If you're someone who makes heavy use of the Find My app you're probably also someone who has plenty of different items in there, too. The app can help you keep tabs on a whole variety of things including AirPods and of course, AirTags. Now, Apple is letting you track more of those items than ever before although it seems it's actually allowed it for a good long while.

Previously, the Find My app on the iPhone and iPad was limited to 16 items, which meant that there was a relatively small limit on the number of items that people could find using the app. However, Apple has now updated a support document to confirm that is no longer the case. The new number is considerably larger than the old one, too.

In fact, that previous 16-item limit has now been doubled to 32 items which gives people much more breathing room for tracking everything they could ever possibly lose. But it appears that Apple made this change more than a year ago and it only just got around to updating its documentation to reflect it.

Track all the things

The change was first reported by MacRumors with Apple updating its online support documentation to confirm that yes, in fact, you can add as many as 32 different items to the Find My app.

While the 16-item figure might sound too low to those who are prolific item trackers, the 32-item limit does seem excessive, at least initially. But the more you dig into Apple's explanation of the change, the more it starts to make complete sense. Because, Apple says, not all items are created equal, and some that you might think of as a single item are actually three.

One example that Apple gives is its 2nd-gen AirPods Pro 2 earbuds. Those earbuds that are actually two counted as two items in the Find My network, with the charging case counting as a third. With that in mind it's easy to see why a 16-item limit could be more easily breached than you might expect — and even doubled, some people will likely still fall foul of the limit.

"You can add up to 32 items in Find My. In addition to AirTag and the third-party Find My network accessories in the Items tab, AirPods Max count as one item, AirPods and AirPods Pro (1st generation) count as two items, and AirPods Pro (2nd generation) count as three items," Apple's support documentation reads.

There are other items that can count against your Find My limit too, of course. Some third-party item trackers now link into the Find My network, while some Beats headphones also have Find My integration for those who just can't stop leaving them on airplanes and trains.

A great feature

The Find My network and associated apps might just be one of the best things Apple has brought to its devices in a long time. Not only can it locate your iPhone when you leave it in the back of a cab but AirTags are a lifesaver at times. Wallets, bags, coats, and in some cases children can all be tracked with AirTags — and some people use them to find stolen cars, too.

Why it took Apple so long to update its documentation, nobody knows. But it's great to know that we now have more room for additional item trackers so we need never lose anything again.

More from iMore

• Apple AirTag review: Perfectly simple, perfectly Apple
• Best accessories for AirTags
• Military families are using AirTags to track their stuff during station moves

On the eve of iOS 17 being released to the public Apple's Shazam app has now been updated to add support for one of the iOS 16 update's biggest new features.

The feature, support for Lock Screen widgets on the iPhone, is one that was heavily promoted by Apple in September of 2022 and became a foundational feature for the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. But despite Apple owning the music recognition app Shazam, the app has only just released an update that adds support for Lock Screen widgets.

With the new feature added, Shazam users can now identify songs right from their Iphone's Lock Screen without additional taps necessary — like finding and then opening the app on their Home Screen.

Music to 2022's ears

The new Lock Screen widgets are available as part of the latest Shazam update, downloadable via the App Store for all those who already have the app installed. Don't yet have Shazam? You can get it yourself now, and it's completely free.

As for what the new feature can offer, Shazam's App Store release notes say that people "You can now open Shazam and identify songs directly from your lock screen with our Lock Screen Widget. Or, try our wider widget, which displays the last song you identified."

You don't need the best iPhones to use this new feature, either. Sure, the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max have always-on displays that make Lock Screen widgets even more accessible. But they can also be used on other iPhones — you just have to wake the phone's display before you can see them.

This will of course also be the case when the new iPhones arrive this September, too. The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus will support Lock Screen widgets via iOS 17, but the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will be the only models that support an always-on Lock Screen.

Jamf Threat Labs has found a dangerous exploit opportunity in iOS 16 that fakes Airplane Mode on your iPhone. 

The exploit means hackers can gain access to your iPhone so that when a user turns on Airplane Mode, they have full control of a device that the individual thinks is offline. 

In new research shared with iMore, Jamf says the threat “tricks the victim into thinking their device’s Airplane Mode works when in reality the attacker (following successful device exploit) has planted an artificial Airplane Mode which edits the UI to display Airplane Mode icon and cuts internet connection to all apps except the attacker application.”

Luckily for iPhone users flying to go on vacation this summer, the Airplane Mode hack has yet to be observed in the wild. Jamf and iMore have reached out to Apple for comment on this potential threat but have yet to garner a response. Jamf has made Apple aware of the exploit but it’s unclear as to whether it has been fixed. 

When asked if there was any fix to this Airplane Mode threat users can take advantage of, Michael Covington, VP of Strategy at Jamf told us no (as of yet), but said, “Users should be on the lookout for unusual app crashes, unexpected device reboots, rapid battery drains, and the activation of sensors like the camera, microphone, or GPS, which can all trigger a UI indicator for the privacy-aware.”

“Users should be in the habit of keeping their apps up-to-date, installing Apple’s rapid security responses, and running the latest operating system releases.”

“And — it cannot be emphasized enough — users should be vigilant. Don’t click on links from unknown senders. Don’t trust the inbound caller ID for your most sensitive calls. Download apps only from trusted sources, like the official App Store.”

Be cautious but don’t panic — iMore’s take

When it comes to exploits, Apple is one of the best companies in the world at ensuring that its loyal customers are protected. Yes, the concept of enabling Airplane Mode and unknowingly allowing hackers to do whatever they want with your information with unadulterated device access is Mission Impossible levels of terrifying, but there’s no reason to panic yet.

The fact that Jamf has released this information and media outlets are now covering the issue should be a reason to feel calmer. Apple is aware of the exploit and will likely have a resolution sooner rather than later, heck, they may have already fixed this threat. With exploits of your technology, it’s when things are in the dark that they are dangerous, and awareness is your first step to making sure you’re safe.

While the Airplane Mode hack hasn’t been observed in public, you can be extra vigilant by turning your device off when flying this summer, although, as long as you keep updating your Apple products, you’re likely to be fine.

iOS 17 is only a month or so away, and with the next release of iOS, we’ll see many bug and exploit fixes. In the meantime, watch out for anything dodgy and stay savvy. If you keep switched on, you’ll have nothing to worry about.

Apple might be well on its way through the iOS 17 beta program, but iOS 16 is still the latest major release available to the public. But anyone who tries to restore an iPhone today won't be able to install iOS 16.5.1 anymore.

That's after Apple took the decision to stop signing iOS 16.5.1 on its servers, preventing people from installing the update afresh. As a result, iOS 16.6 is now the only version of iOS 16 that can be installed.

That's unlikely to be the current version of the iPhone's software for much longer, of course. We expect Apple to release iOS 17 to the public towards the middle of September — just a few short weeks away.

All about the fixes

Apple routinely stops signing older versions of iOS in an attempt to ensure that people can't install insecure software on their iPhones, whether that's to deliberately open them to attack or not. That could well be the case in this instance, with 9to5Mac noting that iOS 16.6's July 24 release brings with it no fewer than 16 security fixes.

Another bonus of ensuring people are using the latest software is that it allows developers to build apps against the latest APIs and features with greater confidence that people downloading their apps also have access to them.  That will be a bigger deal when iOS 17 arrives next month of course, and it's likely that iOS 16.6 will be one of the last updates before that big release.

The iOS 17 update isn't the only thing to look forward to next month, of course. The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro models are likely to arrive in the same month, as are the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2. It's going to be a big few weeks for Apple device users, with new software also on the way to the Mac, iPad, Apple Watch, and Apple TV hardware.

While all of the attention is understandably on iOS 17 right now, Apple continues to work on new versions of iOS 16, it seems.

The iOS 17 update was announced during the WWDC opening keynote on June 5, but a new report suggests that Apple is getting ready to release something else instead. The iOS 17 that was shown off last week isn't expected to be ready for public consumption until this fall, but that doesn't mean we'll have to wait that long for a new software update.

That's because Apple appears to be testing an iOS 16.5.1 update with unknown changes, and it's likely to arrive within the next few weeks.

Coming soon

That's according to a MacRumors report which is based on iOS 16.5.1 sightings in the website's traffic logs.

Little is known about the update, however. It hasn't been made available for developers to test, and these kinds of updates are normally small ones with few if any, feature changes. Instead, they're more focused on fixing bugs and dealing with security issues, but we'll know for sure once the update arrives and we can read the release notes.

Of much more interest is the iOS 17 beta, of course, something that anyone can now download if they choose to. Apple removed the need to pay $99 to get hold of a developer account for the first time, making the developer beta freely available to all.

The iOS 17 update will bring with it a number of new features including interactive widgets and support for a new Journal app that will prompt people to be more mindful. Apple also promises that it has finally fixed autocorrect, too. Only time will tell if that's the case, but our fingers and toes are crossed.

As Apple gets ready to announce iOS 17 at WWDC 2023 on June 5, the company has now shared details about just how popular its iOS 16 software update has been.

Apple announced iOS 16 during its WWDC 2022 event in June of last year before making it available for download in September. Now, the company has shared details not only of how well iOS 16 is doing in terms of installed user base but also how the iPadOS 16 update is doing as well.

The figures show that both software updates have been well-received, while we can likely expect the figures to increase as the months roll on — Apple isn't expected to release iOS 17, the update that will replace iOS 16, for around three months.

Big big numbers

According to figures posted to the App Store portion of its developer website, Apple says that the iOS 16 update is now installed on 90% of all iPhones that were introduced within the last four years. That number falls to 81% when you look at all iPhones currently in use.

As for the iPad and iPadOS 16, the numbers aren't quite so high but are still impressive. The iPadOS 16 update is installed on 76% of all iPads that were introduced in the last four years. As you'd expect, that figure falls when you look at all active iPads — the figure is 71% in that instance.

Apple says that these figures were "measured by devices that transacted on the App Store on May 30, 2023."

These figures are largely in line with the numbers that iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 managed after a similar amount of time out in the wild, and we can probably expect the same with the new updates next year, too.

All of Apple's software updates will be detailed during the WWDC event next week but none will ship to the public until around September time.

iMore's iOS 16 review calls the platform "a beefy update that shows us the true potential of customization." Though iOS 15 was more about refinement, iOS 16 is a major overhaul of Apple’s mobile operating system, much like iOS 14 before it. 

Apple's iOS 16.6 and iPadOS 16.6 updates -- the still-piping-hot latest version of iOS 16, just pulled from the oven -- are working their way through the beta program ahead of a release to the public. Now, developers can take the second betas for a spin as Apple readies a feature that it first teased back in December of 2022.

That feature is iMessage Contact Key Verification, and it's designed to make iMessage even safer for people to use. Especially those who could be targeted by "extraordinary digital threats," says Apple.

The iOS 16.6 and iPadOS 16.6 updates don't yet have fully functioning versions of iMessage Contact Key Verification, but that could change before the final versions are pushed to the public.

Extraordinary digital threats

As far as new features there doesn't appear to be an awful lot going on inside iOS 16.6 and iPadOS 16.6 right now, but Apple is already getting its ducks in a row for when the updates are made public.

The feature that has already been noticed, iMessage Contact Key Verification, is designed to give people a way to confirm that the person they're talking to via iMessage is actually who they say they are.

"Now with iMessage Contact Key Verification, users who face extraordinary digital threats — such as journalists, human rights activists, and members of government — can choose to further verify that they are messaging only with the people they intend," Apple said last year. "Conversations between users who have enabled iMessage Contact Key Verification receive automatic alerts if an exceptionally advanced adversary, such as a state-sponsored attacker, were ever to succeed breaching cloud servers and inserting their own device to eavesdrop on these encrypted communications." Apple goes on to say that "for even higher security, iMessage Contact Key Verification users can compare a Contact Verification Code in person, on FaceTime, or through another secure call."

We can all agree that the best iPhone is a secure iPhone so features like this are welcome. As for the betas, registered developers can download them now with public beta versions likely to be made available within the next day or so.

If you're restoring your iPhone today there's only one version of iOS for you — iOS 16.5 is now the one version of iOS that you can install.

That news comes after Apple stopped signing iOS 16.4.1, a move which prevents people from installing it afresh on iPhones that are either still running older versions of iOS 16 or are being downgraded from iOS 16.5.

Apple is of course already testing iOS 16.6 with developers as well as those who are on the public beta program, but it isn't yet ready for primetime and is unlikely to be for a little while yet.

iOS 16.5 or the highway

Apple's iOS 16.5 update didn't make a huge number of changes to the way the iPhone worked, although it did add a new Sports tab to the Apple News app as well as add support for starting a screen recording using Siri.

Apple routinely stops signing older versions of iOS for a couple of reasons. One of those is to ensure people aren't installing insecure versions of the iPhone's software, either accidentally or to allow hacks to be employed. The other is to make sure that people are using the latest APIs to allow developers to build apps that take advantage of them.

Of course, iOS 16.5 will soon be old news with Apple expected to announce iOS 17 during the WWDC 2023 event on June 5. The release will likely get its own beta almost immediately following the event, but it won't be made available to the public until in or around September. That's also when we expect Apple to announce the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro lineups as well.

The best iPhone of the year, the iPhone 15 Pro Max, is set to sport the first iPhone camera using periscope lens technology for improved zoom capabilities. The two Pro models are also expected to sport a new titanium construction as well as an Apple Watch Ultra-like Action button.

Apple released iOS 16.5 last week with security fixes that resolve vulnerabilities in the operating system we use daily on our iPhones. But it looks like one of those security fixes is a follow-up to a previously addressed vulnerability back in 2022.

The ColdInvite vulnerability, CVE-2023-27930, according to a report by Jamf “can be exploited to leverage the co-processor in order to obtain read/write privileges to the kernel”

That means that someone malicious enough could've gained control of your iOS device using ColdInvite. Luckily, iOS 16.5 resolves the issues and protects your iPhone. 

Where things get interesting, however, is when you look at older vulnerability fixes dating back to last year in iOS 15.6.1. ColdInvite was discovered because of a vulnerability Apple fixed last year called ColdIntro (CVE-2022-32894). ColdIntro was patched as part of the iOS 15.6.1 update, and analysis from Jamf states that the 15.6.1 update “mitigates a specific way for an attacker to escape a co-processor but does not fix the root cause of the underlying vulnerability.”

In Layman's terms, iOS 15.6.1 fixed the ColdIntro security risk but not why the risk existed, to begin with. That means that Apple has taken nearly a year to find the root cause of the issue and, finally, has helped the iPhone get rid of its cold.

Apple saves the day

Security vulnerabilities are nothing new, but they can be worrying when you look into the nitty gritty details. Luckily, Apple puts security and privacy at the forefront of its ethos, leading to long-term development, like the one here, to solve potential security risks.

With WWDC on June 5 just around the corner. We'll be watching with eager eyes to see what security enhancements iOS 17 brings to the table. It looks like we could see iMessage Contact Key Verification, either in iOS 16.6 or when WWDC comes around.

If you're looking at your iPhone's battery and wondering why it's draining so fast, you aren't alone. Some people report that their devices are suffering particularly badly with the latest updates.

The issues aren't just affecting older iPhones that have been updated to iOS 16, either. Even the best iPhones Apple sells today are affected, with iOS 16.4 being one particularly interesting update.

Some people report that the iOS 16.4a release has been particularly problematic — the "a" represents the first iPhone Rapid Security Response update to be pushed out to users. But oddly, some say that iOS 16.4 was the update that fixed their issues as well.

For better or worse

A search on Twitter suggests that the iOS 16 battery life situation is all over the place. Yahoo reports that some are having particularly bad battery life, although it doesn't link to examples. But we've seen some people complain about iOS 16.4a specifically.

