Unlocking the Best: iPadOS 17 & iOS 17 Features Unveiled

iOS 17.3 was recently released by Apple for iPhones and iPads. Get the most recent upgrades, which include protection against stolen devices.

Experience the future with iPadOS 17 and iOS 17. Dive into groundbreaking features, including the revolutionary Stolen Device Protection, ensuring ultimate security for your Apple devices.

Unveil the wonders of iPadOS 17 and iOS 17, showcasing a plethora of innovative features such as Stolen Device Protection, Contact Posters, and enhanced communication safety. Explore the latest updates and upgrades designed to elevate your Apple experience.

NameDrop, StandBy, Contact Poster. These aren’t rad band names but rather some of the top new features available with iOS 17 and iPadOS 17. The latest operating systems come jam-packed with a ton more useful capabilities—all of which we break down below. We’ve also included instructions on how to download the software for both devices. Be sure to check out our macOS Sonoma feature roundup for all the new features available for Macs.

Updated January 2024: A section on iPadOS 17.3 and iOS 17.3 has been added.

Updated January 2024: A section on iPadOS 17.3 and iOS 17.3 has been added.

Does Your iPad or iPhone Work Together?

Does Your iPad or iPhone Work Together?

With iPads, the naming process is a little more intricate because it counts generations instead of names. The generations listed below are compatible with iPadOS 17. By following the instructions given, you may determine which model you have.

With iPads, the naming process is a little more intricate because it counts generations instead of names. The generations listed below are compatible with iPadOS 17. By following the instructions given, you may determine which model you have.

To find out more about the newest models, see our roundups of the Best iPads and Best iPhones.

How to Set Up iOS 17

You can now officially install iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 after completing that. You should make sure your devices are linked to Wi-Fi and plugged into a charger because this is a significant update. Next, select Software Update under Settings > General. After that, you’ll have the choice to download the update. To start the update, select Install Now after the download is finished and select Download and Install. Your device will restart when the update is finished. We advise running the process when you don’t need to use your device because it can take some time.

Updates to the New iOS 17 Version

Updates to the New iOS 17 Version

The following is a list of the most anticipated features in iOS and iPadOS 17, yet Apple delivers new upgrades all year long. These consist of new features not present in the original release as well as security updates and bug fixes. Go to Settings > General > Software Update on your iPhone and follow the preceding instructions to update it to the most recent operating system version.

iOS 17.3: This version brings support for AirPlay in hotels, collaborative playlists with Apple Music, protection against stolen devices, and the option to view AppleCare and warranty information in Settings. Information on these features has been included below.

iOS 17.2: This update brings with it the brand-new Journal app, improved AutoFill for PDFs, the catch-up arrow in Messages, Contact Key Verification, Live Sticker reactions in Messages, the ability to customize your default notification sound, a focus filter in Apple Music, a Translate feature for the Action Button (on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max), and much more. Information on these features has been included below.

iOS 17.1: This update brings new Music capabilities, new display options in StandBy mode, and an improvement to AirDrop transfers. Additionally, Apple incorporated a number of bug updates, including as improvements to the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 models’ crash detection, a workaround for a problem that makes the keyboard less snappy, support for Matter locks with the Home Key, and more. The complete list is available here. Information on these features has been included below.

Select a topic to browse: iOS 17 Features, Device Compatibility, How to Install, iPad-Only Features

Many of the most important features of the latest operating system version are enumerated below; as Apple rolls out incremental upgrades throughout the year, we’ll keep adding noteworthy additions. Visit Apple’s website to get the complete list of changes.

To help protect your personal information and accounts in case your iPhone ever gets stolen by someone who knows your passcode, Apple introduced Stolen Device Protection. Available with iOS 17.3, some actions (like access to credit cards and stored passwords) will require Touch ID or Face ID authentication—without the ability to enter a passcode as an alternative. Other actions, like changing your Apple ID password, will require waiting an hour and then performing a second biometric authentication if you aren’t at home. To turn the Stolen Device Protection on, go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode, enter your passcode, and tap Turn on Protection.

Protection Against Stolen Devices

Contact Posters are like pretty business cards but for when you’re calling someone already in your address book. You can customize the screen that will pop up when anyone gets your call (if they have an iPhone) with a photo or Memoji of yourself and throw in a custom font and color. These will work with third-party calling apps and will also pop up in your Contacts app and other areas where you share your information, such as NameDrop. You can edit your Contact Poster in the Contacts app. Tap your name, and tap Edit at the top right.

