It’s been over a month since the release of iOS 17.4, which brought new emojis and a few other features here in the United States, but brought a massive change for users in the European Union. Per the Digital Markets Act, iPhones running iOS 17.4 and later now allow third-party app stores and browser engines, have new policies and terms for App Store apps, and more .
iOS 17.5 isn’t as monumental, but it still brings a few new features that users here and in the EU will appreciate. And it might be the last one we’ll get for a while: With iOS 18 arriving at WWDC in a few weeks, Apple’s iOS 17 development will likely slow down a bit. Here’s everything you need to know about iOS 17.5:
iOS 17.5 New Features
The most notable new feature concerns the EU again: Apple now lets users download apps from a developer’s website instead of just an App Store. However, there are also new features for US users. In partnership with Google, Apple has finally introduced cross-platform tracking detection that will send notifications to users if a compatible Bluetooth tracker (AirTag and third-party devices) that they don’t own moves with them, regardless of operating system of the device. paired with.
If you need to send a broken iPhone to the Apple Store, a new Repair Status mode will let you keep Find My and Activation Lock enabled while still allowing technicians to access your phone. The update also includes new Pride Month wallpapers in five different color schemes. Additionally, there are new features for Apple News+ subscribers:
- Offline mode in Apple News+ gives you access to the Today feed and the News+ tab, even when you don’t have an Internet connection.
- Quartiles is a new original daily word game now available on Apple News+
- The dashboard in News+ Puzzles gives you access to new player data for crosswords, mini crosswords and quartiles, including stats and streaks.
iOS 17.5 security updates
There are more than a dozen security updates in iOS 17.5 that include important fixes for AppleAVD (the audio and video decoder), FindMy, Maps, and Notes, as well as two critical fixes that could lead to code execution arbitrary :
Core
- Impact: an attacker can cause an application to stop unexpectedly or execute arbitrary code.
- Description: The issue was resolved with improved memory management.
Webkit
- Impact: An attacker with arbitrary read and write capabilities may be able to bypass pointer authentication.
- Description: The issue has been resolved with enhanced controls.
To learn more about each, visit Apple’s page on iOS 17.5 and iPadOS 17.5 security content. Suffice it to say that there are many fixes for multiple apps and frameworks – lots of “surface” as they say – so it is recommended that you update your iPhone and iPad as soon as possible.
iOS 17.5: how to install
You’ll probably be prompted to install iOS 17.5 eventually, but it could take days or even weeks. If you want to update immediately, follow these steps:
- Open the setting.
- Faucet General
- Faucet Software update
- You will see the update appear, tap Download and install (Or Install now if your iPhone has already downloaded it)
- You will need to enter your password and your iPhone will restart after downloading and installing the update.
Find out everything you need to know about iOS 17 in our iOS 17 superguide.
