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iOS 17
Version of the iOS operating system
iOS 17 homescreen on an iPhone 13
DeveloperApple Inc.
Written inCOBOL, C, C++, Objective-C, Swift, assembly language, Python
OS familyiOS
General
availability		September 18, 2023; 4 months ago (2023-09-18)
Latest release17.3[1] (January 22, 2024; 15 days ago (2024-01-22)) [±]
Latest preview17.4 beta 1[2] (January 25, 2024; 12 days ago (2024-01-25)) [±]
Available in42 languages[3]
Kernel typeHybrid (XNU)
LicenseProprietary software with open-source components
Preceded byiOS 16
Official websiteapple.com/ios/ios-17
TaglineEvery day. More extraordinary.
Support status
Supported. Drops support for all A11 Bionic chips, including the iPhone 8/8 Plus and iPhone X.
Articles in the series
iPadOS 17 (derivative for iPad)

iOS 17 is the seventeenth and current major release of Apple's iOS operating system for the iPhone. It is the direct successor to iOS 16, which was released a year earlier. It was announced on June 5, 2023, at Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference alongside watchOS 10, iPadOS 17, and macOS Sonoma. It was made publicly available on September 18, 2023 as a free software update for supported iOS devices (see the supported devices section).[4] iOS 17 receives new security and bug fix updates multiple times a month, and gets new feature updates every few months (and will continue to get feature updates until the release of iOS 18). Beta builds are sent out on a weekly/biweekly basis for members of Apple's Developer Program and public beta testers. As with every release since iOS 4, these updates are available at no additional cost to users.

Development

According to Mark Gurman, iOS 17's internal codename is Dawn. Apple initially intended iOS 17 as a "tuneup release", similarly to iOS 12 and Mac OS X Snow Leopard, allowing them to focus on their new mixed reality headset. Despite this, several major features were eventually added later in the development cycle.[5][6][7]

Features

User interface

Home screen widgets can contain buttons and other interactive elements, rather than only launching an app when tapped.[8] When the phone is charging and oriented horizontally, the iPhone enters a new StandBy mode, which shows widgets and Live Activities. The Siri voice assistant can be invoked with "Siri" instead of "Hey Siri", and does not need to be reinvoked for consecutive questions.[9]

The keyboard's autocorrection and dictation are powered by a new on-device transformer model, which Apple says is more accurate and personalized to users' writing styles. Unlike previous versions of iOS, it can learn not to autocorrect swear words.[10][11] Autocorrected words are underlined, and can be reverted with a tap. Word predictions are shown inline, and added when the spacebar is tapped.[12]

Social

With Contact Posters, users can customize the appearance of the incoming call screen shown to other iPhone users. Customization options are similar to iOS 16's revamped lock screen, with the ability to pick a custom picture or Memoji as the contact photo, and change their name's font and color. On the incoming call screen, a new Live Voicemail button sends the call to voicemail and shows a live transcript on-screen, so the user can decide whether to pick up the call.[9][additional citation(s) needed]

AirDrop file transfers continue over the Internet if devices become out of reach. By tapping an iPhone or Apple Watch against another, users can initiate an AirDrop file transfer, a shared activity with SharePlay, or exchange a customizable contact card with a new feature called NameDrop.[13]

The Messages app has a new "Check In" feature. The user picks a contact and sets a destination, and Check In notifies the contact once the user reaches the destination safely. If the user stops moving towards the destination and does not respond to prompts, the user's location, route, and battery level are automatically shared with the contact. The contact otherwise has no access to the user's location, and this information is encrypted end-to-end.[14][15][16] The Messages app also shows a transcript of voice messages. Emojis and photo cutouts (created through the "remove subject from background" tool) can be used as stickers, and stamped on bubbles in iMessage conversations or in other apps.[17][9]

Health

The Health app lets users log and label their mood, and can show how their mood correlates to various lifestyle factors over time. The app also let users take standardized mental health assessments for anxiety and depression.[18] To reduce eye strain and lower the risk of myopia, Screen Distance can notify users when they hold their iPhone too close to their face and prompt them to move their phone to a safer distance.[19][20] Users can be notified if they forget to log that they have taken their medication. Apple Fitness+ can give users custom workout plans, set workouts or meditations to play consecutively, or separately change the volume of the music and the instructor's voice.[21]