New Contact Posters

What’s NameDrop? It’s an AirDrop feature that lets you put two iPhones next to each other to share contact information with the other person. You can choose on the screen what emails and phone numbers you want to share. (It’s very reminiscent of Bump and Android Beam, both of which are now defunct.) Bringing two iPhones together won’t trigger only NameDrop, though. You can also use this action to share content or start SharePlay activities together, like listening to the same music. Soon, you’ll also be able to send your contact information to an Apple Watch (as long as it’s a Series 7 or later, Apple Watch SE 2nd generation, or Apple Watch Ultra or later).

Using NameDrop and AirDrop

Real-time Voicemail

With Google’s Pixel phones, you can see a live transcription of a call before you answer it thanks to Call Screen. These days, iPhones have a comparable feature that targets voicemails more than spam and robocalls. You can watch the voicemail being transcribed in real time on your screen when someone leaves you a message. If it’s urgent, you can then decide to take the call right away.

Upgrades to FaceTime and Messages

The Messages app has a lot of great little adjustments accessible. Firstly, the top of the keyboard is now free of clutter from your iMessage apps. They currently reside inside a little “+” symbol. It will organize the list according to the apps you use the most when you tap it to expand them. To view the remaining iMessage apps, swipe up. You can now swipe to the right on any message to reply to it while replying to messages.

You may now view someone else’s location right in the conversation when they share it with you in iMessage, saving you from having to exit the app. When they send you an audio message, the transcription appears right away underneath it, which is helpful if you can’t listen to it right away.

You may now view someone else’s location right in the conversation when they share it with you in iMessage, saving you from having to exit the app. When they send you an audio message, the transcription appears right away underneath it, which is helpful if you can’t listen to it right away.

Combine Editing Images

Combine Editing Images

Adoration for Stickers

Apple is placing a big emphasis on Stickers in iOS 17, so much so that they’re now built into the emoji keyboard, making them more accessible in third-party apps. Last year’s iOS 16 brought the ability to cut out a subject from any image you capture by just tapping and holding it, and now you can turn these into your own stickers for big meme potential. You can add effects to these stickers and even create Live Stickers with Live Photos. Make embarrassing stickers of friends on demand. Truly, we’re on the best timeline. With iOS 17.2, you can also react to individual message bubbles with a sticker.

Putting iPhone on Standby

Google Pixel phones have a feature that turns them into a smart display when placed on one of Google’s own wireless chargers. Apple is going even further with StandBy. This enables any iPhone to turn into a more useful display while charging in landscape mode. You can have it show the clock (with different clock designs available), photos from your library, or interactive widgets. If you specifically place it on a MagSafe charger, your iPhone will remember your preferred view. Be sure to check out our Best Apple 3-in-1 Chargers guide if you want to take advantage of this feature.

Putting iPhone on Standby

Improved Autocorrection

Improved Autocorrection

New Features for Communication Safety

With iOS 17, Apple’s Communication Safety feature—which helps shield children from seeing photographs of people in naked status in iMessage—has been extended. These safeguards are now available for use with other iOS services and applications, such as AirDrop, Contact Posters, FaceTime messaging, and Live Stickers. It also functions with video files. The feature, which blurs sensitive images and videos and lets you decide whether to view them, is equally useful for adults. According to Apple, your device processes all images and videos for these security measures; Apple does not receive any data.

With iOS 17, Apple’s Communication Safety feature—which helps shield children from seeing photographs of people in naked status in iMessage—has been extended. These safeguards are now available for use with other iOS services and applications, such as AirDrop, Contact Posters, FaceTime messaging, and Live Stickers. It also functions with video files. The feature, which blurs sensitive images and videos and lets you decide whether to view them, is equally useful for adults. According to Apple, your device processes all images and videos for these security measures; Apple does not receive any data.

Transfers with AirDrop

You don’t have to wait for the transfer to finish if someone is sharing high-resolution media with you and it will take some time to complete. The files will be sent over the internet, so you can go away.

You can now touch on a new “catch-up arrow” to go to the first new message when you enter a chat with dozens of new messages. In this manner, you may locate it quickly without having to scroll.