Ultimately, battery life is always something that is difficult to pin down. Big releases like iOS 16 can cause issues initially, especially while iPhones run through a number of housekeeping tasks after a big new update is installed. But most people find that things eventually settle down again.

Other times it's a seemingly innocuous release that causes problems, as might be the case here with iOS 16.4a. However, we would always suggest that people install the latest updates to make sure that they're fully protected against any security issues that have been identified — and that's especially the case when we're talking about Rapid Security Response updates.

If you've recently updated to a new version of iOS and are having issues we'd suggest checking out our collection of tips on how to fix iPhone battery life problems.

If that doesn't help reaching out to Apple might be the only other thing left to try, unfortunately.

While the biggest news in Apple's latest press release was the Pride Apple Watch strap and the Pride Wallpaper for iPhones, there was more news nestled within for the eagle-eyed – a clear release date for iOS 16.5 and WatchOS 9.5. At the bottom of the page, Apple says "The new Pride Celebration watch face and iPhone wallpaper will be available next week, and requires watchOS 9.5 and iOS 16.5." Giving us a good idea of when the next versions of the OS will arrive.

The new version of iOS has been under testing for some time, and now this public release will allow more iPhone users to get going with some of the new features.

More than just a cool wallpaper

The Pride Wallpapers are the first things that are noticeable within the update, and you'll need iOS 16.5 and WatchOS 9.5 for them to even work. They're going to match the new Pride Edition Watch Sport Band that's coming out a little later on May 23.

The next update comes to Siri, and it will allow you to record your screen with a quick voice request you the assistant. Standard screen recording through the control center will still exist, but this will be useful if you don't want to use your hands.

The final update is a new tab in the Apple news App – there's going to be a Sports section. Here you'll find everything you'd want to find in a Sports tab, including news, scores, timetables, and schedules so that you can keep up with the teams that you support in a range of different sports events.

It's not the largest update we've seen for the best iPhones, but the extra features are nice to have. This update is coming just before WWDC 2023, so there may be some even bigger changes coming sooner rather than later.

iOS 16 is one of the most significant software updates for the iPhone in recent years -- which explains why 81% of all iPhones are currently using it, and 90% of all iPhones  introduced within the last four years. Unveiled at Apple's WWDC last year and released Sept. 12, iOS 16 offers a slew of important new features for iPhone users. And although iOS 17 is likely to be announced and offered for developers next week at WWDC 2023, iOS 16 is software most of us should continue using.

Through the magic of iOS 16, iPhone users can customize the Lock Screen to make it as personal as ever, alongside a massive range of widgets to get the most from your device. The latest version, iOS 16.5, offers new features for sports fans and increased versatility for third-party software. Freshly announced in beta, iOS 16.6 offers iMessage Contact Key Verification, and it's designed to make iMessage even safer for people to use. And with other fantastic features like Live Activities and the ability to lift subjects from backgrounds, iOS 16 has proven to be one of the best iPhone updates in recent years.

Here's everything you'll need to know to make the most of the software that powers your iPhone.

iOS 16: Latest beta

iOS 16.6, beta 2

Apple's iOS 16.6 and iPadOS 16.6 updates are working their way through the beta program ahead of a release to the public. Apple unveiled the latest developer preview, iOS 16.6 beta 2, June 1, to let software pros take the newest bits for a spin as Apple readies a feature that it first teased back in December of 2022.

That feature is iMessage Contact Key Verification, and it's designed to make iMessage even safer for people to use. Especially those who could be targeted by "extraordinary digital threats," says Apple.

The iOS 16.6 and iPadOS 16.6 updates don't yet have fully functioning versions of iMessage Contact Key Verification, but that could change before the final versions are pushed to the public.

iOS 16: Current version

iOS 16.5

iOS 16.5 was released March 29, bringing along a handful of minor tweaks to the platform that powers your iPhone: Apple has added a new Sports tab to the News app, moving the content out of the main feed and making it easier to find when you want it.

Next up is the fact that Siri can now start a screen recording for the first time. Just say "Hey ‌Siri‌, start a screen recording," and it'll kick things off. There's not much else new added to the new software, but hey, it was already pretty good, right?

iOS 16.4.1a

Apple released a surprise security patch for the iPhone on Monday, May 1, updating the smartphone's software to iOS 16.4.1a -- but the company offered exactly no other information about the security vulnerability.

The patch is part of a new protocol from the company called Rapid Security Response, and after testing them in the beta update channels, this type of update are now slowly rolling out to devices running iOS 16.4.1, iPadOS 16.4.1, and macOS 13.3.1.

For those unaware, these are much smaller updates that revolve around quashing exploits and vulnerabilities that hackers can try to use to steal your data from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. "They deliver important security improvements between software updates," Apple said in a support article about the patch, and "may also be used to mitigate some security issues more quickly, such as issues that might have been exploited or reported to exist in the wild."

iOS 16.4

iOS 16.4 is the latest software update for iOS 16, released March 27. iOS 16.4 includes new features, such as Always On Display Focus mode options and lots of new emojis to pick from. Two key updates of note: 

Safari Web Push Notifications With iOS 16.4, web apps will now be able to send push notifications to your iPhone. This means that any website you add as a web app to your Home Screen will be able to send push notifications – Adding iMore to your Home Screen would mean you never miss an article again! 

Better precision for Emergency SOS via satellite With iOS 16.4 Emergency SOS via satellite will be more precise with the feature now able to tell you exactly when you’ll be in range to use the emergency feature.

iOS 16: The iMore review

iMore's iOS 16 review calls the platform "a beefy update that shows us the true potential of customization."

Though iOS 15 was more about refinement, iOS 16 is a major overhaul of Apple’s mobile operating system, much like iOS 14 before it. In fact, while we didn’t get more Home Screen customization (boo!) like we did two years ago, Apple has unlocked the potential of the Lock Screen with new customization tools and widgets.

Aside from the headliner feature of Lock Screen customization, iOS 16 also gives us a lot of smaller, quality-of-life improvements across a variety of apps, including Messages and Maps, as well as a new way of showing Notifications, and so much more. Plus, you can easily make stickers out of any photo. Oh, and did we mention that Apple brought back the battery percentage that disappeared with the introduction of iPhones with notches?

It seems that Apple has put a lot of emphasis on what your iPhone can do when it’s not actively in use when it comes to iOS 16, though that’s not exclusive. All of the big and small things in iOS 16 just come together to create a new iOS that makes picking up your iPhone fun again -- and using it is just delightful.

iOS 16: All the new features

New Lock Screen

The biggest change in iOS 16 is to the Lock Screen. For the first time ever, you can now customize your Lock Screen to make it even more personalized.

The Lock Screen in iOS 16 has a multilayered effect so that subjects in photos are set in front of the time on the Lock Screen, giving it a sense of depth. The date and time can also be changed with various typefaces and colors.

Drawing inspiration from Apple Watch complications, you can add informative widgets like calendar events, weather, battery levels, alarms, time zones, Activity Ring progress, and so much more.

The Lock Screen gallery has many different options to choose from, including Pride and Unity, Weather for live weather conditions as they change throughout the day, Astronomy, and more. It's also easy to make your own lock screens with your favorite emojis or colors. Multiple Lock Screens are supported, and you can switch between them with a swipe.

To customize the Lock Screen, you just press and hold on the Lock Screen, tap Customize, and then you're in the lock screen editor.

Focus is improved in iOS 16 by becoming more powerful while being easier to set up and use, plus it now connects to the Lock Screen. With the Lock Screen integration, you can tie a Lock Screen wallpaper and widgets to a specific Focus, and you can activate a Focus just by swiping on that Lock Screen. Focus filters can also display content that's relevant to a user's Focus, so you aren't distracted by the things that aren't important.

Live Activities

Live Activities is one of the most useful features Apple has added to the iPhone in a long time. 

Notifications now roll in from the bottom of the Lock Screen as you get them in real time, giving you a clear view of your personalized Lock Screen. Live Activities is essentially a hybrid between a notification and a widget. For example, the music widget is now a Live Activity that you can interact with. You can also track a run or an Uber right from the Lock Screen. Or, my personal favorite, track your favorite sports as they happen.

Messages

Messages also has some big improvements that many users will find very useful. Users are able to edit or unsend recently sent messages, recover messages that were recently deleted, and mark entire conversations as unread so they can come back to them later.

Additionally, SharePlay is now directly in Messages, so you can enjoy synced content, such as music or movies, with shared playback controls, all while chatting in Messages.

Mail

Like Messages, the Mail app has similar changes. Users of the Mail app can now schedule emails ahead of time and have a moment to cancel the delivery of an email before it reaches a recipient's inbox.

The Mail app will even detect if the user has forgotten to include something important in their message, such as attachments. Another new feature is the ability to resurface a message with Remind Later, and Follow Up can remind you to check up on an email if there has been no response over a few days.

A big overhaul to the Search function in Mail gives you better techniques to find more relevant, accurate, and complete results. Search inquiries bring up recent emails, contacts, documents, and links in a matter of seconds.

SharePlay

While SharePlay is a feature that Apple added in iOS 15, iOS 16 brought some major refinements. There is better integration of SharePlay with FaceTime by having a section that shows all of your SharePlay-enabled apps that are installed on your device. SharePlay is also now integrated into your Messages chats as well.

Dictation

Dictation is a feature that has 18 million uses per month, which is impressive in itself. There are some nice changes in iOS 16 to Dictation.

The keyboard now stays open when dictation is in use, making it easier than ever to move from voice to touch as you go. Punctuation has also been added to longer messages automatically.

Siri

You can now have the ability to run shortcuts as soon as an app is downloaded to your iPhone, without needing an upfront setup.

You can also use Siri to add emojis when sending messages, choose to send messages automatically without confirmation, and hang up your phone and FaceTime calls completely hands-free. This is done by saying "Hey Siri, hang up."

Live Text and Visual Look Up enhancements

New on-device intelligence in iOS 16 means improvements to both Live Text and Visual Look Up, both of which were introduced in iOS 15. Live Text expanded to video in this update, allowing you to pull Live Text from video playback. This can be done by pausing a video on any frame, and you'll be able to interact with Live Text that way. You can even convert currency, translate text, and more.

A new Visual Look Up feature lets you tap and hold on a subject in an image, lift it, and then place it into other apps, such as Messages. Visual Look Up has also been expanded to recognize birds, insects, and statues.

Wallet

The biggest change to the Wallet app in iOS 16 is Apple Pay Later which is likely to release as part of iOS 16.4. With iOS 16.4, you'll be able to split an Apple Pay purchase into four equal payments spread out over six weeks with zero interest and no additional fees.

With this upcoming feature, you can view, track, and replay Apple Pay Later payments right within the Wallet app. Users can apply for Apple Pay Later when they check out with merchants using Apple Pay, or even right in Wallet. Apple Pay Later will be available everywhere that takes Apple Pay and online or in-app.

There is also Apple Pay Order Tracking, which lets you get detailed receipts and you can view order tracking information directly in the Wallet app, as long as Apple Pay was used as the form of payment.

iOS 16 also expanded support for Keys and IDs in Wallet. Users with a digital ID in the Wallet app can use it for apps and in places like bars and restaurants in requiring identity and age verification. Because Apple values private and secure experiences, only the necessary information required for the transaction will be provided in the apps that use it, and users can review and consent to sharing it via Touch ID or Face ID.

There is also the ability to securely share home, hotel, office, and car keys in Wallet through messaging apps, including Apple's own Messages and Mail apps, or third-party options like WhatsApp.

Maps

Maps received a big update in iOS 16 with redesigned maps in 11 new countries, including France, Switzerland, New Zealand, and more. Las Vegas also now supports 3D viewing.

The new Multistop routing feature lets you plan up to 15 stops in advance for your next road trip. You can also automatically sync routes from Mac to iPhone when they're ready to go, and more stops can be added through Siri.

Transit changes include the ability to see fare prices for public transport, so you're never caught off guard again. You can also add transit cards to the Wallet app, see low balances, and replenish transit cards without exiting the Maps app.

Safari

Tab Groups, a feature that was first added in iOS 15, is now able to be shared with friends and family, allowing them to see what others are viewing.

Safari has also added Passkeys, which are meant to be password replacements. These are unique digital keys that are easy to use, more secure, and never stored on a web server.

Passkeys stay on your device, preventing hackers from stealing them and they can't be in a data breach or be surrendered from tricked users. You can use Passkeys with Face ID or Touch ID for verification, and they sync across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV through iCloud Keychain with end-to-end encryption. Passkeys can be used across apps and on websites.

Sports

Sports is easier to follow with iOS 16 in the Apple News app. Live Activities, scores, and Play by Play action are in the Apple TV app. Coverage in Apple News has been enhanced with My Sports, allowing you to follow your teams and leagues, and then collate coverage from different publications, video clips, and more.

Family Sharing

While Family Sharing has remained mostly stagnant for the past few years, this has changed with iOS 16.

It is now easier to make and manage accounts for kids, with improved age-appropriate restrictions per person. The process is streamlined — all you need to do is bring an iPhone near a new iPhone or iPad for set-up, and it'll automatically help you set it up in a kid-safe mode.

Family Checklist provides reminders to look again at restrictions as they age, such as location sharing and more.

iCloud Shared Photo Library

iCloud Shared Photo Library is a separate iCloud library that up to six users can collaborate on, contribute to, and enjoy, giving families a new and better way to share photos seamlessly with one another.

Everyone who is included can get equal permissions for adding, sharing, and deletion of photos. You can choose to share existing photos from your personal Photo Library, or share based on the time photos were taken, a start date, or even the people in the photos. For example, all photos with you and your significant other, as well as your child.

These iCloud Shared Photo Libraries can also have photos shared automatically with a new toggle in the Camera app. There is also the option to get intelligent suggestions to share photos that include participants in the Shared Photo Library. All users that are in a Shared Photo Library have the ability to add, delete, edit, or even favorite. When a photo is favorited, it appears in each user's Memories and Featured Photos.

Privacy

Major changes were added to Privacy in iOS 16 with Safety Check. This is a feature that appears to be a direct answer to the controversy surrounding AirTags and unwanted tracking for people in domestic abusive relationships.

With Safety Check, one can quickly revoke access that was previously granted to others, including location, passwords, and other data. It can reset system privacy permissions for all apps, protect access to all messages, and restrict messages on FaceTime to the device in your hand.

Home

Home has received a hefty update in iOS 16. Apple is going all-in on Matter, with cross-platform support and HomeKit integration. Matter includes Google, Samsung, Phillips Hue, and more.

Despite being Matter, data privacy is all protected. Even Apple can't see how your devices are routed through Matter.

The Home app has also received a fresh new look. You can see all of your devices on one screen, categories at the top for individual groups, like Security and Climate Control, etc. Four cameras can display their feeds at once, and there is support for Lock Screen widgets.

Fitness

Apple has made the Fitness app available to all iPhone users, even if they do not have an Apple Watch. With the Fitness app, users can set a daily Move goal and track their active calories in order to close the Move ring.

This is all done thanks to the motion sensors in the iPhone, which can track steps, distance, flights climbed, and workouts from third-party apps. When using workout data from third-party apps, it will be converted into an active calorie estimation for the Move goal. Users can also share the Move ring data with friends for even more motivation.

Health

Medications are now available in the Health app, so users can build and manage a medications list, create schedules and reminders, and track medications, vitamins, and supplements.

For U.S. users, you can point your iPhone camera at a label to add a medication. This can also get information about a medication, and get an alert if there is a potential critical interaction with other medications. This information can also be shared with others, and a PDF of health records from connected institutions can all be done in the Health app.