Accessibility

Personal Voice uses machine learning to let users recreate their own voice as a text-to-speech model.[22] The feature is aimed at those who are at risk of losing their ability to speak (such as those with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) and offers the chance to "create a voice that sounds like them" for communication. It integrates seamlessly with Live Speech so users can speak with their Personal Voice. Point and Speak makes it easier for users with vision disabilities to interact with physical objects that have several text labels. For example, while using a microwave, Point and Speak combines input from the Camera app, the LiDAR Scanner, and on-device machine learning to announce the text on each button as users move their finger across the keypad.

Security and privacy

One-time verification codes received in Mail can be filled in with a tap without leaving Safari.

Link-tracking protection detects user-definable tracking parameters in link URLs and automatically removes them. It is automatically enabled in Mail, Messages, and when browsing with Safari in Private Mode.

Shared group passwords allows the user to create groups of passwords to share with family and friends. Users can recover passwords for up to 30 days. After changing the lock screen passcode, the old code can be used for 72 hours to reset the new passcode if it is forgotten. There's also a button to expire previous passcode immediately.

iOS 17 contains several changes for app permissions. When an app wants to add an event to the user's Calendar, the event is added without the app being able to read the entire contents of the calendar. When apps ask to access the user’s entire photo library, the user can share specific photos with apps while keeping the rest of library private.

A sensitive content warning detects nudity in photos and videos received in AirDrop and other apps, obscuring them with a blur effect before they are displayed.

Lockdown mode can block the iPhone from connecting to 2G cellular networks and from auto-joining insecure wireless networks, and it disables more APIs in Safari susceptible to being attacked, such as IndexedDB, File API, FileReader API, WebSpeech API, WebLocks API, and more.[23] Apple's simultaneously-announced watchOS 10 gains support for Lockdown mode, and the mode is automatically enabled on Apple Watch when it is enabled on a paired iPhone.

Bundled apps

iOS 17 bundles a new app, Journal, an end-to-end encrypted journaling app that lets users log their daily activities.[24] FaceTime adds the ability for callers to leave a video or audio message when the recipient is unavailable, and adds reaction effects that are triggered by gestures.[25] Apple Music adds collaborative playlists,[26] and cross-fading between songs.[27] Apple Maps supports offline maps, and can display charging stations for electric vehicles, with real-time information.[28][29] Safari supports profiles, which each have their own cookies and extensions. Private browsing can be protected by Face ID, text-to-speech is built-into Safari,[30] and support for JPEG XL[31] and HEIC is added.[32] The Photos app can show recipes for the food in the photograph, and gains supports Visual Look Up in videos,[27] and can recognize and categorize pets within the People album, renamed the "People and Pets" album.[29] Find My supports sharing AirTags with up to five people. The sharing feature had been requested by users for years, since AirTags' anti-stalking feature resulted in unwanted alerts for friends and family members carrying unrecognized AirTags.[33] The Clock app supports multiple simultaneous timers.[34]

Known issues

Main article: Issues relating to iOS § iOS 17

Supported devices

iOS 17 requires an A12 Bionic SoC or later. It drops support for iPhones with A11 Bionic[a] chips, officially marking the end of support for 5.5-inch iPhones. iOS 17 is also the first iOS version to drop support for an iPhone with Face ID and no "Home" button.

Those using either A12 Bionic[b] or A13 Bionic[c] have limited support[d] while those using A14 Bionic and later[e] are fully supported.[35]

Devices that support iOS 17 are as follows.[36][37][38]

Release history

The first developer beta of iOS 17 was released on June 5, 2023.[39] Unlike previous years, the developer beta program is open to anyone with a free Apple Developer account, without requiring a subscription.[40]

Previous release Current release Current beta release Security response
Version Build Release date Release notes
17.0 21A326

21A327

September 22, 2023 Initial release for iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max
21A329 September 18, 2023 Release notes