You can now touch on a new “catch-up arrow” to go to the first new message when you enter a chat with dozens of new messages. In this manner, you may locate it quickly without having to scroll.

iMessage Verification of Contact Key

An Innovative Journal App

An Innovative Journal App

As the name implies, the purpose of the new Journal app, available for iOS 17.2, is to jot down your ideas and memories. You may also create goals and include images, music, and audio files with your diary entries. According to Apple, Journal leverages machine learning on-device to recommend moments throughout your day for writing.

Improved AutoFill for Documents

If you work with PDFs on a regular basis, you will be thrilled to use this tool. In addition to allowing you to rapidly add details, the software employs machine learning to detect the fields in a PDF. You can now organize, read, annotate, and collaborate on PDFs using the Notes app.

Apple is letting you log your daily moods in the Health app, with access to depression and anxiety assessments typically found in clinics (and other resources). Also, if you are using Apple’s Screen Time feature for your kids, there’s now a Screen Distance tool that will use the TrueDepth camera to encourage children to move further away if they are holding the phone closer than 12 inches from their face for an extended period. Apple says this can help lower the risk of myopia and reduce digital eyestrain in adults. Additionally, the Health app is finally available on the iPad. When you update to iOS 17.2, you can use Siri to ask Health app-related questions like “What’s my blood oxygen?” or “How much have I slept this week?”

Health App

AirPlay Hotel

Apple is introducing AirPlay to lodging facilities. To transfer movies, pictures, and music from your mobile to the big screen, simply scan a QR code on the TV. Apple claims that IHG Hotels & Resorts’ brands will be its initial focus.

Listen to Apple Music

You can now “favorite” albums and playlists in addition to singles. After that, you’ll be able to sort those favorites by category.

With iOS 17.3, you may ask friends to join a playlist and give them the power to rearrange, add, or remove music. This is known as the collaborative playlists function. Emojis can also be used as a response to individual songs in such playlists.

With iOS 17.3, you may ask friends to join a playlist and give them the power to rearrange, add, or remove music. This is known as the collaborative playlists function. Emojis can also be used as a response to individual songs in such playlists.

Additional New Modifications

There are several minor enhancements that are noteworthy:

Select a topic to browse: iOS 17 Features, Device Compatibility, How to Install, iPad-Only Features

As usual, iPadOS 17 includes many of the same improvements that we discussed in iOS 17, but it also includes other updates that are only available on tablets. You may view the complete list on Apple’s overview page.

Modifications to the Lock Screen

A regular tablet may now be transformed into a smart display with Google’s new Pixel Tablet, and iPadOS 17’s lock screen modifications reflect some of Apple’s similar thinking. Now that the lock screen has far more customization options, you can add Live Activities to keep an eye on things like timers, gaming scores, and the status of your Uber Eats order in addition to new backgrounds and Live Photo wallpapers. In order to accomplish more without having to unlock the screen and open an app, you can now add interactive widgets to the lock screen.

Updates for Safari

This is another of the few changes to Safari in iPadOS 17 that also applies to iOS 17. You can now divide your surfing into professional and personal profiles in Safari, as well as other categories, by dividing your cookies, history, Tab Groups, and Favorites. Making use of Private Browsing on Apple? In the event that you need to leave your computer, you can now lock the tabs using Face ID or Touch ID rather than totally closing them.

You can now establish a group of people with whom you can share certain accounts if you save your passkey and passwords in Safari. The passwords remain current, and you have the ability to remove someone from the group at any moment. In related news, if you get a one-time verification code in Mail, Safari will automatically fill it in for you, saving you the trouble of looking for the email.

Supervisor of Stages

Freestyle

Freestyle

A few more tools are being added to Freeform, the collaborative whiteboard app that Apple released in 2017. (This is applicable to iOS 17 and all other Apple platforms where Freeform is used.) A watercolor brush, calligraphy pen, highlighter, variable-width pen, and ruler are among the new tools. Additionally, you may now create any form, and the software will improve it, saving you from feeling self-conscious about your poorly drawn circles.

Additionally, Freeform now offers a tool called Follow Along that allows you to see the portion of the whiteboard that each of your team members is working on. As users navigate the canvas, the screen will display what they are looking at. Very useful for large whiteboards!

Conclusion

Embrace the future with iPadOS 17 and iOS 17, where innovation meets seamless functionality. With revolutionary features like Stolen Device Protection and Contact Posters, Apple continues to redefine user experience and security standards. Upgrade now to unlock the full potential of your devices and stay ahead in the digital realm.