CarPlay

The next iteration of CarPlay aims to help change the way people interact with their vehicles, according to Apple. With this new generation of CarPlay, it deeply integrates with car hardware.

Soon, this next generation of CarPlay will be able to provide content for multiple screens within the vehicle, providing a sense of unification and consistency. You can control the radio or change the climate through CarPlay itself. And by using vehicle data, CarPlay can show speed, fuel level, temperature, and more on the instrument cluster.

Personalization has also come to CarPlay by giving users the option to choose different gauge cluster designs and added support for widgets. This means an at-a-glance information panel from Weather and Music, right on the car dashboard.

These new CarPlay features will be supported in Ford, Jaguar, Nissan, Volvo, Land Rover, to name a few. 

Compatibility

Apple has dropped support for some older devices for iOS 16. Here is the full list of devices able to run the latest software.

• iPhone 14 Pro Max
• iPhone 14 Pro
• iPhone 14 Plus
• iPhone 14 
• iPhone 13 Pro Max
• iPhone 13 Pro
• iPhone 13
• iPhone 13 mini
• iPhone 12 Pro Max
• iPhone 12 Pro
• iPhone 12
• iPhone 12 mini
• iPhone SE (2020)
• iPhone 11 Pro Max
• iPhone 11 Pro
• iPhone 11
• iPhone XR
• iPhone XS Max
• iPhone XS
• iPhone X
• iPhone 8 Plus
• iPhone 8

iOS 16 tips and tricks

How to customize your iOS 16 Lock Screen

iOS 16's biggest improvement is in Lock Screen customization. Now, you can fully customize your device to make the most of your Lock Screen, something iPhone users have wanted for a long time!

How to use Live Activities on your iPhone

Get the most from Live Activities, including the ability to follow Uber rides, sports scores, and timers.

How to lift a subject from a photo on iOS

Lifting a subject from a photo is a quick and easy tool to create custom stickers on the fly. If you've got a pet, this could end up being your most used iOS 16 feature.

How to use My Sports

For sports fans, iOS 16 is a must. With My Sports, you can track all your favorite teams and athletes to never miss an event. This feature is even better if you own an iPhone 14 Pro to make use of Dynamic Island. 

How to turn off the Always On Display on iOS 16

The Always On Display on iPhone 14 Pro is one of the best features on the newest iPhone. However, there are options to customize the way your device displays the Always On Display including an option to only show the time and widgets. 

How to easily find a Wi-Fi password in iOS 16

Any feature that helps with finding your Wi-Fi password quicker is a welcome one. iOS 16 makes finding your Wi-Fi password on iPhone easier than ever before.

How to Unsend and Edit messages on iOS 16

Never make a mistake on iMessage again with the ability to edit and unsend messages on iPhones running iOS 16.

How to delete multiple contacts on iPhone

Ever wanted to delete multiple contacts at once? iOS 16 makes it far easier to manage your ever-growing contacts list.

iOS 17: What will the new software bring?

In 2023, we can be absolutely certain that Apple will release a new iteration of its iPhone software in the form of iOS 17 to accompany the newest smartphone, the iPhone 15. In fact, if you look around the web, you can already see iOS 17 showing up in data analytics -- which means that somewhere inside a bunker in Apple Park, the company is testing its next best thing for iPhone. 

And good news! The iOS 17 release is fast approaching. Apple will hold its annual Worldwide Developer Conference from June 5 to June 9, with a special in-person event on the opening day where it will unveil iOS 17. 

Beta access should start on that same day, but iOS 17 won't be rolled out to regular users until later in the year, likely in September, alongside the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro. Last year, iOS 16 was released to the public on September 12. A good guess for 2023 would be a very similar timeline.

There's still a lot of mystery surrounding the features that we're likely to see in iOS 17. According to Mark Gurman, iOS 17 was meant to focus on bug fixes and optimizations. Those plans have apparently changed, and we're now likely to see major new features added to the upcoming iOS release:

Sideloading third-party apps  European iPhone users are likely to get access to sideloading third-party apps like the Alt Store in iOS 17. The European legislation requires Apple to open the operating system to third-party applications starting in 2024, so it would make sense to see these shackles unlocked in iOS 17. 

VR Reality Pro Headset support  With the rumors surrounding Apple's new VR headset ramping up, it's likely that iOS 17 will implement integration between Apple's newest device and its most beloved one. Who knows what this could look like, but expect at least Handoff functionality. 

Third-party browsers unleashed
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has also claimed that Apple could remove the requirement for third-party web browsers to use WebKit, the browser engine that powers Safari. This could mean using Google Chrome on iOS 17 would be similar to its desktop counterpart rather than living in the shadows of mobile Safari. 

In an announcement yesterday, Google joined other industry giants in its new support for the Passkey standard. Calling the move 'the beginning of the end of the password', Google goes on to talk about the benefits of the Passkey system.

It's now a year since Microsoft, Google, Apple, and the FIDO Alliance got together to announce they would work together to support Passkeys on their own platforms, in an effort to make an 'easier and more secure alternative to passwords.' Only days before world password day, Google looks to end the password once and for all – no more password123 for Grandma.

What is a Passkey?

A passkey is a 'new way to sign into websites.' They're designed to be easier to use and more secure than a normal, typed-out password, instead, using the same inputs that you might use to unlock your devices. That includes fingerprints, face scans, or lock screen pins and patterns. These are more resistant to 'online attacks like phishing, making them more secure than things like SMS one-time codes' says Google.

Passkey support has been on iOS for some time now, coming in iOS 16. It's also now baked into the latest version of iPadOS, as well as MacOS Ventura. Google has already brought the update to its Chrome and Android systems, but now it's bringing it to Google account users as well.

You'll need to set it up on the Google Passkeys website, where you'll be talked through the process. Passwords and 2-factor authentication will still work for now, as Google says 'the change to Passkeys will take time.' After all, the process is still very new for such a massive part of Google's business, and users may also need some time to get used to it. This is a massive step in making the internet a safer space to browse, and any efforts to make it such should be applauded.

Apple's beta program for iOS 16.5, iPadOS 16.5, macOS 13.4, watchOS 9.5, and tvOS 16.5 continues with new versions of them all now available for download.

It's now likely only a matter of weeks before the updates are all released to the public, but those who are registered developers or are on the public beta can download these releases today.

As has become the norm of late there aren't any big changes this time around, although that doesn't mean that there are no changes whatsoever. Let's dive in.

iOS 16.5 & iPadOS 16.5

While not a huge change, iOS 16.5 does include a new wallpaper section for LGBTQ+ wallpapers under the Pride banner. There are no new wallpapers as such, but the previous Pride wallpaper is present and correct. Now it's just under a new heading which suggests that there are more wallpapers en route.

Nothing new has been spotted so far but previous changes remain. They include a new Sports tab in the Apple News app as well as the ability to begin a screen recording using Siri for the first time.

Apple is unlikely to make too many changes to iOS 16.5 from here on out as it gets ready for iOS 17 and the iPhone 15 lineup. That model and Apple's future best iPhone the iPhone 15 Pro are likely to be announced in September.

macOS 13.4

There's nothing big to talk about in terms of macOS 13.4 and the only real change we've come across in any of the previous betas is the removal of the need for profiles when accessing beta releases.

Just like Apple's other platforms, macOS now allows people to sign in using their Apple ID and access any betas they're eligible for without any additional work.

watchOS 9.5

It's a similar story on the Apple Watch with watchOS 9.5 seemingly only doing one thing — ditching the developer beta profiles entirely.

The result is that people will again need to be signed in using a beta-worthy Apple ID in order to download betas in the future, stopping people from getting their hands on them when they shouldn't.

Installing betas on Apple watches has always been a risky business because downgrading is simply impossible. Anything that stops people from installing betas when they could cause themselves problems is probably a good thing.

tvOS 16.5

Apple isn't often very forthcoming when it comes to sharing details about tvOS updates. In terms of beta 4 there doesn't appear to be much going on that's new, but the earlier betas did add support for watching multiple sports streams at the same time.

That's a huge deal, with MLS and MLB watchers likely already licking their lips at the thought of the Apple TV app showing them multiple games all at once.

Realistically, it's tvOS 17 where the biggest new features are likely to come from.

What comes next?

The expectation is that Apple won't make many more changes to its current software while it works on getting iOS 17, iPadOS 17, macOS 14, watchOS 10, and tvOS 17 ready for WWDC23 in June.

With that in mind, it's likely that we should expect things to quieten down from here on out, with all the real fun being in the post-WWDC betas.

If Apple follows its previous schedule we can expect developers to be given the first betas of the new software immediately following the June 5 WWDC keynote. A few weeks later Apple will likely make the public beta versions available, with the final releases set to happen in or around September. Just when those new iPhones and refreshed Apple Watches are likely to drop as well.

It's taken a lot longer than many would have liked but the Uber Eats is finally going to support an iOS 16 feature that's been around since late 2022.

While the Uber app already supports Live Activities as well as the iPhone 14 Pro's Dynamic Island, it's only now that the Uber Eats app is getting in on the act. Live Activities support was already available to a limited number of testers, but the feature is now rolling out to anyone who wants to use it.

The new feature will reportedly become available to everyone over the next week or so, but you'll need to have the latest version of the Uber Eats app installed from the App Store in order to use it.

Better late than never

Live Activities support will mean that people will see real-time tracking and updating of their order, doing away with the need for the app to send multiple push notifications throughout the course of the order — a new one arriving whenever something changes.

All iOS 16-compatible iPhones will be able to use the Live Activities portion of the feature, while those who have Apple's best iPhones will also see Uber Eats make use of the Dynamic Island for the first time. Those iPhone 14 Pro owners who also have their Always-On Display enabled will see their Live Activity at all time as well.

In the case of the Uber Eats app, MacRumors reports that users can expect to see information like the driver's name, their photo, their expected time of arrival, and more.

More and more apps are now taking advantage of Live Activities, although it isn't clear why it's taken so long.

If you aren't yet seeing the updated order tracking system, hang fire. Hopefully the next time you place an order you'll be treated to Live Activities support as well.

Apple released a surprise security patch for the iPhone on Monday, updating the smartphone's software to iOS 16.4.1a -- but the company offered exactly no other information about the security vulnerability.

The patch is part of a new protocol from the company called Rapid Security Response, and after testing them in the beta update channels, this type of update are now slowly rolling out to devices running iOS 16.4.1, iPadOS 16.4.1, and macOS 13.3.1.

For those unaware, these are much smaller updates that revolve around quashing exploits and vulnerabilities that hackers can try to use to steal your data from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. "They deliver important security improvements between software updates," Apple said in a support article about the patch, and "may also be used to mitigate some security issues more quickly, such as issues that might have been exploited or reported to exist in the wild."

Apple did not immediately reply to iMore requests for more information about the security hole.

Previously, these sorts of security risks would have been part of bigger or minor software updates, but since these exploits need to be fixed quickly, this method is a much faster way of protecting your device.

If it hasn't appeared as a pop-up, go to Settings > General > Software Update > Automatic Updates on your iPhone or iPad, and make sure it's switched on. The update should then start to download and install.

If you're on a Mac, go to the Apple menu () > System Settings > Click General in the sidebar, then click Software Update to the right.

You should see the same Rapid Response Update as iPhone and iPad, ready to download and install as well.

What did this update fix?

Even though the Rapid Response Update is available to download with a link to this Apple Support page, it doesn't list the fixes that this update entails.

However, security fixes are usually listed on this page, so it may be a matter of Apple updating this page soon with what 16.4.1(a) fixes.

On the iMore team, we've all updated our devices with this update and reached out to Apple for comment as to what it's actually responded to.

Faster is always better

First announced last year, Rapid Response updates have been in testing ever since iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS 13 Ventura were all released in beta for developers back in June 2022, and work has carried on ever since.

It seems as though Apple wanted to get this part right for all of its users, as it's obviously an important feature to download and install correctly every time a new exploit has been discovered.

This makes sense, especially when there are hundreds of millions of Apple devices out there. And with WWDC 2023 not too far away, there's inevitably going to be new betas for iOS 17, macOS 14 and everything else announced very soon. 

But while this arguably could have been rolled out years ago, it's good that Rapid Response is finally here for your devices. It will save time in downloading a huge update such as iOS 16.2 that brought new features and bug fixes for example, and will also save on your data usage when connected to cellular data or a Wi-Fi service.

Apple continues to work its way through the latest round of betas as it gets ready to ship updated iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV software to the public.

New versions of iOS 16.5, iPadOS 16.5, macOS 13.4, watchOS 9.5, and tvOS 16.5 are all in the works and the third beta is now available for download so long as you're a registered Apple developer or are on the public beta program.

It's looking increasingly unlikely that these updates will bring any big new features to the table when they finally ship to the world, but that doesn't mean that there aren't at least a couple of things to discuss.

iOS 16.5 & iPadOS 16.5

There haven't been any big new changes in this latest beta which means you're still left with what we already knew. That includes the fact that iOS 16.5 allows us to use Siri to start screen recordings for the first time while a new Sports tab has been added to the Apple News app.

That is to say that we shouldn't expect anything big in future betas either. Apple will soon turn its attention to iOS 17, which is sure to be the software that will run the best iPhone Apple has ever shipped when the iPhone 15 Pro arrives later in 2023.

Over in the iPad world, iPadOS 16.5 doesn't bring anything new to the tablet table although the iOS 16.5 changes should also apply. 

macOS 13.4

Installing a macOS beta will change with macOS 13.5 it seems. The betas include the same improved beta management system that we already have on the iPhone and iPad, meaning no more profiles.

With macOS 13.5 installed users will need to be signed into an Apple ID that's associated with a developer account or the public beta program in order to install betas in the future.

This is a big change and means that people won't be able to install betas if they shouldn't have access to them. Previously, websites hosted developer profiles that could allow people to install betas at will.

watchOS 9.5

It's a similar story in watchOS 9.5 as well, with Apple beginning to lay the groundwork for the ditching of beta profiles.

That's a particularly wise move on the Apple Watch. With the Apple Watch unable to be downgraded, those who find themselves with a wearable that's broken because of a beta release have to send it to Apple for repair. That isn't something Apple wants people to get involved in if they don't have a valid reason to be using the betas in the first place.

tvOS 16.5

When it comes to tvOS updates Apple is notoriously difficult to read. There are often no release notes, although big changes are unlikely regardless.

In the case of tvOS 16.5, Apple's release notes say that a shared administrator in a home can now pair and add Matter accessories, which is nice. How many people will bump into that is unclear, but that's what the release notes say.

Beyond that, we haven't heard of anything new in this latest beta.

What's next?

We shouldn't expect too many changes to these betas as they get ready for public release and Apple is unlikely to add too many features to any of these updates in the future, either. With WWDC23 just around the corner, Apple is already keen to get iOS 17, iPadOS 17, macOS 14, watchOS 10, and tvOS 17 into the hands of beta testers. And that's when the real fun starts.

Apple has reportedly added a new capability to iOS 16 that could limit some features from working or being visible at all depending on the geographic location of the iPhone.

The change was apparently added as part of the iOS 16.2 update but there's been no mention of it to date. However, a new report says that the release stealthily added the feature that will look at multiple kinds of location-identifying data.

While Apple already limits access to some features in some countries, this could give the company more power. It could also mean that features could be removed from iPhones when they visit another country — one example could include losing access to FaceTime or VPN connectivity when visiting parts of the world where they are not allowed, for example.

Access denied

This is all according to a new 9to5Mac report that mentions a new system that Apple calls 'countryd'. It reports that while countryd has not been actively used so far it will be able to combine information including a GPS location and even information gleaned from a SIM card or the Wi-Fi network that a device has been connected to.

