iOS 16.3: New iPhone Options to Attempt Now

Apple launched iOS 16.3 in January, and the replace consists of some bug fixes and safety updates to make your iPhone run extra easily. The replace additionally brings some helpful new options to your iPhone, like safety keys and an replace to emergency SOS by way of satellite tv for pc. 

The iOS 16.3 replace was launched alongside updates for different Apple software program, too, like iPadOS, Safari and former variations of iOS. The newest iOS replace arrived a couple of month after the discharge of iOS 16.2.

iOS 16.3: New iPhone Options to Attempt Now

Listed below are the brand new options touchdown in your iPhone with iOS 16.3.

Safety keys come to Apple ID

Customers can now use third-party safety keys as an alternative of two-factor authentication for his or her Apple ID. 

Safety keys are rather a lot like keys to your own home. You continue to use passwords, however this additional layer of safety may help shield you in opposition to phishing scams and hackers.

Security Keys screen in iOS 16.3 beta

Safety keys add extra safety to your machine.


Screenshot by Zach McAuliffe/CNET

“{Hardware} safety keys are very, very safe,” Diya Jolly, chief product officer of authentication service firm Okta, advised CNET’s Stephen Shankland.

Apple’s safety keys function solely works with FIDO Alliance-certified safety keys.

Assist for the second-gen HomePod

Apple’s iOS 16.3 software program provides help for the second-generation HomePod, which is out now and prices $299 (£299, AU$479). Apple introduced the discharge of the brand new HomePod 4 days earlier than the most recent iOS software program was made obtainable.

New Unity wallpaper for Black Historical past Month

A green, black and red wallpaper

Screenshot by Zach McAuliffe/CNET

The newest iOS replace features a new iPhone wallpaper as a part of Apple’s Black Unity Assortment. The gathering celebrates Black Historical past Month with a special-edition Apple Watch Black Unity Sport Loop, a mosaic watch face and the brand new iPhone wallpaper. Apple additionally plans to launch a number of Black Historical past Month content material for Apple TV, Health Plus, Music, Maps, Books, Podcasts and the App Retailer as a part of the gathering.

New methods to make use of Emergency SOS by way of satellite tv for pc

Emergency SOS by way of satellite tv for pc was launched at Apple’s occasion in September. In iOS 16.3, the Name with Maintain choice has been changed with Name with Maintain and Launch. For those who allow Name with Maintain and Launch, you possibly can maintain the facet button and a quantity button to provoke a countdown and an alarm. After the countdown, you launch the buttons and your iPhone will name emergency providers by itself. Earlier than with Name with Maintain, urgent the facet button and a quantity button would first convey up the Emergency SOS name slider. For those who continued to carry the buttons, a countdown began and an alarm would go off. After the countdown ended, your telephone would make an emergency name.

There’s additionally an choice to Name Quietly in Emergency SOS. By enabling this selection, once you attempt to make an emergency SOS name, your telephone will not begin flashing or making an alarm sound.

Right here is Apple’s listing of recent options and modifications included in iOS 16.3:

  • New Unity wallpaper honors Black historical past and tradition in celebration of Black Historical past Month.
  • Safety Keys for Apple ID enable customers to strengthen the safety of their account by requiring a bodily safety key as a part of the 2 issue authentication register course of on new units.
  • Assist for HomePod (second technology).
  • Emergency SOS calls now require holding the facet button with the up or down quantity button after which releasing in an effort to stop inadvertent emergency calls.
  • Fixes a problem in Freeform the place some drawing strokes created with Apple Pencil or your finger could not seem on shared boards.
  • Addresses a problem the place the wallpaper could seem black on the Lock Display.
  • Fixes a problem the place horizontal traces could briefly seem whereas waking up iPhone 14 Professional Max.
  • Fixes a problem the place the Residence Lock Display widget doesn’t precisely show Residence app standing.
  • Addresses a problem the place Siri could not reply correctly to music requests.
  • Resolves points the place Siri requests in CarPlay will not be understood appropriately.

For extra iOS 16 information, see what new options had been added in iOS 16.2 and iOS 16.1. This is how one can signal as much as check Apple’s iOS beta software program, too.


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