iOS 17.1 just got released — 5 new features coming to your iPhone
Apple has dropped iOS 17.1, the first major update we've seen since iOS 17 in September.
Only users with an iPhone Xs or newer will have the opportunity to run iOS 17.1, including iPhone Xs Max, iPhone Xr, and the iPhone 11 series. The second- and third-generation iPhone SE models also support iOS 17.1.
Curious about new iOS features coming to your iPhone? Here are some of the most important.
5 best features coming to iPhone via iOS 17.1
Out of the minor tweaks and modifications Apple made to iOS, these are the most eye-catching:
You can now continue AirDrop transfers over a cellular connection if two connected iDevices move out of the Wi-Fi range.
A new "Favorites" feature in Apple Music allows you to add artists, songs, albums, and playlists, all of which teach the app what kind of music you like. In other words, the app will be more knowledgable about what to recommend to you.
In StandBy Mode, Apple updated the Settings menu, giving you more control over when the display turns off.
The flashlight indicator for Dynamic Island, previously limited to the iPhone 15 Pro, is now available to all compatible iPhones.
Phone Shuffle, a feature that lets you shuffle a set of pictures for your lock screen, now lets you choose from a particular album.
For a more thorough look at all the new tweaks coming to IOS 17.1 – as well as some bug fixes – check out Apple's official release notes.
The new iPadOS, version 17.1 is also available. You can download both updates by going to Settings > General > Software Update. Tap on Download, Install — and in a few minutes, your iOS device will be up to date.
Kimberly Gedeon, at Mashable since 2023, is a tech explorer who enjoys doing deep dives into the most popular gadgets, from the latest iPhones to the most immersive VR headsets. She's drawn to strange, avant-garde, bizarre tech, whether it's a 3D laptop, a gaming rig that can transform into a briefcase, or smart glasses that can capture video. Her journalism career kicked off about a decade ago at MadameNoire where she covered tech and business before landing as a tech editor at Laptop Mag in 2020.