Apple normally limits features based on the country that a device is sold in. That means that people can often get around those restrictions by buying iPhones from elsewhere and importing them. This new countryd feature could prevent that, allowing Apple to block features on any device once it is used in specific countries.

If this is accurate there will seemingly be no way to bypass these locks. Even the best iPhone will be at the mercy of countryd.

As for why this could be implemented, it's suggested that Apple could be getting ready to allow third-party app stores as part of the iOS 17 release later this year. That will be at the behest of new EU laws and it's possible Apple could want to only allow third-party app stores in EU countries, something made easier with this kind of feature lockout capability.

Freeform is Apple’s collaborative visual planning tool that helps you get a grasp on projects and share them with others to help get things done.

If the Freeform app’s overwhelming amount of blank space puts you off, fret not, iMore is here to guide you through the basics of how to and why you should use Apple’s latest brainstorming app.

The perfect planner

Using Freeform to get started with your project, like planning your summer vacation, gives you an ever-evolving canvas to keep track of what you want to achieve. With the ability to add visual media into your planning mix, the app has the potential to become the snapshot of your life that reminds you to keep on top of your personal and professional goals rather than give up as soon as you’ve written them down. As you continue to fill in your board, the ability to make Freeform whatever you want it to be is unlocked – the real magic of the app.

Getting started

Launching Freeform’s expansive canvas for the first time allows you to combine different tools and objects to bring your ideas to life.

1. Tap the new page icon in the top right corner to create a new board

If you’ve used Apple Notes before, the layout will feel familiar. From shapes to images, audio clips to videos, the menu gives you access to everything you need to plan your project.

Add a sticky note

1. Tap the square note icon
2. Double-tap to enter text
3. Single-tap brings up formatting options, including colors and styles

Add shapes

1. Tap the shape icon and choose a shape
2. Single tap the shape to reveal formatting tools. For example, you can edit line start and end points by tapping

Get drawing

1. Tap the markup icon
2. Select a drawing tool
3. Use your finger on iOS or Apple Pencil on iPad to annotate and draw

It’s worth adding that Mac users cannot draw or handwrite directly in Freeform, although you can drag and drop files from Finder as you please.

Insert media

1. Tap the image icon
2. Freeform allows users to insert from the Files app, add links, scan documents, and add photos or videos

Let’s collaborate

The real power of Freeform comes in the shape of collaboration, where you can edit in real time alongside up to 99 other collaborators.

1. Tap the share icon
2. Select who you want to invite
3. Click Send. It’s as simple as 1,2,3

Once the person has accepted your invitation, a couple of options appear within the app, including the ability to manage your shared board. In addition, if you need to chat about what to get done and how to do it, Apple makes having a call while you collaborate seamless by adding FaceTime video boxes to the corner of your Freeform workspace.

1. Tap the collaborator’s icon on the top menu
2. Tap Video
3. Tap Call

By tapping Manage Shared Board, you can edit your share options, including the ability to change permissions and remove user access.

Endless possibilities

There are tonnes of planning and collaboration apps out there on the App Store. What sets Apple’s Freeform apart is the accessibility to everyone that buys an iPhone, whether it’s the best iPhone on the market or an iPhone SE. Freeform makes it easy to collaborate as you please and can be used for anything, from planning your New Year’s resolutions to that new business you’ve had on your mind for a while – the use cases are endless.

YouTube consumes hours of our daily lives with its easy-to-consume content and endless variety to cater to all hobbies and interests. YouTube Premium, its subscription service, brings enhanced features, such as removing ads within the content, iOS Shareplay, and the ability on iPhone to listen to audio with the app closed.

The caveat with YouTube Premium is that it costs $11.99 a month, nearly twice the price of Apple TV Plus, just to access extra features on the same content you’d consume anyway. One of the biggest reasons for subscribing to YouTube Premium on iOS is to listen to audio like podcasts and music in the background while using other applications or having your phone in your pocket. Luckily, there’s a way to do this without subscribing to YouTube Premium: Here’s how.

How to listen to YouTube in the background on iOS without YouTube Premium

1. Head to YouTube

Open Safari and go to youtube.com to find the video you want to play in the background. For this tutorial, I’ve chosen the 90s Lofi chillout playlist as I find it really helps with concentrating during work.

2. Request desktop site

Tap the aA button next to the URL bar in Safari and tap Request Desktop Website from the menu bar.

3. Play the video and lock your screen

Tap play to start your video playback. You’ll need to watch a couple of adverts before your video fully loads up. Once the video has started to play, lock your iPhone or swipe with your multitasking gesture to choose another application.

The video will pause, but you can then tap play and get all the benefits of background YouTube listening without forking out for a YouTube Premium subscription.

This hack works, but YouTube Premium is worth it

I’m a massive YouTube user. In fact, it’s probably my most used media application across all my devices, and an unfortunate part of what my doctor tells me is an unhealthy bedtime routine. I subscribe to YouTube Premium because it feels genuinely worth it for someone who uses the platform excessively. 

Yes, you can use this hack for audio listening in the background, but YouTube has held back several useful benefits behind the subscription paywall. Picture-in-picture is the first feature that springs to mind – and one that I use on my iPad daily. Additionally, YouTube Premium lets me download videos for offline play, which is very useful for transport, especially if your commute has terrible service. 

Last week, YouTube announced that iOS Shareplay was coming to the platform. As expected, it was another paywalled feature despite most iOS applications offering the ability to share media over FaceTime for free. I love YouTube Premium for streamlining my life, but I disagree with this constant paywall of basic features for the world’s most used streaming service. If adding another subscription to your monthly outgoings sounds ridiculous, try out this quick tip to get some of YouTube Premium’s features without the added price tag.

iOS 16 hasn't been the smoothest one of the lot, and we're now nearing the end of the update cycle on it. Apple recently pushed out iOS 16.4.1, with a few bug fixes, and the update is now seeding out to iPhones all over the world. Following the update, Apple has stopped signing the older iOS 16.3.1.

At the time of writing, iOS 16.4, and iOS 16.5 beta is still available for downgrade, but iOS 16.3.1 has become the latest software version that Apple has stopped signing. Apple is known to stop signing older versions of iOS as newer ones are released.

iOS 16.4.1 is now available

iOS 16.4.1 is now available, making it the latest iOS 16 version. The official changelog doesn't list too many changes.

"This update provides important bug fixes and security updates for your iPhone including:

Pushing hands emoji does not show skin tone variations
Siri does not respond in some cases"

This update follows iOS 16.4, which brought in a bunch of features, including new emojis, Safari web push notifications, HomeKit architecture upgrade, improved precision for Emergency SOS via satellite, and more. iOS 16.4.1 is a much smaller iterative upgrade. iOS 16.4 remains available for downgrade, just in case you don't like iOS 16.4.1 post update.

iOS 16.3.1 will be unavailable for downgrade henceforth, however. Apple has also stopped signing iPadOS 16.3.1, tvOS 16.3.2, and audioOS 16.3.2.

iOS 16.4.1 is likely to be unsigned soon as well. Apple had also recently delivered iOS Security Response 16.4 (a) as a part of its new Rapid Security Response program. That one, however, is likely to have been another test. There was a kernel-level security exploit that seems to be fixed with iOS 16.4.1.

Users can still downgrade from iOS 16 to iOS 15, however, as the company continues to provide security patches to iOS 15.7.

Apple releases plenty of software updates. It's one of the things that we like about the iPhone in particular — Apple is always adding new features and fixing bugs. But sometimes it introduces whole new ones in the process, and that's less than ideal.

I've historically told people to install the new hotness immediately. Whether it's an update to iOS 16 or macOS Ventura, or indeed any other Apple operating system, my stance has always been to install the updates immediately. Who doesn't want more features and fewer bugs?

But with Apple's software quality assurance maybe taking a hit, I'm starting to rethink that. I'm thinking, maybe, it's time that someone else found the bugs instead.

We've been here before

Apple's software quality is something of a hot topic for some, although not quite as blazing-hot as it once was.

There was once a time when you couldn't open a podcast app without someone waxing lyrical about how Apple had dropped the ball in some way or another. Focusing on the iPhone so much meant the Mac suffered, and there's an argument that some of the macOS Ventura goings-on suggest things are as bad as ever — does your Mac tell you there's a new app or service running on every restart?

But things aren't much better over in iOS land anymore, either. Things are breaking and strange decisions are being made. But I can cope with opinionated software development not necessarily agreeing with my opinion. What I don't like is introducing bugs for pretty vital bits of software.

New iOS and macOS problems

Apple's latest round of updates has been problematic.

For example, people running macOS Ventura 13.3 and iPadOS 16.4 report that they can't make Continuity work anymore. Universal Control is a mess right now, while other Continuity-based features are also dead in the water. Copying something on a Mac and having it appear on another device when you paste is the thing of magic. But it doesn't work anymore. It just, doesn't.

The same goes for Handoff in general and it's just bad. These are features that have worked for months or longer. And now they don't, presumably because some service deep inside macOS is broken.

Yes, these things can happen. But we should expect better. We should expect software updates not to break things that were working before. The first rule of software updates should be that they leave devices in a better state than before they were installed. And that isn't what we're seeing.

The Home app has gone backward in iOS 16.4, too. People say their accessories don't work, or work intermittently which might be even more infuriating. Apple has had problems with HomeKit before, and a new architecture seems to be causing problems all over again after it was pulled from iOS 16.2 for similar issues.

We can hopefully expect these issues to be fixed in the next release, whenever that will arrive. 

The solution? Don't update

So what do we do about all this?

Unfortunately, the only thing we can do is stop installing updates immediately, mistakenly believing that they will make things better. Maybe we take a week or two to see what's going on and how other people fare. If things are great, great! If not, hang fire instead.

But that right there is another problem, this time for Apple. Because it sometimes rolls out important security fixes that people need to install. And anything that stops them from doing that is a problem. Yes, Apple's Rapid Security Response system might fix that, separating security fixes from the main iOS updates. But people still need to approve them. And will they do that if the trust is gone? And who feels brave enough to leave automatic updates enabled? Not me.

I used to say that the best iPhone was an updated iPhone. The same went for iPads, Macs, Apple Watches, and Apple TVs. But now?

Now I just say that the best device is the one that works like it did yesterday.

You'd usually hope that software updates would improve the workings of your device, but it looks like the latest version of iOS, 16.4, does just the opposite. Users report that battery life has worsened after the update, and the phenomenon has been tested and subsequently confirmed by the Youtube channel iAppleBytes. If you're still yet to receive the update, then it looks like you may want to hold off for now.

The update was released on March 27th, and the devices affected seem to be the iPhone 13, 12, 11, and XR. 

Battery life says 'toodle pip'

iOS 16, when it was released, solved one of the biggest problems plaguing iPhones for a long time – battery drain. Across the board, battery life improved on a range of devices, some old, and some new. Now, however, what was supposed to be a savior for the longevity of your iPhone has become something of a villain, in some cases absolutely decimating battery life.

Tested by iAppleBytes using Geekbench, the channel discovered that battery life in the tested iPhones had dropped by significant margins. The iPhone 13's score, for example, dropped by 11%, and the iPhone 12 dropped by 12%. That's a lot of battery life missing in a device that's supposed to last all day.

Anecdotally, some of the iMore team have noticed the battery life of some of the newest iPhones dropping. The iPhone 14 Pro Max that I use no longer holds on to its juice for anywhere near as long as it used to, and other members of the team have noticed the same for other iPhone 14 models. Whatever happens, this isn't a great update for the best iPhones, and it goes without saying that if you haven't updated yet then it's worth not hitting the 'update' button until Apple has fixed the issue.

With the iPhone 15 just around the corner, the chances are you've never been involved in more iMessage group chats than you have right now. With more and more of your friends piling on board, there's no doubt you're probably in too many group chats. 

Group chat fatigue is real, especially when you consider that there are so many messaging apps most people are now involved in. iOS 17 brings some cool changes and new features to messaging, but thankfully leaving a group chat hasn't changed, so it won't be any different in September when the new iPhones roll around. Here's how to leave a group chat in the Messages app on your iPhone. 

We’ll also show you how to mute notifications if you don’t want to be rude but want some peace and quiet for a little while. 

How to leave a group chat on iPhone

1. Open the conversation you want to leave in the Messages app
2. Tap the members icon at the top of the chat
3. Tap Leave this Conversation
4. Tap Leave this Conversation again to confirm

It’s as simple as that, be gone pesky notifications! But, of course, if you would rather mute the conversation so you can return to it later, there’s an easy way to mute messages too.

How to mute notifications from group chats on iPhone

1. Open the conversation you want to leave in the Messages app
2. Tap the member icons at the top of the chat
3. Toggle on Hide Alerts
4. Alternatively, swipe left on a chat in the Messages app and tap the purple mute box.

Silence is golden

After you mute your first group chat, you’ll wonder why you haven’t done it sooner. A few months ago, I had a cathartic experience where I left obsolete group chats and muted others to tidy up my Messages app. Now, iMessage doesn’t feel like it’s bogging down my device, and I also saved some storage by leaving the content-heavy chats.

The best iPhones are those you’re in control of, not those that clog up your social life. So start the spring clean by leaving group chats in iMessage that are no longer active or you no longer want to be a part of, and start appreciating your conversations with the people you care about more.

iMessage even has ways to play games with your friends on iOS 16, and I’ve found that by removing many unwanted chats, I can now focus on what matters most - beating my friends at 8 ball pool.

The public beta program of iOS 16.5 has been underway since March, begin only a few days after the launch of iOS 16.4. The latest version of iOS 16 -- that's iOS 16.5 beta 4 -- brings only a handful of new features to the OS, since Apple is likely saving the good stuff for iOS 17 and WWDC 2023.

With the release of the developer beta, new features in iOS 16.5 that will make sports fans very happy have been revealed. We're going to give you a rundown of everything you need to know for when iOS 16.5 officially releases in the next few months.

iOS 16.5 beta timeline

May 3: beta 4 of iOS 16.5 was released.

While not a huge change, iOS 16.5 does include a new wallpaper section for LGBTQ+ wallpapers under the Pride banner. There are no new wallpapers as such, but the previous Pride wallpaper is present and correct. Now it's just under a new heading which suggests that there are more wallpapers en route.

April 26: Beta 3 of iOS 16.5 was released. No major changes announced or detected.

April 12: Public beta version 2 of iOS 16.5 was released, two weeks after the first public betas.

March 28: First public beta of iOS 16.5 was released.

New Features in iOS 16.5

Sports Tab in Apple News app

Apple has been making strides in the sporting world recently, including the return of MLB in April. With iOS 16.5, My Sports in the News app will get even better with the much-requested move of the Sports Tab to the bottom of the application. 

The Sports Tab now sits right in the middle of the News app giving sports fans a quick way to access their sports news and results without having to scroll through the Today feed. 

This change comes as Apple looks to build its stature in the sporting world with the increase of sports in Apple TV, including MLS Season Pass.

Quad picture-in-picture for Apple TV sports

The iOS 16.5 developer code also hints at a new quad picture-in-picture mode for Apple TV that will allow viewers to watch multiple sports streams at once. Hopefully, this means that you don't have to choose between MLS or Friday Night Baseball if both are on at the same time.

First spotted by Steve Moser, the iOS 16.5 beta 1 code shows a "multi-view" grid with the option to add up to four streams simultaneously. 

Screen recording via Siri

Now users who want to voice activate screen recording on iPhone can do so with Siri in iOS 16.5. Just say, "Hey Siri, start screen recording," and your smart assistant will activate screen recording on your iPhone.

More to come

More bug fixes and features will be revealed as more information and betas release in the build-up to the official release of iOS 16.5 later this year.

