diff --git a/.changeset/wild-crews-eat.md b/.changeset/wild-crews-eat.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b0a4ba2aad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/wild-crews-eat.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"electron-updater": patch
+---
+
+feat: allow dev update config to be forced for testing auto-updater flow
diff --git a/docs/api/electron-builder.md b/docs/api/electron-builder.md
index 59bed7bc81..3f69764cb2 100644
--- a/docs/api/electron-builder.md
+++ b/docs/api/electron-builder.md
@@ -1600,6 +1600,9 @@ return path.join(target.outDir, <code>__${target.name}-${getArtifactArchName(arc
 <p>Currently false to prevent breaking the current API, but it should be changed to default true at some point that breaking changes are allowed.</p>
 </li>
 <li>
+<p><code id="AppUpdater-forceDevUpdateConfig">forceDevUpdateConfig</code> = <code>false</code> Boolean - Allows developer to force the updater to work in “dev” mode, looking for “dev-app-update.yml” instead of “app-update.yml” Dev: <code>path.join(this.app.getAppPath(), &quot;dev-app-update.yml&quot;)</code> Prod: <code>path.join(process.resourcesPath!, &quot;app-update.yml&quot;)</code></p>
+</li>
+<li>
 <p><code id="AppUpdater-currentVersion">currentVersion</code> SemVer - The current application version.</p>
 </li>
 <li>
diff --git a/packages/electron-updater/src/AppUpdater.ts b/packages/electron-updater/src/AppUpdater.ts
index cf65eb0717..a3afa1299a 100644
--- a/packages/electron-updater/src/AppUpdater.ts
+++ b/packages/electron-updater/src/AppUpdater.ts
@@ -83,9 +83,17 @@ export abstract class AppUpdater extends (EventEmitter as new () => TypedEmitter
    *
    * @default false
    */
-
   disableWebInstaller = false
 
+  /**
+   * Allows developer to force the updater to work in "dev" mode, looking for "dev-app-update.yml" instead of "app-update.yml"
+   * Dev: `path.join(this.app.getAppPath(), "dev-app-update.yml")`
+   * Prod: `path.join(process.resourcesPath!, "app-update.yml")`
+   *
+   * @default false
+   */
+  forceDevUpdateConfig = false
+
   /**
    * The current application version.
    */
@@ -279,8 +287,9 @@ export abstract class AppUpdater extends (EventEmitter as new () => TypedEmitter
   }
 
   public isUpdaterActive(): boolean {
-    if (!this.app.isPackaged) {
-      this._logger.info("Skip checkForUpdatesAndNotify because application is not packed")
+    const isEnabled = this.app.isPackaged || this.forceDevUpdateConfig
+    if (!isEnabled) {
+      this._logger.info("Skip checkForUpdates because application is not packed and dev update config is not forced")
       return false
     }
     return true