Apple’s iOS 17.3 is arriving next week, along with some exciting new iPhone features. The iOS 17.3 update has been a long time coming, with some fearing it might be delayed after a the second beta was pulled at the last minute.
Many people had expected iOS17.3 to come at the end of January or perhaps later, but the iPhone maker accidently let slip that the upgrade will arrive next week in a press release unveiling its Black Unity sports band for the Apple Watch, MacRumors reports.
Apple wrote:
“The new Unity Bloom iPhone and iPad wallpaper for the Lock Screen will be also be available next week, and requires iPhone Xs or later running iOS 17.3 and iPad (6th generation and later), iPad mini (5th generation and later), iPad Air (3rd generation and later), 12.9-inch iPad Pro (2nd generation and later), 10.5-inch iPad Pro, and 11-inch iPad Pro (1st generation and later) running iPadOS 17.3.”
Stolen Device Protection
The headline feature coming in iOS 17.3—and one of the best in a long time, in my opinion—is a set of features to protect you if your iPhone is stolen. The launch of Stolen Device Protection comes after the Wall Street Journal demonstrated how thieves were spying on iPhone users’ passcodes and using these to break into their devices once stolen.
When iOS 17.3 launches, it will add Stolen Device Mode, preventing thieves from accessing your passwords, turning off Lost Mode or changing your Apple ID. It will do so via requiring additional authentication such as Face ID or Touch ID.
As soon as iOS 17.3 arrives, you can find the new feature by going to your Settings > Face ID & Passcode and toggling on Stolen Device Protection.
Exciting stuff.
When exactly will iOS 17.3 launch?
It’s certain iOS 17.3 will arrive next week, but Apple hasn’t confirmed which day the iPhone upgrade will arrive. My guess is Monday 22 January or Tuesday 23 January, but keep your eye on your iPhone Settings > General > Software Update, or check back to my Forbes page if you are keen.
The iOS 17.3 update comes with other new features too, such as Collaborative Playlists in Apple Music. It will of course come with some important security upgrades, which I’ll be covering in more detail when iOS 17.3 arrives.