How to install iOS 16.5 beta

For iPhone users who want to try out iOS 16.5 before its official release, you'll have to wait a while longer before you can download and install the iOS 16.5 public beta. When the public beta does release, here's how to install it. 

Note: The iOS 16.5 beta isn’t intended to be installed on your primary device as there are likely to be performance issues and bugs.

1. Make a backup of your iPhone
2. Open Settings
3. Tap General
4. Tap Software Update
5. Tap Download and Install on the iOS 16.5 update

We're already on the third round of beta updates!

Today, Apple released the third public betas of iOS 16.4, iPadOS 16.4, macOS Ventura 13.3, watchOS 9.4, and tvOS 16.4. Despite the first and second betas coming with a number of new features, the third public beta doesn't add much to the range of features but instead addresses bugs and performance issues.

That said, there's a lot coming with iOS 16.4, iPadOS 16.4, macOS Ventura 13.3, watchOS 9.4, and tvOS 16.4, so let's go over everything users can expect so far when the update comes to all users.

New emojis!

You can't go wrong when a new software update includes new emojis, and iOS 16.4 includes fifteen of them. 

As reported by MacRumors, the new emoji characters being added include a "shaking head, pink heart, blue heart, gray heart, donkey, moose, black bird, goose, wing, jellyfish, hyacinth, pea pod, ginger, fan, comb, flute, maracas, and a number of left and right facing hand options."

Safari Web Push Notifications

This is an interesting one. With iOS 16.4 and iPadOS 16.4, web apps will be able to send push notifications to your iPhone and iPad.

The push notifications functionality will only be unlocked for websites that are added as a web app to your Home Screen, so don't worry about getting spammed push notifications from Safari all day long.

Even cooler, you'll be able to manage push notifications from web apps added to your Home Screen through the Notifications section in the Settings app right along with the rest of your full-fledged apps. Those apps will also now be integrated into your Focus modes and support alert badges like regular apps.

Apple is also adding the ability to add websites to the Home Screen from third-party browsers like Chrome and Firefox on the iPhone and iPad.

HomeKit architecture upgrade

iOS 16.4, iPadOS 16.4, and ‌macOS Ventura‌ 13.3 will also re-release the upgrade to HomeKit's architecture. 

Apple had previously released the update back when iOS 16.2 was released back in December 2022, but quickly pulled it due to a number of bugs affected users who had opted to upgrade to the new architecture.

It appears that Apple has resolved those issues and is ready to give it another go. I'd maybe wait to see how others fare once this is live to ensure you don't run into any issues, but if you're adventurous, go for it!

More precise availability for Emergency SOS via satellite

Apple launched Emergency SOS via satellite back in November for the iPhone 14 lineup. With iOS 16.4, the company is going to be more precise about satellite availability when users need to use the feature.

As noted below by MacRumors, the feature will now tell you exactly when you'll be in range of the next satellite to use the emergency communication feature:

• Next Satellite Available in [x]Hour(s) and [x]Minute(s)
• Next Satellite Available in [x]Hour(s)
• Next Satellite Available in [x]Minute(s)
• Next Satellite Available in Less Than 1 Minute

Apple Pay is coming to South Korea

The code in the second iOS 16.4 developer beta appears to confirm that Apple Pay will be launching in South Korea. It appears that the beta now refers to debit and credit card holders in the country being able to set up their cards with the digital payment service.

The news isn't surprising here. Hyundai already revealed earlier this month that it would be supporting Apple Pay for its credit card in the country. In a statement, the company said that "we look forward to collaborating with Apple to introduce Apple Pay to South Korea...We will share more details in the coming months."

So, it appears that iOS 16.4 could launch the service in the country.

Page turns are coming back to Apple Books

The second developer beta of iOS 16.4 and iPadOS 16.4 is bringing back the traditional page-turning animation for the Apple Books app. Apple removed the traditional "curl" animation when it launched iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 back in the fall of 2022, and many readers were upset.

Thankfully, Apple appears to be bringing the animation back with iOS 16.4 and iPadOS 16.4. Apple Books users will now be able to choose between "curl," "slide," and "none" for how they make their way through a book in the app.

Everything else

There's a lot more confirmed so far. Check the rest out below:

• Podcast Channels are now available in the Library section of the Podcast app
• Up Next on the Podcast app now lets you resume episodes, start saved episodes, and remove episodes
• Podcast app in CarPlay adds Up Next and Browse sections
• Apple Music profile icon now available across tabs in the app
• New Coverage section of the Settings app on iPhone to display AppleCare coverage
• New options in Shortcuts app to lock screen and control Always-on Display for the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro
• Previews for Mastodon links in the Messages app
• 5G support is coming to Turkey
• Always-On Display control is being added to Focus modes
• 5G Standalone support for T-Mobile customers, enabling download speeds up to 3Gbps
• Users can opt-in to beta releases right from the Software Update screen in iOS 16.4 and iPadOS 16.4
• Icon addition for devices in the "Coverage" section of the Settings app
• Splash screen to explain changes in the Podcasts app
• Changes to order of Always-On Display settings
• As reported by 9to5Mac, 5G Standalone support is coming to Brazilian carriers Vivo and TIM Brazil as well as Japanese carrier Softbank

When will all of software release?

Being that this is the third public beta release for iOS 16.4, iPadOS 16.4, watchOS 9.4, macOS Ventura 13.3, and tvOS 16.4, we seem to be honing in on a public release.

Most of the rumors think that all of this software will release in the spring, so we're getting closer!

iOS 16.4 is now out. From new emojis to HomeKit upgrades, the latest software update for your iPhone has lots for us to unpack. 

iOS 16.4 has some great additions to iOS 16 that make the best iPhone, the iPhone 14 Pro, and the rest of the iPhone lineup even better. Here’s everything you need to know about the next update for your iPhone, iOS 16.4.

New features in iOS 16.4

New emojis!

New emojis are always worth updating your iPhone for and iOS 16.4 is no different as it brings 31 new emoji options into the fold. 

The new emoji characters being added include a "shaking head, pink heart, blue heart, gray heart, donkey, moose, black bird, goose, wing, jellyfish, hyacinth, pea pod, ginger, fan, comb, flute, maracas, and a number of left and right facing hand options."

Safari Web Push Notifications

With iOS 16.4, web apps will now be able to send push notifications to your iPhone. This means that any website you add as a web app to your Home Screen will be able to send push notifications – Adding iMore to your Home Screen would mean you never miss an article again! 

You can also manage the push notifications from web apps directly from within Settings. Apple is also adding support for adding websites from third-party browsers like Chrome and Firefox to your Home Screen. 

HomeKit architecture upgrade

iOS 16.4 also adds an upgrade to HomeKit’s architecture. This update was initially released back in December 2022 as part of iOS 16.2 although Apple revoked the upgrade after several bugs affected users who had upgraded their homes to the new architecture. 

Better precision for Emergency SOS via satellite

With iOS 16.4 Emergency SOS via satellite will be more precise with the feature now able to tell you exactly when you’ll be in range to use the emergency feature.

• Next Satellite Available in [x]Hour(s) and [x]Minute(s)
• Next Satellite Available in [x]Hour(s)
• Next Satellite Available in [x]Minute(s)
• Next Satellite Available in Less Than 1 Minute

Cellular Voice Isolation

Currently available for VoIP calls in devices running iOS 15 and macOS Monterey or later, Apple is now bringing Voice Isolation to cellular calls. 

On FaceTime, Voice Isolation can be enabled to help improve microphone quality by removing background noise. 

Everything Else

• Podcast Channels are now available in the Library section of the Podcast app
• Up Next on the Podcast app now lets you resume episodes, start saved episodes, and remove episodes
• Podcast app in CarPlay adds Up Next and Browse sections
• The return of the “curl” animation to Apple Books after Apple removed the animation with the launch of iOS 16
• Apple Music profile icon now available across tabs in the app
• New Coverage section of the Settings app on iPhone to display AppleCare coverage
• New options in Shortcuts app to lock screen and control Always-on Display for the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro
• Previews for Mastodon links in the Messages app
• 5G support is coming to Turkey
• Always-On Display control is being added to Focus modes
• 5G Standalone support for T-Mobile customers, enabling download speeds up to 3Gbps
• Users can opt-in to beta releases right from the Software Update screen in iOS 16.4 and iPadOS 16.4
• Icon addition for devices in the "Coverage" section of the Settings app
• Splash screen to explain changes in the Podcasts app
• Changes to the order of Always-On Display settings
• 5G Standalone support is coming to Brazilian carriers Vivo and TIM Brazil as well as Japanese carrier Softbank
• Duplicate Image Detection for iCloud Shared Photo Library

How to install iOS 16.4

1. Make a backup of your iPhone
2. Open Settings
3. Tap General
4. Tap Software Update
5. Tap Download and Install on the iOS 16.4 update

Apple's latest software update for iPhone, iOS 16.3.1 brings security updates and bug fixes to iOS 16. If you've got an iPhone then here's how to update to the latest software so you have the best experience possible with your Apple device.

What's new in iOS 16.3.1?

iOS 16.3.1 is focused on bringing security updates and bug fixes to the best iPhones on the market. There aren't many new features her but everyone should update to 16.3.1 to make sure your device is safe from any vulnerabilities.

Apple's release notes state that iOS 16.3.1 fixes an issue with unresponsive iCloud settings and a Siri bug which impacted Find My requests. The release also adds further Crash Detection optimization for iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro. 

iOS 16.3.1 release notes

• This update provides important bug fixes and security updates for your iPhone including:
  • iCloud settings may be unresponsive or incorrectly display if apps are using iCloud
  • Siri requests for Find My may not work
  • Crash Detection optimizations on iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models

How to install iOS 16.3.1 update using Software Update on your iPhone

The easiest way for most people to download iOS is over-the-air, directly on their device. It's fast, it's efficient, and it's simple to do.

The download will begin automatically. If the download does not begin right away, you may see a notice: "Preparing to download." Give it a couple of minutes and the download should start.

How to install the iOS update using your Mac

If you have limited space on your device or Software Update isn't working for whatever reason, you can update using your Mac. Simply connect your iPhone via USB and head to Finder on MacOS Catalina and newer. 

1. Make sure you have a recent backup
2. Plug your iPhone in using your USB to Lightning
3. Under Finder, click on the device icon at the top left to go to the device tab
4. Click on Check for Update in the Summary pane
5. Click on Download and Update
6. Agree to the Terms and Conditions
7. Enter the Passcode on your iPhone if prompted

As you can see, the process for getting iOS 16.3.1 on your iPhone is very easy and straightforward. The easiest way is definitely over-the-air, but it isn't always the fastest. If you want to get done sooner, then the fastest way is by updating with a Mac or PC through Finder/iTunes.

iOS 16 is filled with features that improve your iPhone experience, including Lock Screen customization and better Maps. Check out Everything you need to know about iOS 16 to learn more about what the latest major iPhone software has to offer. 

Apple is rolling out another Rapid Security Response update for the iPhone and Mac.

Today, Apple has released iOS Security Response 16.4 (a) and macOS Security Response 13.3 (a), a Rapid Security Response for iPhones running the latest iOS 16.4 beta, and Macs running the latest beta for macOS 13 Ventura.

This isn't the first time that we have seen a Rapid Security Response come out for the iPhone or the Mac, and it is currently unclear if it is addressing an actual security issue or another test that Apple is running for the feature. The update can be downloaded on the Mac through the Settings app and is applied automatically upon system restart. For the iPhone, the update is easily installed through the Settings app and installed upon restart as well.

Apple continues to test the feature

We have already seen a number of these updates come to the iPhone and Mac for both beta and public release users. So far, all of them have appeared to also be tests that it is running to ensure the feature is ready for prime time.

Up until now, Apple would only be able to address any and all security issues that could impact its customers through its larger software updates. That has historically created a security vulnerability as users would need to wait for a larger software update to address security vulnerabilities that were sometimes being actively exploited in the wild.

With Rapid Security Response, Apple is looking to address that problem by building a system to address time-sensitive security problems with its own standalone updates. This will enable the company to protect customers from security vulnerabilities faster than the previous process.

We'll have to wait for the first major security problem to come around to see how Apple does in deploying its first Rapid Security Response update in the wild.

With more betas come more features!

Today, Apple released the second developer betas of iOS 16.4, iPadOS 16.4, macOS Ventura 13.3, watchOS 9.4, and tvOS 16.4. Despite the first developer betas coming jam-packed with new features, there are still some notable updates in this new round of betas.

Let's dive in.

More hints of Apple Music Classical

As reported by MacRumors, code within the second developer beta of iOS 16.4 makes more reference to Apple Music Classical, the rumored music app that Apple has been working on for a while.

According to a framework within the beta, users will need to have the Apple Music app installed in order to use Apple Music Classical. Users that don't have the standard app installed will reportedly get an error that says "to listen in ‌Apple Music‌ Classical, you'll need to install ‌Apple Music‌."

While the iOS 16.4 and corresponding betas don't actually have the Apple Music Classical app available to use in them, this latest find indicates that it does appear it will be its own app rather than something built into the standard Apple Music app.

Apple Pay is coming to South Korea

The code in the second iOS 16.4 developer beta appears to confirm that Apple Pay will be launching in South Korea. It appears that the beta now refers to debit and credit card holders in the country being able to set up their cards with the digital payment service.

The news isn't surprising here. Hyundai already revealed earlier this month that it would be supporting Apple Pay for its credit card in the country. In a statement, the company said that "we look forward to collaborating with Apple to introduce Apple Pay to South Korea...We will share more details in the coming months."

So, it appears that iOS 16.4 could launch the service in the country.

Page turns are coming back to Apple Books

The second developer beta of iOS 16.4 and iPadOS 16.4 is bringing back the traditional page-turning animation for the Apple Books app. Apple removed the traditional "curl" animation when it launched iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 back in the fall of 2022, and many readers were upset.

Thankfully, Apple appears to be bringing the animation back with iOS 16.4 and iPadOS 16.4. Apple Books users will now be able to choose between "curl," "slide," and "none" for how they make their way through a book in the app.

Everything else

Here are some other things that have been found in the second developer betas for iOS 16.4, iPadOS 16.4, macOS Ventura 13.3, watchOS 9.4, tvOS 16.4:

• Icon addition for devices in the "Coverage" section of the Settings app
• Splash screen to explain changes in the Podcasts app
• Changes to order of Always-On Display settings
• As reported by 9to5Mac, 5G Standalone support is coming to Brazilian carriers Vivo and TIM Brazil as well as Japanese carrier Softbank

When will all of software release?

This is only the second developer beta, so we likely have a bit to wait until we actually get a public release.

However, according to the rumor mill, it seems like we can expect all of these new updates to roll out sometime in the spring.

Magic Eraser, one of the main exclusive features on Google Pixel 6 and 7 is now available for iPhone. 

Starting today, Google One subscribers gain the fantastic photo editing feature through the Google Photos app – Google One costs $1.99 a month.

By dropping Pixel exclusivity, Magic Eraser allows iOS and Android users the ability to select objects and people in photos and magically remove them from view. Making this feature widespread is a genuine surprise as Google had heavily marketed Magic Eraser as one of the major reasons to purchase a Google Pixel smartphone. 

Not only will Google One subscribers on iPhone get access to Magic Eraser, but Google has also revealed new editing tools such as an HDR effect filter which adds enhanced brightness and contrast across photos and videos. 

iOS users have access to a one-month free trial of 100 GB of Google One storage and these new features by accessing Google One settings in the Google Photos app. A much better deal than forking out nearly $700 for a Google Pixel to get a similar photo editing option.

I wanted to try a Pixel, but now I don’t have to

The television adverts for Google Pixel’s Magic Eraser had converted my brain. I had been thinking about purchasing a Google Pixel 7 to test out the photo editing suite for a couple of months now. So, in that sense, the marketing campaign worked as it had converted my Apple-centric brain into wanting to try something new. 

