iOS 17

Apple released iOS 17.4 beta 4 to developers today with a few notable changes. The update makes tweaks to the Settings app, adds a new personalized splash screen when you reboot, and more.

Apple this week stopped signing iOS 17.3 following the release of iOS 17.3.1 a few days ago. This means that iPhone and iPad users can no longer downgrade to this version of the operating system if they’re already running a newer version of iOS.

Update: A day later, public beta versions are available.

iOS 17.4 development is well under way. Apple just shipped iOS 17.4 beta 3 to developers. The pre-release software primarily focuses on changes made in the EU due to regulatory requirements.

With iOS 17 and macOS Sonoma, Apple has introduced new camera gestures that show 3D reactions such as a thumbs up, balloons, and even fireworks. However, as these reactions are enabled by default, they have embarrassed many users in some situations – but Apple may end up turning these effects off by default.

One of the more noticeable design changes in iOS 17 this year is in the Messages app. Apple has revamped the interface and moved access to iMessage apps and shortcuts to a new pop-up menu. Here’s a closer look at these changes, with a trick to get one-tap access to the Photos picker.

Apple has released details on the adoption of iOS 17 for the first time. Notably, these numbers show that uptake of iOS 17 is lagging behind iOS 16. Here’s a breakdown of iOS 17 adoption so far, according to Apple.

Update: The first public beta version is now available as well. Get your new emoji, folks! The new EU-only browser prompt is also now live.

With iOS 17.3 shipped, Apple is moving on to iOS 17.4 beta. The first developer beta version for iPhone is now available. We’ll update our coverage and share any new changes as they surface.

Last week, Apple released iOS 17.3 with a new security feature called Stolen Device Protection, which aims to help protect your data in case a thief has stolen your iPhone and obtained the password. However, there’s one flaw that you should be aware of…

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iOS 17.4 is taking the Apple Music SharePlay experience from CarPlay and bringing it to the house. Apple is expanding the SharePlay music control feature to work with both HomePod and Apple TV.

It’s been a very busy day here at 9to5Mac. Apple released the first beta of iOS 17.4 with a slew of changes for the App Store and its ecosystem in the European Union, but there are some other changes that are available for everyone. Head below for a roundup of everything new in iOS 17.4 so far.

Apple is making major changes to how web browsers can operate on iPhone for customers in the EU. iOS 17.4 will introduce the option to set your preferred default browser when you initially launch Safari, and browser makers will be able to use other browser engines.

iOS 17 and watchOS 10 introduce a new way to easily swap contact information between iPhones, Apple Watches, or both. NameDrop lets you control what information you share over AirDrop without having to create a separate contact card. NameDrop isn’t the only update to the contact card experience in iOS 17, however. iOS 17 introduces a widely requested feature to the Contacts app in the form of a new pronouns field.

Following the release of iOS 17.2 in early December, iOS 17.3 is now available. This update is headlined by a new feature called Stolen Device Protection, designed to protect iPhone users if they have their phone and passcode both stolen.

Head below for the full details on iOS 17.3, including new features and more.

Remember Apple’s promised iOS 17 feature for using AirPlay from an iPhone directly to a hotel TV? Yeah, that snuck in to the iOS 17.3 release cycle, fulfilling the feature list announced at WWDC 2023 last June.

The first iOS 17.3 release candidate is now available for iPhone users on the beta software update track. Stolen Device Protection is the headlining feature. It’s also the solution to an iPhone theft scheme revealed in a WSJ report last year. We also now have the official release notes for iOS 17.3 and macOS 14.3 Sonoma after reaching the RC stage.

Alongside its announcement of the new 2024 Black Unity Collection, Apple today has also confirmed that iOS 17.3 and iPadOS 17.3 will be released to the general public next week. As a refresher, iOS 17.3 includes the new Stolen Device Protection feature as well as Apple Music collaborative playlists.

Apple just released iOS 17.3 beta 2 to developers, but you should probably hold off on installing it. The update appears to bricking a lot of people’s iPhones during the installation process, but there’s a fix that you can try without losing your data.

Update: The crash appears to be affecting people who have Back Tap enabled on their iPhone. Apple has now pulled the update.

With the release of iOS 17.1 in October, Apple added a new “Favorites” feature for Apple Music. iOS 17.2 further expanded on this with the addition of a new “Favorites” playlist and the ability to have songs automatically added to your library when you favorite them.

The latter change, however, has proven to be controversial among a lot of iPhone users, but luckily, Apple makes it easy to turn off.

December could very well be security month at Apple with the launch of Stolen Device Protection, the shuttering of Beeper Mini, and now, the stealthy fix to a Bluetooth exploit that has been wreaking havoc for iPhone and iPad users since its discovery in September.

Update: Two days later, iOS 17.3 and macOS Sonoma 14.3 are now available for public beta testers. For iPhone users, the update includes Stolen Device Protection.

Boom. iOS 17.3 beta 1 has arrived alongside the seventh developer beta version of visionOS. The new beta releases come one day after Apple pushed out iOS 17.2, macOS Sonoma 14.2, watchOS 10.2, and tvOS 17.2.

In addition to the new Stolen Device Protection feature, iOS 17.3 beta 1 also re-adds support for collaborative playlists in Apple Music. This time, there’s a fun twist: you can now react to songs in a shared playlist with emojis through a new Tapback-style interface.