Developer Documentation

All models except iPhone 15 and 15 Pro

21A331 iPhone 15 and 15 Pro models only
17.0.1 21A340 September 21, 2023 Release notes

Security content

All models except iPhone 15 and 15 Pro

17.0.2 21A350 Release notes

iPhone 15 and 15 Pro models only

21A351 September 26, 2023 Release notes

All models except iPhone 15 and 15 Pro

17.0.3 21A360 October 4, 2023 Release notes

Security content

17.1 21B74 October 25, 2023 Release notes

Security content

Developer documentation

All models except iPhone 15 and 15 Pro

21B80 iPhone 15 and 15 Pro models only
17.1.1 21B91 November 7, 2023 Release notes
17.1.2 21B101 November 30, 2023 Release notes

Security content

17.2 21C62 December 11, 2023 Release notes

Security content

17.2.1 21C66 December 19, 2023 Release notes
17.3 21D50 January 22, 2024 Release notes

Security content

17.4 beta 1 21E5184i January 25, 2024 Developer documentation
21E5184k January 30, 2024

Reception

Reception for iOS 17 upon release was generally positive,[41][42][43] praising the new Contact Posters, Check In, and StandBy mode. Critics also praised the improvements to stickers, widgets, text prediction, the Camera app, Shortcuts, verification codes, and the Reminders app.[43] However, media outlets criticized the lack of the Journal app that was announced during the iOS 17 segment in the keynote.[42][43] The Journal app was later released, first as part of the iOS 17.2 beta to developers and public beta testers, then to the general public as part of the iOS 17.2 stable release.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ iPhone 8, 8 Plus and X
  2. ^ iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR
  3. ^ iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max, and the second-generation SE
  4. ^ Effect reactions, inline word prediction and completion with the tap of the spacebar, and Point and speak will not be available on devices older than the iPhone 12 series.
  5. ^ Fourteenth-generation iPhones (iPhone 12, 12 Mini, 12 Pro, and 12 Pro Max) and newer

References

  1. ^ Clover, Juli (January 22, 2024). "Apple Releases iOS 17.3 and iPadOS 17.3 With Stolen Device Protection, Collaborative Apple Music Playlists and More". MacRumors. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  2. ^ Clover, Juli (January 25, 2024). "Apple Seeds First Betas of iOS 17.4 and iPadOS 17.4 to Developers". MacRumors. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  3. ^ "iPhone 15 – Technical Specifications". Apple. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  4. ^ Clover, Juli (September 18, 2023). "Apple Releases iOS 17 With StandBy, Live Voicemail, Improved Autocorrect, FaceTime Video Messages and Tons More". MacRumors. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  5. ^ Gurman, Mark (January 8, 2023). "Apple Will Talk Up Its Mixed-Reality Headset in 2023 But Not Much Else". Bloomberg News. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  6. ^ Malik, Aisha (March 27, 2023). "Apple's iOS 17 may include 'several' requested features". TechCrunch. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  7. ^ Gurman, Mark (May 24, 2023). "Apple Plans to Turn Locked iPhones Into Smart Displays With iOS 17". Bloomberg News. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  8. ^ Rossignol, Joe (June 5, 2023). "iPhone Features Interactive Widgets Starting With iOS 17". MacRumors. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  9. ^ a b c Johnson, Allison (June 5, 2023). "Apple announces iOS 17 with StandBy charging mode and better autocorrect". The Verge. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  10. ^ Hassan, Jennifer (June 6, 2023). "Apple says new iPhone autocorrect will know you don't mean 'duck'". Washington Post. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  11. ^ Vigliarolo, Brandon. "Apple fixes 'ducking' autocorrect in iOS 17". The Register. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  12. ^ Rossignol, Joe (June 5, 2023). "iOS 17 Promises to Dramatically Improve iPhone's Autocorrect". MacRumors. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  13. ^ Malik, Sarah Perez and Aisha (June 5, 2023). "AirDrop in iOS 17 will let you share contact info by bringing two iPhones close together". TechCrunch. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  14. ^ Grothaus, Michael (June 5, 2023). "Exclusive: Apple software chief Craig Federighi on iOS 17's new privacy features, why he's afraid of AI, and why he's not". Fast Company. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  15. ^ Moussie, Stéphane (June 9, 2023). "iOS 17 : comment faire savoir à vos amis que vous êtes bien rentré grâce à Check In". iGeneration (in French). Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  16. ^ Coldewey, Devin (June 5, 2023). "How to tell friends you got home safe with iPhone's new Check In feature". TechCrunch. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  17. ^ Clover, Juli (June 6, 2023). "You Can Turn Your Photos Into Animated Stickers With iOS 17". MacRumors. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  18. ^ Clover, Juli (June 5, 2023). "You Can Log Your Moods and Emotions in iOS 17". MacRumors. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  19. ^ Stanley, Alyse (June 17, 2023). "iOS 17 has a new eye strain reduction feature — here's how it works". Tom's Guide. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  20. ^ Young, Kimberley. "New Apple features put a spotlight on myopia". Optometry Today. Association of Optometrists. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  21. ^ "Apple provides powerful insights into new areas of health". Apple Newsroom. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  22. ^ Velazco, Chris (May 16, 2023). "Apple will let you teach your iPhone to speak in your voice". Washington Post. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  23. ^ "Safari 17 Beta Release Notes". Apple Developer Documentation. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  24. ^ Render, Josh (December 18, 2023). "I tried Apple's Journal app for a week — here's what I found". Tom's Guide. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  25. ^ Eddy, Max (September 18, 2023). "iOS 17 Is Out Now. Here Are the Best New Features". Wirecutter. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  26. ^ Malik, Aisha (January 22, 2024). "Apple Music now lets you create collaborative playlists". TechCrunch. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  27. ^ a b Davis, Wes (June 7, 2023). "All the features Apple didn't mention in its WWDC 2023 keynote". The Verge. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  28. ^ Miller, Chance (August 19, 2023). "iOS 17 adds real-time charging availability info for EV drivers". 9to5Mac. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  29. ^ a b Chokkattu, Julian. "The Top New Features in Apple's iOS 17 and iPadOS 17". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  30. ^ Clover, Juli (September 15, 2023). "iOS 17 Safari Features: Profiles, Locked Private Browser, Shared Passwords, Updated Tracking Prevention and More". MacRumors. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  31. ^ Claburn, Thomas. "Apple adds support for Google-shunned JPEG XL in Safari". The Register. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  32. ^ Angle, Patrick; Avenard, Jean-Yves; Caceres, Marcos; Cannon, Ada Rose; Carlson, Eric; Davidson, Garrett; Davis, Jon; Dubost, Karl; Eidson, Brady (June 6, 2023). "News from WWDC23: WebKit Features in Safari 17 beta". WebKit. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  33. ^ Cipriani, Jason (June 5, 2023). "Apple didn't talk about it, but iOS 17 adds AirTag and Find My device sharing". ZDNET. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  34. ^ Michaels, Philip (September 23, 2023). "Your iPhone can now run multiple timers — here's how to use this iOS 17 feature". Tom's Guide. Retrieved February 2, 2024 – via Yahoo Finance.
  35. ^ "iOS 17 Preview". Apple. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  36. ^ "Here's every iPhone model that will get Apple's iOS 17". ZDNET. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  37. ^ Espósito, Filipe (September 19, 2023). "These are the iPhone models compatible with iOS 17". 9to5Mac. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  38. ^ "No iOS 17 Update on Your iPhone? Here's Why". CNET. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  39. ^ Johnson, Allison (June 5, 2023). "Apple announces iOS 17 with StandBy charging mode and better autocorrect". The Verge. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  40. ^ Cunningham, Andrew (June 7, 2023). "Apple removes $99 dev account requirement for first iOS 17 and macOS 14 betas". Ars Technica. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  41. ^ Cipriani, Jason (September 25, 2023). "iOS 17 is full of surprise and delight". CNN Underscored. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  42. ^ a b "Apple iOS 17 Review". PCMAG. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  43. ^ a b c "iOS 17 Review: StandBy Mode, Meaningful Changes in Messages and More". CNET. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
Preceded byiOS 16 iOS 17 2023 Succeeded byCurrent
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