Now that iPhone users can get their hands on Pixel’s Magic Eraser, I don't have to go out of my way to buy a Google smartphone – it’s the best of both worlds. If you were in the same boat as me and eager to test out the ability to vanish photobombers and pesky pigeons from your photos now you’re in luck. 

iMore will be testing out Google’s Magic Eraser on iPhone and giving you the rundown of how to use the latest photo editing features to get more from your iOS device.

Google Photos is available from the App Store on Apple's best iPhones, the iPhone 14 and 14 Pro, plus any other iPhone running iOS 10 or later.

Apple has stopped signing iOS 16.3, meaning that it is now blocking downgrades to that version of iOS on the iPhone. This means that anyone who wants to install a version of iOS must now install iOS 16.3.1.

Apple is known to stop signing older versions of iOS as it releases newer versions in order to make sure that users are running the latest version of Apple's software for the iPhone. Newer versions of each software not only include new features and bug fixes but performance improvements and security updates as well.

Now, anyone who attempts to restore an iPhone will have only iOS 16.3.1 as Apple is now blocking downgrades to iOS 16.3. Those who are on the developer and public beta train can, of course, still install the latest iOS betas.

You can't downgrade anymore

While some do enjoy the option of downgrading to an earlier version of iOS as a backstop to issues with a newer version of the software, that opening is usually short. If you are running iOS 16.3.1 and experiencing issues, you'll need to wait until Apple releases a newer update.

iOS 16.3.1 is the latest public version of iOS 16. In addition to running the latest version of iOS 16, Apple has also recently released the first developer beta of iOS 16.4, the next version of iOS that is expected to launch to everyone sometime later this spring.

iOS 16.4 will bring with it a number of new features including new emojis, Safari web push notifications, the before-pulled HomeKit architecture upgrade, more precise availability for Emergency SOS via satellite, potentially the Apple Card Savings account, and a lot more.

iOS 16.3.1 is available for users to download now if they are running the public version of iOS. Developers and public beta testers, of course, have access to iOS 16.4.

It's here! It's finally here!

Today, Apple released the first developer betas of iOS 16.4, iPadOS 16.4, macOS Ventura 13.3, watchOS 9.4, and tvOS 16.4. There are a lot of new features to note across all of the releases, so we're going to dive right in and focus in on the highlights.

Let's dive in.

New emojis!

You can't go wrong when a new software update includes new emojis, and iOS 16.4 includes fifteen of them. 

As reported by MacRumors, the new emoji characters being added include a "shaking head, pink heart, blue heart, gray heart, donkey, moose, black bird, goose, wing, jellyfish, hyacinth, pea pod, ginger, fan, comb, flute, maracas, and a number of left and right facing hand options."

The new emojis will be available across all of the software updates. I'm definitely going to be spamming the goose emoji.

Safari Web Push Notifications

This is an interesting one. With iOS 16.4 and iPadOS 16.4, web apps will be able to send push notifications to your iPhone and iPad.

The push notifications functionality will only be unlocked for websites that are added as a web app to your Home Screen, so don't worry about getting spammed push notifications from Safari all day long.

Even cooler, you'll be able to manage push notifications from web apps added to your Home Screen through the Notifications section in the Settings app right along with the rest of your full-fledged apps. Those apps will also now be integrated into your Focus modes and support alert badges like regular apps.

Apple is also adding the ability to add websites to the Home Screen from third-party browsers like Chrome and Firefox on the iPhone and iPad.

HomeKit architecture upgrade

iOS 16.4, iPadOS 16.4, and ‌macOS Ventura‌ 13.3 will also re-release the upgrade to HomeKit's architecture. 

Apple had previously released the update back when iOS 16.2 was released back in December 2022, but quickly pulled it due to a number of bugs affected users who had opted to upgrade to the new architecture.

It appears that Apple has resolved those issues and is ready to give it another go. I'd maybe wait to see how others fare once this is live to ensure you don't run into any issues, but if you're adventurous, go for it!

More precise availability for Emergency SOS via satellite

Apple launched Emergency SOS via satellite back in November for the iPhone 14 lineup. With iOS 16.4, the company is going to be more precise about satellite availability when users need to use the feature.

As noted below by MacRumors, the feature will now tell you exactly when you'll be in range of the next satellite to use the emergency communication feature:

• Next Satellite Available in [x]Hour(s) and [x]Minute(s)
• Next Satellite Available in [x]Hour(s)
• Next Satellite Available in [x]Minute(s)
• Next Satellite Available in Less Than 1 Minute

Apple Card Savings account

It's still unclear if iOS 16.4 will actually result in the release of the awaited Apple Card Savings account, but it sure seems like it.

As noted by MacRumors, code in the beta makes reference to "routing and account numbers, current balance, interest earned, data management, funds available for withdrawal, and more."

The code also notes messages from the company to users, saying "Transfer your Apple Cash balance to your savings account and start earning interest today" and "You can transfer up to [amount] from Apple Cash to your savings account in a single transaction and start earning interest today."

Everything Else

The above lays out the biggest changes, but there is so much more. Check out below for everything else that has been identified in the new betas so far:

• Podcast Channels are now available in the Library section of the Podcast app
• Up Next on the Podcast app now lets you resume episodes, start saved episodes, and remove episodes
• Podcast app in CarPlay adds Up Next and Browse sections
• Apple Music profile icon now available across tabs in the app
• New Coverage section of the Settings app on iPhone to display AppleCare coverage
• New options in Shortcuts app to lock screen and control Always-on Display for the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro
• Previews for Mastodon links in the Messages app
• 5G support is coming to Turkey
• Always-On Display control is being added to Focus modes
• 5G Standalone support for T-Mobile customers, enabling download speeds up to 3Gbps
• Users can opt-in to beta releases right from the Software Update screen in iOS 16.4 and iPadOS 16.4

When will all of software release?

This is only the first developer beta, so we likely have a bit to wait until we actually get a public release.

However, it seems like we can expect all of these new updates to roll out sometime in the spring.

Apple Pay Later is rolling out to customers who want to make Apple Pay payments using four installments over the course of six weeks to break up the cost of their purchases. 

The company announced the rollout of the new service on March 28 and is randomly selecting users to take part in an early access pre-release.

What is Apple Pay Later?

Apple Pay Later is a "Buy Now, Pay Later" financing service that is offered directly from Apple to customers using the company's Apple Pay digital payments service. While Apple Pay is the technology that allows you to make a purchase online safely and securely, Apple Pay Later is a service that allows you to finance an Apple Pay purchase over a short period of time.

Apple Pay Later, as explained by the company, lets Apple Pay users split the cost of an Apple Pay purchase into four equal payments that will need to be made over the course of six weeks. The new option is similar to other "Buy Now, Pay Later" services that are offered by companies like PayPal, Affirm, and Klarna.

The company has confirmed that it is using the Mastercard network to offer the service, the same network that it uses for its Apple Card credit card.

How do I use Apple Pay Later?

In order to use Apple Pay Later, you will need to apply for and receive approval for the service.

Apple Pay Later is technically a lending service, so Apple will need to run a credit check and make a decision on whether or not to offer you the loan that will be used to finance a purchase. Apple is using its own subsidary, Apple Financing LLC, to handle the credit checks, decision-making, and lending for Apple Pay Later.

You can apply for Apple Pay Later while making an Apple Pay purchase or within the Wallet app. If approved, you'll see the option to use Apple Pay Later when making an Apple Pay purchase.

Apple Pay Later loans can range from between $50 and $1,000. 

A report in February 2023 from Bloomberg says that "the new service will let Apple leverage its trove of data on customers, including their spending at company retail outlets, App Store transactions, and services like Apple Cash peer-to-peer payments. Apple Pay, a mobile payment service launched in 2014, and the Apple Card." That indicates that, in addition to your credit score and report, Apple may also use your relationship history with the company to determine your worthiness of a loan through the new payment service.

According to that report, "When customers sign up, they’re asked to give an amount they would like to borrow and then the system comes back with an approved total — similar to the Spending Power feature for American Express cards." The process, which will be integrated into the Wallet app, will require those who apply to provide a government ID card, social security number, and two-step verification on their Apple ID account. Approved loans will expire after 30 days.

How do I manage my Apple Pay Later payments?

Once you make a purchase using Apple Pay Later, you will be able to manage your payments in the Wallet app.

As Apple showed in a screenshot of the Apple Pay Later section of the Wallet app, you'll be able to see a number of helpful information including the total amount of payments due, how much is due in the next 30 days, and a breakdown of all of your upcoming payments.

It appears that while users of the service will be able to manually make a payment early, Apple Pay Later payments will be automatically deducted from your bank account on the date that each payment is due. While it is unclear what kind of penalty may happen if your bank account does not allow overdrafts, Apple has said that "a user's card-issuing bank may charge a fee if the user's debit card account contains insufficient funds."

One of my most used features on iOS 16 is the ability to lift a subject from a photo and use that image in a whole range of different apps. As a dog dad, the ability to remove the surroundings from my French Bulldog, Kermit, and paste his overly miserable expression into an iMessage chat is the kind of fun I want from my iPhone. 

As part of what Apple calls Visual Lookup, which was introduced in iOS 16, iPadOS 16 and macOS Ventura, watch as your iPhone does all the heavy lifting to magically disappear the background of your image. This feature works with almost any image in your Camera Roll as well as on Safari, screenshots, and PDFs. Once you’ve removed the background you can then paste the subject into messages or notes.

With this in mind, here's how to lift a subject from a photo in iOS 16 so that you can either copy or share it.

How to lift a subject from a photo on iOS

1. Find a photo you want to lift the subject from. This a photo of my dog from my library in Photos for example

2. Tap and hold on the subject, and you’ll see a cool animation that glows around the subject, followed by a Copy and Share menu

3. Tap Share to bring up the share sheet with contacts and apps so you can send the newly removed subject with someone

4. Tap Copy to add the subject to your clipboard where you can paste the image into Messages, for example

5. You can also tap and hold on the subject and drag it to another app on your iPhone or iPad, by using your other hand to switch to another app, like Messages and Notes

Super simple, super fun

There’s not much more to it - this feature is super simple and can be a great way to use stickers across your iOS devices. If you have a subject that stands out from an image, you’ll see how impressive the software is as it simply plucks the subject out of thin air, and drops it into another app of your choice.

The feature works best with highly defined edges so sometimes it can look a little shoddy. Nine times out of ten, however, it works flawlessly and in no time you’ll be like me with an extensive library of custom stickers, although mine are mostly of my dog. Our Features Editor, Daryl Baxter has showcased this with his own dog, Jolly below.

In iOS 16, Apple has moved a step closer to creating the sports app you’ve always dreamt of, in the form of the My Sports tab in the Apple News app. 

Apple News, the dedicated news app on iOS for all your information needs was released back in 2015 to give written content a home on your iPhone. With the addition of My Sports, it’s now the perfect time to start using News for sports fans around the world. 

Currently, My Sports is available in the US, Canada, UK, and Australia, and you can follow teams from across the sporting landscape including NFL, NBA, MLB, MLS, Premier League, and more. By adding My Sports into your daily news routine, you’ll be sure to know everything to do with the teams you hold dear to your heart — a perfect way to keep the conversation flowing throughout the off-season. 

My Sports is not only for showcasing sport-specific news and live scores though. By setting up My Sports, you can also get notifications in the Apple TV app to watch live games, and if you have the best iPhone so far in 2023, the iPhone 14 Pro or Pro Max, live scores can sit in the Dynamic Island so you never miss a goal, touchdown, or slam dunk. 

Setting up My Sports

1. Open the News app and head to the Today feed
2. Swipe up until you see My Sports
3. Tap Get Started, then tap Turn On
4. Enabling My Sports syncing between the Apple News and Apple TV apps means that the teams you follow are automatically synced between both.
5. Tap the + icon on the Manage My Sports screen to add a team. You can also search for any sport, team, competition, or athlete to add to your My Sports section. 

Manage My Sports topics

If you decide to add more teams to your My Sports section or remove a competition that you’re no longer interested in, there’s an easy way to manage these in the My Sports tab.

1. Tap My Sports in the News app Today feed
2. Tap … in the top right corner and then Manage My Sports
3. From here you can remove sports topics by clicking the red - icon, and reorder topics to get your most important information at the top of your My Sports section

How to see scores, schedules, live games & more

Scores & Schedules

The Scores & Schedules section sits at the top of the My Sports section. Here, you can see every game in the sports topics that you’ve chosen to follow. For me, this is the bread and butter of My Sports and the best way to get constant use out of the section. 

Watch live games

For those located in regions that allow Apple TV and Apple News to work together, such as the United States, you can watch live games by heading to the Scores & Schedule section, tapping the Schedule tab, followed by clicking the ‘Open in Apple TV’ option, next to the game you want to watch. 

This feature is dependent on your subscriptions and your location.

View highlights from a game

Similar to watching a live game, highlights are a region-locked feature that works with selected sports in My Sports. To view highlights, swipe through the My Sports section until you find Highlights, then tap Play to launch the video straight from the News app.

One more thing...

My Sports isn’t perfect. For one, it can be cumbersome in having to scroll through the News app to find the section on your Today Feed in the first place. Once you have found the My Sports section, there’s limited customization in terms of making the section look exactly how you want it.

The Scores & Schedule section is useful to keep on top of games, but there’s no option to set a reminder or keep on top of the result if the game isn’t broadcast on Apple TV. 

The My Sports section can also occasionally miss games altogether. I follow the UEFA Champions League for example, but the Schedule is missing the latest games, and this hasn’t been  a one-off for me, I’ve seen it multiple times before. That being said, for sports fans in the U.S, My Sports has seamless integration with the subscription services you use in Apple TV, making the service far more robust for American sports fans.

But for games outside of the US, it’s lacking in how it can cater for international fans and other sports.

With Apple adding the MLS Season Pass to Apple TV, alongside broadcasting Friday Night Baseball for free on Apple TV Plus, it feels like a dedicated Sports app is needed to take My Sports and Sports news as a whole on Apple’s devices to the next level. My Sports is a cool feature to have, but the third-party options on the App Store like Flashscore give me all the options I need and more. From instant notifications as soon as a point is scored to a much easier layout so that everything you want is at your fingertips, these third-party apps over a dedicated sporting experience rather than an addition to an already existing application. It’s time for Apple to delve deeper into the sporting world — Apple, get in the game!

A ton of new Apple software is live and there are a lot of bug fixes in it.

Today, Apple released iOS 16.3.1, iPadOS 16.3.1, watchOS 9.3.1, macOS Ventura 13.2.1, tvOS 16.3.2, and HomePod software version 16.3.1. While there's not much in the way of new features with all of the updates, they do address some annoying bugs and some concerning security vulnerabilities. Let's dive in to talk about all of it.

iOS 16.3.1

While iOS 16.3.1 doesn't contain any new features, it does fix some annoying bugs and addresses a continuous problem with one of the new features of the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro.

According to Apple's release notes, which you can check out below, iOS 16.3.1 fixes an issue with iCloud Settings being unresponsive and also addresses a bug where Siri requests for Find My would fail.

The release also includes "Crash Detection optimizations," hopefully fixing issues where the feature would activate and call emergency services in error.

• This update provides important bug fixes and security updates for your iPhone including:
  • iCloud settings may be unresponsive or incorrectly display if apps are using iCloud
  • Siri requests for Find My may not work
  • Crash Detection optimizations on iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models

iPadOS 16.3.1

While iPadOS 16.3.1 gets its own update, of course, it addresses the same two issues that iOS 16.3.1 does. You can check out both bug fixes below:

• This update provides important bug fixes and security updates for your iPhone including:
  • iCloud settings may be unresponsive or incorrectly display if apps are using iCloud
  • Siri requests for Find My may not work

watchOS 9.3.1

Unfortunately, there isn't much to talk about with watchOS 9.3.1, the latest version of watchOS 9, the software that powers Apple's wrist-worn wonder. There aren't any new features and Apple's release notes for the new update simply say that the new software version includes "bug fixes and important security updates for your Apple Watch."

The release notes do not call out what specific bugs are fixed or what security vulnerabilities have been patched.

macOS 13.2.1

The story with macOS 13.2.1 is very familiar for those who came across the watchOS 9.3.1 update.

The update does not include any features but does address some bugs and security vulnerabilities. Apple says that the update includes "bug fixes and security updates for your Mac."

The company did not say in the release notes which bugs have been fixed or which security vulnerabilities have been addressed.

tvOS 16.3.2

Things are really bare when it comes to tvOS 16.3.2, the software powering Apple's streaming devices, including the newest model, Apple TV 4K (2022). Apple didn't provide any release notes, but the update is likely to address at least some of what was noted in the iOS 16.3.1 release.

HomePod Software Version 16.3.2

HomePod Software Version 16.3.2 is also available today. According to the release notes, the new version addresses a bug that would cause certain Siri or HomeKit requests to fail.

Apple specifically says that "this update addresses an issue where asking Siri for smart home requests may fail, and also includes general performance and stability improvements."

The new software version is available for both the HomePod and HomePod mini.

It's all available now

iOS 16.3.1, iPadOS 16.3.1, watchOS 9.3.1, macOS Ventura 13.2.1, and tvOS 16.3.2 are all available to download now on compatible devices.

So, if you aren't doing anything tonight, feel free to spend it updating all of your Apple devices!

Focus modes were added with iOS 15 in 2021 and, largely, they passed me by. But Apple expanded the feature with iOS 16, adding Focus Filters to the mix. And they've changed the game entirely.

Focus modes were built to let people choose which apps were available at any given moment, effectively blocking them from view and controlling which notifications could punch through. It was marketed as a way for people to be more intentional about how they use their iPhones and iPads. And I thought it was a waste of time.

Not only were they overly complicated to set up and use, but Focus modes never really seemed to do what they were supposed to. Sure, you could set up different Home screens and whatnot, but why bother?

And then Focus filters arrived with iOS 16 and changed everything. And I think they can make healthy changes to your digital life, too.

So much more than Focus modes

So what are Focus Filters exactly?

In short, Focus Filters do what Focus modes should have done all along by not just hiding entire apps from view, but dipping inside them and controlling what kinds of data those apps do and do not display.

What does that mean? It means all kinds of things. You can have your calendar app only display work calendars when you're actually working, for example. The same goes for your email, too. And that's just the start. If the app you use has been updated to add support for Focus Filters, you can tailor your entire iPhone and iPad experience to match your needs. And at any given moment, too.

How I'm using Focus Filters to be more present

As someone who works from home and freelance, it's very easy to find yourself working all the time. Not necessarily sitting at a keyboard and bashing out words, but working in the general sense. Checking emails, keeping tabs on what's going on in the Apple world, that kind of thing. If I'm not careful I find myself doing that all the time — in the evenings and, most problematic, during the weekends.

While there's a school of thought that I should just be a big grown-up and control myself, I've proven pretty categorically that I can't do that. Enter Focus Filters.

I was skeptical about what Focus Filters could offer mainly because Focus modes were so, well, "meh." But after using them for a few months I can say that they've changed my weekends. Changing my life might be a bit much, but it's a start!

It's all surprisingly simple, but the key is that it's also automatic.

On Saturday morning my weekend Focus mode kicks in, bringing the new Focus filters with it. That means that my iPhone's wallpaper changes to a photo of my wife and kids and my Apple Watch Ultra does the same — yes, this works on the Apple Watch as well.

The same Focus mode reorganizes my Home screen to remove most work-related apps and replaces them with the apps I need to keep track of sports scores and whatnot. My work widgets are jettisoned at the same time.

Next, those Focus Filters kick in. And this is where the magic happens.

Focusing on the right things

Fantastical, my calendaring app of choice, ditches all of my work calendars and only displays my personal ones. I can get them back if I need to, but at a glance, they don't exist. I still see when the family appointments are, but I don't see when Apple's next event is. Perfect.

It's the same with the Mail app. My personal email remains, but my (too many) work email accounts no longer show up, and I don't get any notifications for them either. Again, all that email is there if I need to dip in, but I'm no longer bashed over the head by it.

Messages is another example of where Focus Filters work their magic. At the weekend, only friends and family appear in the entire app. The number of chat conversations that disappear instantly reminds me that I probably don't have enough friends, but that's another problem for another day.

Back over in the world of third-party apps, Drafts also supports Focus Filters. That means that now, at the weekend, I don't see any of the notes I made through the week because they're tagged just so. I dip into Drafts all the time to take quick notes and reminders — it's brilliant not being confronted with work stuff when I don't need it.

By the time all of that is done, my devices are completely different to what they were the Friday before. And unlike the sledgehammer that is Focus modes, Focus Filters still gives me access to the apps I need all week round without showing me the content that I don't need. That's a huge difference.

A new approach to your devices

All of this brings me back to why I think Focus Filters could be an important change to the way we all interact with our devices. They've changed my game. And they can change yours, too.

As I said earlier, I've been guilty of working too much. And working when I shouldn't. As a result, I haven't always been as present as I should have been.

Not anymore.

If, like me, you wish that you could switch off from distractions at the times when that truly matters — when you're with your loved ones — Focus Filters could be the tool you've been waiting for. It isn't a silver bullet, and the workaholics amongst us will still find work when they want it. But Focus Filters ensure that work doesn't jump out at you every time you touch your iPhone. It isn't always present.

Now sure, not touching your iPhone in the first place would be better, I get that. But we live in a world where that just isn't possible. We use these things for everything, and that isn't necessarily a bad thing. But we need ways to make them work for us, not against us.

With Focus Filters, I think I might finally have found a way to do that. And I think that you could do that too.

Good luck!

Do you want a very easy way to find your Wi-Fi password quickly on your iPhone? I think all of us have been in an situation where the Wi-Fi password is just that little bit out of reach. 

Whether you've bought a new product and need to put the network password in for the first time or if you've got guests round and they want to connect to your Wi-Fi, these iOS 16 features make daily life that little bit easier.

Since iOS 11, your iPhone has had a super-easy way to share your Wi-Fi password with others who ask for it. In fact, all you need is to make sure that the person asking for the password is already a contact in your address book and has Bluetooth enabled. When they go to enter their Wi-Fi password you'll be prompted to share. It's magic. 

iOS 16 now gives us several more robust options that we've wanted for quite some time such as seeing your Wi-Fi network passwords and deleting old networks from your history.

How to find a Wi-Fi password on iPhone

This new way of seeing W-Fi passwords on iOS 16 is quite possibly the best feature of Apple's latest iPhone software.

How to delete old Wi-Fi networks on iPhone

Another new addition to iOS 16 is the ability to view your connected network history and delete networks you no longer require.

1. Launch Settings on your iPhone or iPad with iOS 16.
2. Tap Wi-Fi
3. Tap Edit in the upper right corner
4. Your device will authenticate via Touch ID or Face ID
5. You will now see a list of all of the networks that you've connected to in the past
6. Tap the red minus (-) button on the network you want to delete
7. Tap Delete to confirm

To be a master, a Wi-Fi master

By adding these simple changes to iOS 16, Apple has made your iPhone even simpler so that there's never a situation where you can't get connected to the internet. Wow your friends next time they ask for a Wi-Fi password and you seamlessly reveal the answer.

Apple could release iOS 16.3.1 before developers even get a chance to see what iOS 16.4 has in store for users.

As reported by MacRumors, Apple is apparently already "preparing an iOS 16.3.1 update for the iPhone, based on evidence of the software in our website's analytics logs this week." While the outlet was not able to attain an exact release date for the latest software update, they did say that they expect the update to come out at some point during the month of February.

The outlet says that those logs have "accurately foreshadowed the release of several previous updates, including iOS 16.0.3 and iOS 16.1.1," so they do seem to be a decently reliable indicator for upcoming software releases. Those same logs, speaking of iOS 16.4, have not seen anything about that more significant update.

What will be in iOS 16.3.1 and iOS 16.4?

At this time, we really have no idea what will be in iOS 16.3.1 and iOS 16.4. Releases like iOS 16.3.1 tend to be more focused on the usual round of performance improvements and bug fixes, so it's unlikely we'll see any major changes in that update. iOS 16.4 is likely to include some new features, however small, but without the developer beta, it's impossible to know what's in store for that upcoming update.

In the meantime, we can all continue to enjoy iOS 16.3, which Apple released just over a week ago. iOS 16.3 packed a number of new features including support for physical Security Keys, a new method for making Emergency SOS calls, support for the new HomePod that Apple is officially launching on Friday, a new Unity wallpaper to celebrate Black History Month, and a ton of bug fixes.

While you're waiting for the first discoveries for iOS 16.4, there's plenty to check out across the new software updates for iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and macOS.

Want to undo sending an iMessage? You're in the right place. Have you ever sent an embarrassing text by mistake and felt the floor swallow you up as you realize you've accidentally said something you shouldn't have? 

Well, since the release of iOS 16 in 2022, iPhone users have been able to unsend iMessages and erase the pain away without causing drama (we've all got enough drama in our lives as is).

With this in mind, here's how to unsend iMessages on your iPhone so you no longer have to deal with the embarrassment of texting your colleague, "I love you".

How to unsend iMessages on iPhone

You can only unsend iMessages and messages if you're communicating with another Apple user. So you're out of luck if you're hoping to unsend an SMS to an Android user, although WhatsApp does the trick pretty well!

When you unsend iMessages on your iPhone, the Messages app will show "unsent a message" in the chat, so be aware of this to avoid awkward confrontations. iOS 16 gives you a sense of freedom by ensuring that any mistake can easily be fixed by deleting an iMessage or editing one. Once two minutes have passed, your message is stuck in the chat forever, and there will be nowhere to hide!

One more thing... the ability to unsend iMessages is a magical feature

Until the ability to unsend iMessages appeared in iOS 16, iPhone users had been clamoring for a safety net just in case they sent someone the wrong message. We've all been there; it can be super awkward when you tell someone something unrelated or something that they shouldn't know. I make typos all the time in my texts but for some reason, I rarely use the ability to unsend iMessages despite the feature being so easy to use.

Coming soon, iOS 17 brings even more additions to the Messages app on iPhone like better AutoCorrect to make sure you make mistakes far less. However, if you still make mistakes the ability to unsend iMessages as well as edit iMessages too, gives you the peace of mind you need to text without stress.

Apple has stopped signing iOS 16.2, meaning that it is now blocking downgrades to that version of iOS on the iPhone. This means that anyone who wants to install a version of iOS must now install iOS 16.3.

Apple is known to stop signing older versions of iOS as it releases newer versions in order to make sure that users are running the latest version of Apple's software for the iPhone. Newer versions of each software not only include new features and bug fixes but performance improvements and security updates as well.

Now, anyone who attempts to restore an iPhone will have only iOS 16.3 as Apple is now blocking downgrades to iOS 16.2. Those who are on the developer and public beta train can, of course, still install the latest iOS betas.

You can't downgrade anymore

While some do enjoy the option of downgrading to an earlier version of iOS as a backstop to issues with a newer version of the software, that opening is usually short. If you are running iOS 16.3 and experiencing issues, you'll need to wait until Apple releases a newer update.

iOS 16.3 is the latest public version of iOS 16. The latest version of iOS includes support for physical Security Keys, a new method for making Emergency SOS calls, support for the new HomePod that Apple is officially launching on Friday, a new Unity wallpaper to celebrate Black History Month, and a ton of bug fixes. It was a pretty massive release that crossed iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and macOS that brought many features across the different devices.

iOS 16.3 is available for users to download now if they are running the public version of iOS. Apple still hasn't released the first beta of iOS 16.4, but rumors continue to grow that the company could release its first beta for the next version as soon as next week.

Have you ever sent a message with a glaring typo? Have you ever wanted to change the date of an invite or retract an embarrassing statement? Now you can. iOS 16 brings some major new additions to the Messages app on iPhone and allows users to edit sent messages to fix the previously unfixable. 

Here's how to edit messages in the Messages app on your iPhone running iOS 16 so you can take back control of your conversations. 

How to edit a message on iPhone

Editing messages will only work with other Apple users, so you're out of luck if you're hoping to edit an SMS to an Android user, although WhatsApp does the trick!

An edited message will show Edited underneath the message (just like the Delivered or Read status messages) so be aware of this before you offer someone a free MacBook and retract it within seconds. iOS 16 shows a full log of all edits made to a message, and messages can be edited up to five times. Once you use up all five edits, you are no longer allowed to edit the message and will need to send a new one.

If you message someone on iOS 15.6 or earlier, , iPadOS 15.6 or earlier, macOS 12 or earlier, or is using SMS, they receive a new message with your updated text.

Edit the mistakes away.

iOS 16 brings some very big, but welcome changes to the Messages app to make the best iPhones even better. The days of autocorrect typos and sending drunk messages to your ex are a thing of the past thanks to the ability to unsend messages too. Make sure to act quickly though because once that 15 minute timeframe is gone, your messages are stuck in the ether unable to see an edit ever again. 

An HDMI adaptor bug that saw users unable to use their iPhone or iPad to watch a variety of different streaming services on a non-AirPlay compatible TV has now been fixed, an iMore reader discovered. They told us:

"Just want to inform you that the HDMI adapter bug in iOS 16 has been fixed in ios 16.3. Several users have reported they can stream no problem now in ios 16.3."

The fix does not seem to appear on any of the patch notes that came with iOS 16.3, although it appears as though the problem is no more. After months of nothing from either Apple or the App makers, It's a welcome fix.

Get streaming again

Previously, the same reader notified us that a number of the best iPhone apps would not work with the Apple HDMI adaptor, including Hulu, Amazon Prime, and Paramount+, amongst others. Interestingly, it seems that Netflix was not affected.

"The bug also occurs with Amazon Prime, Paramount+, Peacock, and others, but not Netflix."

They went on to direct us to an Apple support thread focused on Hulu that features pages of users having the same problem, and Apple seemingly doing nothing about it, only blaming Hulu for the problem.

Now, with the problem fixed, it seems you can get back on with watching all your streaming services over the Apple HDMI adaptor. 

This bug was obviously not a problem for those with an Apple TV box sat under their TV, given that it adds AirPlay support to whatever you plug it into, along with all the apps on board to watch streamed content. For those who don't want to spend all their money on a little black box, this fix will be a welcome return to iPhone and iPad streaming. 

A ton of new Apple software is live and there's a lot in it.

Today, Apple released iOS 16.3, iPadOS 16.3, watchOS 9.3, macOS Ventura 13.2, and tvOS 16.3. There's a lot to talk about so, rather than padding this second paragraph with some highlights, let's dive right in.

Security keys

One of the biggest updates with iOS 16.3, iPadOS 16.3, and macOS 13.2 Ventura is the support for Security Keys.

Apple says that Security Keys are designed for "users who, often due to their public profile, face concerted threats to their online accounts, such as celebrities, journalists, and members of government. For users who opt in, Security Keys strengthens Apple’s two-factor authentication by requiring a hardware security key as one of the two factors. This takes our two-factor authentication even further, preventing even an advanced attacker from obtaining a user’s second factor in a phishing scam."

New method for making Emergency SOS calls

As was reported a couple of weeks ago, iOS 16.3 has added a new way to make emergency calls from your iPhone. Before today's release, pressing and holding the iPhone's power and one of the volume buttons would start a countdown. Once the countdown was complete, that would initiate a call to emergency services.

With iOS 16.3, Apple has changed this method to "Call with Hold and Release."

Now, as described by Apple, "Emergency SOS calls now require holding the side button with the up or down volume button and then releasing in order to prevent inadvertent emergency calls."

Support for the new HomePod

The latest version of iOS 16.3 and iPadOS 16.3 also adds support for the second-generation HomePod that Apple announced last week.

The new HomePod, which looks almost exactly the same as the original HomePod, comes packed with the S7 processor, a home temperature sensor, and a humidity sensor. The entire inside of the new smart speaker has been re-engineered, featuring five tweeters and four microphones for Siri requests phone calls.

The new smart speaker also features support for Thread and Matter, the new smart home connectivity standard that took CES by storm earlier this month.

The new HomePod comes in a color-way of Midnight or Silver and launches at $299, $50 less than the original HomePod. It is available to preorder now and will officially release on February 3rd.

The new Unity wallpaper for iPhone and Apple Watch

iOS 16.3 and watchOS 9.3 add support for a new Unity wallpaper in celebration of Black History Month. 

As Apple detailed in its press release earlier this week, the Unity Mosaic watch face "incorporates geometric shapes in green, black, red, and yellow, and as the minutes change, each number uses pieces of other numbers to morph into new forms. iPhone users can also show their support with the new Unity wallpaper for their Lock Screen."

The company has also released a new Black Unity Sport Loop which is available now on the Apple Store website and in select stores.

A ton of bug fixes

There's a lot more across iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, tvOS, and macOS. Here are some of the other highlights, which include a ton of bug fixes:

• Fixes an issue in Freeform where some drawing strokes created with Apple Pencil or your finger may not appear on shared boards
• Addresses an issue where the wallpaper may appear black on the Lock Screen
• Fixes an issue where horizontal lines may temporarily appear while waking up iPhone 14 Pro Max
• Fixes an issue where the Home Lock Screen widget does not accurately display Home app status
• Addresses an issue where Siri may not respond properly to music requests
• Resolves issues where Siri requests in CarPlay may not be understood correctly
• Fixes an issue where VoiceOver may stop offering audio feedback while you are typing

It's all available now

iOS 16.3, iPadOS 16.3, watchOS 9.3, macOS Ventura 13.2, and tvOS 16.3 are all available to download now on compatible devices.

So, if you aren't doing anything tonight, feel free to spend it updating all of your Apple devices!

Owners of some iPhone 14 Pro models have reported strange display bugs of late, and now Apple says that it has a fix — and you’ll be able to get it soon.

That fix will be released as part of the iOS 16.3 update expected to arrive next week — the week starting January 23, but hose not near a calendar.

While Apple hasn’t confirmed exactly what the issue was, the news that it’s fixed is sure to be popular among those suffering from it. The bug saw strange horizontal yellow-green lines appear on the iPhone’s display when powering on or being unlocked.

Bug squashed

Apple confirmed that the fix is indeed part of the iOS 16.3 update in the latest beta’s release notes saying that it "fixes an issue where horizontal lines may temporarily appear while waking up iPhone 14 Pro Max." It’s notable that the notes mention only the iPhone 14 Pro Max, however.

It isn’t clear whether the issue only ever impacted iPhone 14 Pro Max models or if there are iPhone 14 Pro owners affected out there. Either way, let’s hope that this issue fixes it for everyone.

This isn’t the only problem iOS 16.3 promises to fix, either. Apple’s release notes say that a fix has been applied for an issue that sometimes caused the Home Lock Screen widget to display incorrect data, for example. Apple also says that Lock Screen wallpapers might not have displayed correctly previously — that’s been dealt with, too.

It’s fair to say that Apple’s best iPhone has had more than its fair share of issues since its release in September of last year. The iPhone 14 lineup experienced issues at launch when some people couldn’t activate their new handset, while others reported camera issues. But bugs were later dealt with by yet more software updates. 

People are really having to dig to find new features and changes in the latest developer betas of iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, tvOS, and macOS.

Today, Apple released the second developer betas of iOS 16.3, iPadOS 16.3, watchOS 9.3, macOS Ventura 13.2, and tvOS 16.3. So far, only one notable change has been discovered and it has to do with how users make an emergency phone call with their iPhones.

As discovered by 9to5Mac, the second developer beta of iOS 16.3 appears to change how users activate an emergency call on the iPhone when using the "Call with Hold" method. Before today's beta, pressing and holding the iPhone's power and one of the volume buttons would start a countdown. Once the countdown was complete, that would initiate a call to emergency services.

With the second developer beta of iOS 16.3, Apple has changed this method to "Call with Hold and Release." Now, even when the countdown is complete, users will need to let go of the buttons in order to initiate the call to emergency services. 

As Apple explains, "if you continuously hold the side button and either volume button, a countdown begins and an alarm sounds. After the countdown, if you release the buttons, iPhone will call emergency services."

It's currently unclear if Apple plans to make the change public or is just experimenting with changing the method during the beta process. Features in betas are commonly changed, so we'll need to wait to see if the change continues to show up in future betas and, of course, the public beta and public releases.

What else is coming with the next software release?

One other thing that we also know is coming with iOS 16.3, iPadOS 16.3, and macOS 13.2 Ventura is support for physical security keys that connect to your devices and offer an additional level of verification.

Apple says that Security Keys are designed for "users who, often due to their public profile, face concerted threats to their online accounts, such as celebrities, journalists, and members of government. For users who opt in, Security Keys strengthens Apple’s two-factor authentication by requiring a hardware security key as one of the two factors. This takes our two-factor authentication even further, preventing even an advanced attacker from obtaining a user’s second factor in a phishing scam."

The company says that support for physical security keys will be available to all users "globally in early 2023." Until then, the feature is only available to developers and public beta users.

We also know that, with the new round of software updates, Apple is also planning to roll out dynamic instruction on how to transfer music from an iPhone to a HomePod or HomePod mini using the Handoff feature. It's a relatively small update but a meaningful one for those who would like to bounce music between their phone and speakers around their home but lack the knowledge on how to do so.

After two developer betas for the next round of software updates, we have changes on how to make an emergency phone call, security keys, and instructions on how to use Handoff to HomePods. Hopefully, there's more in the future!

Apple recently introduced Lockdown Mode in its iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura updates. This sounds like a serious feature, and it is. But Apple says it's only designed to be used in "extremely rare and highly sophisticated cyber attacks."

What we're talking about here is people who might fall victim to pretty serious digital threats because of what they do, think journalists, activists, politicians, celebrities, whistleblowers and the like. So the majority of people will never need Lockdown Mode.

But if you think you might be at risk of this kind of attack, what Lockdown Mode does is literally lockdown most of the features of your phone, essentially keeping your personal data and information as safe as possible in the process.

In this guide we'll explain what Lockdown Mode is, who might need it and how to activate it on your iPhone, iPad or Mac.

What is Lockdown Mode and who is it for?

So what is Lockdown Mode? Essentially, it is a very tight security feature that is designed to protect those who are the most vulnerable or at risk of "highly targeted cyberattacks," specifically from private companies that have developed state-sponsored spyware. 

The target group mostly includes journalists and activists. However, Lockdown Mode is optional and available to anyone who just wants to add the tightest level of security to their device.

Once Lockdown Mode is enabled, the device is at an "extreme" level of security because it severely restricts or completely disables certain features, apps, and even websites. Lockdown Mode was added in the third developer betas of iOS 16 and iPadOS 16, and this is what it will affect:

• Messages: Most message attachments are blocked except for images. Link previews and other features may also not be available.
• FaceTime: Incoming FaceTime calls from people you have not previously called are blocked.
• Web Browsing: Some web technologies and browsing features are blocked. This can include more complex features, like certain forms of JavaScript.
• Shared Albums: Shared albums will be removed from the Photos app and new Shared Albums invitations will be blocked.
• Device Connections: Wired connections with another device or accessory while your iPhone or iPad is locked are blocked.
• Apple Services: Incoming invitations from others for Apple Services that you have not previously connected with are blocked.
• Profiles: Configuration profiles, such as profiles for school or work, cannot be installed.

These are just the start of the protections that Apple is making available with Lockdown Mode. Apple has stated that more restrictions will be added to Lockdown Mode as time goes on.

How to enable Lockdown Mode on iPhone or iPad

Remember, even though Lockdown Mode is targeted at those who are at risk for cyberattacks, anyone can turn on Lockdown Mode. If you have the latest version of the iOS 16 or iPadOS 16, here's how to enable Lockdown Mode.

1. Launch Settings on your device.
2. Tap Privacy & Security.
3. Scroll all the way to the bottom and tap Lockdown Mode.

4. Tap Turn On Lockdown Mode.
5. Read through the information about Lockdown Mode and then scroll down to tap Turn On Lockdown Mode.
6. Tap Turn On & Restart to confirm and enable, or Cancel if you change your mind.

As you can see, when you enable Lockdown Mode, it will require a restart of your iPhone or iPad. Once that is done, your device will be restricted on certain features, apps, and websites as stated above.

How to enable Lockdown Mode on Mac

Lockdown Mode needs to be enabled separately on each device. So if you activate it on an iPhone and would like to lockdown your Mac as well, you'll need to do that manually afterwards. 

1. Choose the Apple menu and go to System Settings.
2. Click Privacy & Security from the sidebar.
3. You should see Lockdown Mode from the options, click Turn On.
4. You may have to enter your password.
5. Click Turn On & Restart.

More security is always welcome

Since our devices can contain such sensitive data, it's important to keep that information safe and secure. The first step is to always have a password or passcode on your device, and then make sure you have Touch ID or Face ID enabled. There are other security measures that you can do as well, such as turning off Location Services, enabling App Tracking Transparency, and more.

But Lockdown Mode takes things to an entirely new level when it comes to security. This new security feature will heavily restrict and limit access on the device for specific features, apps, and websites, which can be very useful for specific situations. Again, while it's targeted for a small number of users, anyone can turn it on if they want to.

There's one big feature to enjoy in the latest round of public beta releases.

Today, Apple rolled out the public beta versions of iOS 16.3, iPadOS 16.3, and macOS Ventura 13.2. The launch comes two days after the company released the developer betas. Now, public beta testers that are part of the Apple Beta Software Program can dive into one of the big changes coming with the new software versions.

There aren't a lot of new features that have been discovered with the first betas for iOS 16.3, iPadOS 16.3, and macOS Ventura 13.2 just yet, but there is one change that will mean a lot for those looking to increase the security of their devices: support for physical security keys.

Physical security keys are here

In the latest developer betas for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS that Apple released earlier this week, the company added support for physical security keys that connect to your devices and offer an additional level of verification. While the company has not provided release notes for the public betas, the feature is likely included on those betas as well.

Apple says that Security Keys are designed for "users who, often due to their public profile, face concerted threats to their online accounts, such as celebrities, journalists, and members of government. For users who opt in, Security Keys strengthens Apple’s two-factor authentication by requiring a hardware security key as one of the two factors. This takes our two-factor authentication even further, preventing even an advanced attacker from obtaining a user’s second factor in a phishing scam."

The company says that support for physical security keys will be available to all users "globally in early 2023." Until then, developer and public beta users can jump ahead of the line and give the feature a try.

At the same time that the company announced support for physical security keys, Apple also revealed its new Advanced Data Protection feature that offers end-to-end encryption for iCloud backups. That started rolling out to users with iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, and macOS Ventura 13.1.

HomePod handoff gets easier

The latest iOS 16.3 public beta also launched dynamic instruction on how to transfer music from an iPhone to a HomePod or HomePod mini using the Handoff feature. It's a relatively small update but a meaningful one for those who would like to bounce music between their phone and speakers around their home but lack the knowledge on how to do so.

Handoff for the HomePod mini isn't a new feature. It has technically been around for years. However, if you never hovered your iPhone near your speaker, you'd likely have never even realized it exists. Apple seems to want to help more users discover the feature in the new iOS beta.

Other than physical security keys and the HomePod update, the new betas haven't featured much. That'll likely change as newer versions of the betas are released over the coming weeks.

Apple has released the first round of developer betas for the newest software coming to the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV. The company released the public versions of its major updates earlier this week, rolling out iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2.

With this week's developer releases, you can now download the first developer betas of iOS 16.3, iPadOS 16.3, macOS 13.2, watchOS 9.3, and tvOS 16.3.

As usual, release notes are scarce, but some new features are already out in the open.

iOS 16.3 beta

Apple just rolled out iOS 16.2 to the general public, bringing with it a few major upgrades (including 5G support for an additional 1.4 billion people!). That includes the new Freeform app, Apple Music Sing, Advanced Data Protection, and more. 

Officially, there are no new release notes for Apple's iOS 16.3 beta. The major change is support for physical security keys, which comes to all of the aforementioned betas in this release. Announced by Apple last week, the new feature will let you use third-party hardware security keys to protect your iCloud account and Apple ID, strengthening two-factor authentication. This feature is expected to be available early next year.

Like the other betas here, we'd expect iOS 16.3 to be released to the general public sometime in early 2023.

Apple has also added a new guidance screen for transferring music from your iPhone to your HomePod. Users on iOS 16 can hand off music to a HomePod mini by moving their iPhone near the device. This new screen tells users in more detail how to do this. Handoff was introduced in 2021, but this new screen may help more users take advantage of the feature, especially since the HomePod mini has become available in several more countries since the feature was first rolled out. 

iPadOS 16.3 beta

iPadOS 16.2 brought all the aforementioned upgrades of iOS 16.2, namely Freeform, Apple Music Sing, Advanced Data Protection, and more. It also brings back External Display Support for Stage Manager on Apple's best iPads, the M1 and M2 iPad Pro and iPad Air models.

Again, there are no official notes, but Security Keys support also comes to the iPad with the first beta of iOS 16.3.

This will almost certainly be released at the same time as iOS 16.3 early next year. 

macOS Ventura 13.2 beta

macOS 13.1 brought with it Freeform and ADP when it was released earlier this week. 

Alongside Security Keys support, macOS 13.2 fixes a regression in Ventura 13.1 " that prevented daemons from being registered with SMAppService."  Apple "also fixed, toggling items on or off in Login Items may cause items to be ungrouped or deleted."

Like iPadOS and iOS 16.3, expect macOS Ventura 13.2 to be released early next year. 

watchOS 9.3 beta

watchOS 9.2 added a new Race Route feature, a kickboxing algorithm for workouts, and better Outdoor Run detection for when you arrive at a running track. 

Apple watchOS 9.3 doesn't bring any major new features or changes at first glance, but that doesn't mean there aren't any hiding under the hood. watchOS 9.3 will likely be available early in 2023.  

tvOS 16.3

tvOS 16.2 actually brought a few major updates this week. That includes a new Siri Recognize My Voice feature which supports up to six different voices for easier personal requests and profile switching. Siri and Watch Now have both been re-designed and the former got some new languages. Apple Music Sing arrived and the new HomeKit Architecture that will support Matter and generally better connectivity has arrived. 

There aren't any new release notes for tvOS 16.3, and no sign of any new features yet. 

We'd expect tvOS 16.2 to debut early next year. 

Disclaimer

Apple occasionally offers updates to iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, tvOS, and macOS as closed developer previews or public betas (opens in new tab). While the betas contain new features, they also contain pre-release bugs that can prevent the normal use of your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV, or Mac, and are not intended for everyday use on a primary device. That's why we strongly recommend staying away from developer previews unless you need them for software development, and using the public betas with caution. If you depend on your devices, wait for the final release.