesday March 12, 2025 6:05 am PDT by
The upcoming iOS 18.4 update for the iPhone includes a smaller but meaningful improvement for Apple's in-car iPhone mirroring system CarPlay. Specifically, CarPlay now shows a third row of icons, up from two rows previously. However, this change is only visible in vehicles with a larger center display. For example, a MacRumors Forums member noticed the change in a Toyota Tundra with a...
Read Full Article • 49 comments
Generic iOS 19 Feature Mock Light

iOS 19 Will Bring Biggest Design Overhaul Since iOS 7

Monday March 10, 2025 12:17 pm PDT by
Apple is planning for a major design overhaul of the iPhone, iPad, and Mac interfaces with the introduction of iOS 19, iPadOS 19, and macOS 16 later this year, reports Bloomberg. The update will "fundamentally change" the look of Apple's operating system, introducing a more consistent cross-platform experience. Apple plans to update the style of icons, menus, apps, windows, and system...
Read Full Article • 256 comments
Apple One Apps Feature 2

Apple One's Best Plan Now Includes Two More Perks For Free

Monday March 10, 2025 6:40 am PDT by
Apple One allows you to subscribe to up to six Apple services for one discounted monthly price. There are three Apple One tiers: Individual, Family, and Premier. Over the last month, the highest-end ‌Apple One‌ Premier plan has gained two additional perks. Here is what Apple One Premier already included, for $37.95 per month:Apple Music Apple TV+ Apple Arcade Apple News+ Apple Fitness+...
Read Full Article • 65 comments
airpods pro 2 gradient

AirPods Pro 3 Launch Now Just Months Away: Here's What We Know

Tuesday March 11, 2025 3:26 am PDT by
Despite being released over two years ago, Apple's AirPods Pro 2 continue to dominate the wireless earbud market. However, with the AirPods Pro 3 expected to launch in 2025, anyone thinking of buying Apple's premium earbuds may be wondering if the next generation is worth holding out for. Apart from their audio and noise-canceling performance, which are generally regarded as excellent for...
Read Full Article • 46 comments
iOS 18

12 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 18.4

Monday March 10, 2025 9:28 am PDT by
Apple is set to release iOS 18.4 in early April, bringing further refinements to Apple Intelligence features, a neat new capability to iPhone 15 Pro devices, new emoji, and more. While not quite as packed with new features as Apple's preceding iOS 18 point releases, iOS 18.4 still introduces enhancements that aim to make your iPhone smarter and more intuitive. Below, we've listed 12 new...
Read Full Article • 32 comments
Apple More Personal Siri Ad

John Gruber Says 'Something is Rotten' at Apple

Wednesday March 12, 2025 7:39 pm PDT by
Daring Fireball's John Gruber today shared some strongly-worded comments about Apple's delayed personalized Siri features. Gruber is a well-known Apple pundit who has been writing about the company for more than two decades. In a blog post titled "Something Is Rotten in the State of Cupertino," Gruber said Apple's credibility has been "damaged" by the delay:Keynote by keynote, product by...
Read Full Article • 455 comments
iphone 17 mockups idevicehelp

Video Shows iPhone 17 Mockups Based on 'Internal Documents'

Monday March 10, 2025 4:41 am PDT by
YouTuber iDeviceHelp on Friday posted a video that shows off mockups of Apple's forthcoming iPhone 17 models that are purportedly based on "internal documents." We're sharing the video here since it was made in collaboration with leaker Majin Bu, who last month published similar iPhone 17 renders that were widely corroborated by separate leakers with links to Apple's Chinese supply chain....
Read Full Article • 90 comments
Apple Maps vs Google Maps Feature

iOS 18.4 Adds a Highly-Requested Setting to iPhones — But Not in U.S.

Wednesday March 12, 2025 1:05 pm PDT by
iPhones are finally getting a much-requested setting, but availability is limited. The upcoming iOS 18.4 update introduces an option to set a default navigation app, other than Apple Maps, but unfortunately this new setting is limited to users in the EU. There, you can now set an app like Google Maps or Waze as your default navigation app on the iPhone by opening the Settings app and tapping ...
Read Full Article • 89 comments
iOS 18

iOS 18.3.2 Update Coming Soon for iPhones

Monday March 10, 2025 7:25 am PDT by
Apple employees are internally testing iOS 18.3.2 for iPhones, according to our website's visitor logs, which have been a reliable indicator of upcoming iOS versions. The software update should be released in the next week or two. iOS 18.3.2 will be a minor update that addresses software bugs and/or security vulnerabilities. Don't expect any new features. iOS 18.3.2 will be an interim...
Read Full Article • 49 comments

Top Rated Comments

gaximus Avatar
gaximus
21 months ago
Can you take it to a bar if you put it in a case that makes it look like an Oculus Rift?
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macsplusmacs Avatar
macsplusmacs
21 months ago

Top-Secret rules for what?

Apple already announced the Apple Vision Pro. It's really not a top secret anymore. The Vision OS is also already out too!
I think mostly so they can't go to Facebook, etc and tell all the VR devs all the details about hardware , API and how and what are the limitations or advancements on a very detailed level?
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sparkinstx Avatar
sparkinstx
21 months ago
The first rule of Vision Pro testing: You must not talk about Vision Pro testing.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
noodledog Avatar
noodledog
21 months ago

The Vision Pro developer kit rules are INSANE
I know online posts have to be overly dramatic to get clicks, but honestly, I don't think those terms are really all that crazy. Basically protect it, don't lose it, don't let others access it. I guess they are very specific, but the intent isn't very odd to me.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
HobeSoundDarryl Avatar
HobeSoundDarryl
21 months ago

Top-Secret rules for what?

Apple already announced the Apple Vision Pro. It's really not a top secret anymore. The Vision OS is also already out too!
I suspect there are key features & benefits to be revealed in perhaps one of the Fall "shows."

There were other desirable features that these should easily support that were not revealed at WWDC. I suspect Apple "held back" some of those to refresh excitement and press coverage when more is revealed, probably in the Fall and then again at the actual launch in 2024. I further guess that someone with access could come across some things that would let such cats out of the bag before Apple wants them revealed... like a crack at beta macOS sometimes reveals new Mac placeholders, etc. What placeholders will these developers find in Vpro? If there are some- and I suspect there will be- this demand for absolute secrecy is probably- at least in part- trying to save those "big reveals" for when Apple wants them to be known.

I fully expect more than what we did get to see in the big demo is coming from Apple (not just whatever these developers create, though I also expect some "amazing!" from the independent developers too).
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
zorinlynx Avatar
zorinlynx
21 months ago
What is the point of all this extreme secrecy when the product has already announced and surely devs will talk about it? Seems like letting friends and family use the kit is a good way to get word of mouth going.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments