Get ready for the iOS 16 update. iOS 16.3 is coming to your iPhone this week, bringing some new features, some bug fixes, and some tie-ins for Black History Month.
Word of the impending release of iOS 16.3 comes from Apple itself, which let the launch date slip in a press release highlighting the company’s efforts on behalf of Black History Month. (opens in new tab) in February. In addition to spotlighting selected content in the Music, TV, News and Podcasts apps, Apple is adding a Unity watch face and an iPhone wallpaper that incorporates the colors of the pan-African flag.
Both Unity 2023 watch face and Unity iPhone wallpapers will require iOS 16.3. And in Apple’s Black History Month announcement yesterday (Jan. 18), the company says the watch face and wallpaper will be “available next week.” That seems to imply that an iOS update is coming as well.
Another sign that iOS 16.3 is on the way. A beta version of the release candidate was made available to developers this week. Usually, that means a full release isn’t too far off.
If you’ve followed the iOS 16.3 beta process, you know that a number of key features are missing from this release. But Apple has some extras that will be rolling out when iOS 16.3 hits your iPhone. Here’s what you can expect.
iOS 16.3. Apple ID security key authentication
Users looking for an extra layer of security between ne’er-do-wells and their Apple ID data will be able to add security key authentication tanks in iOS 16.3.
This was announced by Apple (opens in new tab) Meanwhile, it revealed an enhanced data protection add-on for iCloud that arrived for US iPhone owners in iOS 16.2. At the time, Apple said it was targeting early 2023 for security key authentication, which follows the release of iOS 16.3.
The physical security keys are meant to augment Apple’s existing two-factor authentication for Apple ID, especially for iPhone owners whose public profile makes them a potential target for hackers. Think celebrities, politicians and. looks around nervously – journalists.
When this feature is enabled, you’ll need a physical security key as one of two factors to sign in to your Apple ID account.
Improved HomePod Handoff
There’s an improvement to the Handoff feature, which transfers music playback control from the iPhone to the HomePod speaker, a particularly timely addition given the arrival of the Apple HomePod 2 this week. While Handoff has been around for a while, iOS 16.3 introduces new guidance that more clearly shows HomePod owners how to use the Handoff feature.
The guide prompts you to bring your iPhone within range of the HomePod to view your playback controls or stream audio playing on your phone to the smart speaker. It also prompts you to do it again if you want to see the controls or re-transmit the sound later.
New Emergency SOS via satellite call modes
iPhone 14 users already have access to Emergency SOS via satellite if they need help while in a remote location, but iOS 16.3 adds two new ways to access it.
Call with Hold and Release replaces the existing Call with Hold feature, allowing you to access Emergency SOS and Alert after pressing the power button and volume button. The previous Call with Hold feature required you to use the call slider to make an emergency call, which may not be possible depending on your situation.
Another new option is “Quiet Call”. This allows you to make an emergency call without setting off an alarm when it is not useful or could put you in further danger.
iOS 16.3 Global Advanced Data Protection
As we mentioned above, the iOS 16.2 update has enabled US iPhone owners to take advantage of Enhanced Data Protection. This is a new security feature that provides end-to-end encryption in Apple’s iCloud storage service, protecting the information you store in the cloud (except for Mail, Contacts, and Calendar data).
Apple promised to bring global advanced data protection to other parts of the world with a future iOS update and build on; comments from people who used iOS 16.3 beta (opens in new tab), that time has come. As before, to turn on Enhanced Data Protection, launch Settings, tap your name, then iCloud. From there you can enable the security feature.
iOS 16.3 bug fixes
The iOS 16.3 release notes detail several fixes coming with this software update. The biggest is related to a bug where horizontal lines would appear on some iPhone 14 Pro Max models when the phones were waking up. Additionally, iOS 16.3 fixes various issues with Siri, Car Play, and the iPhone lock screen.
iOS 16.2 included a new architecture for Apple’s Home app, but just as quickly as the feature arrived, Apple pulled it from the iPhone software. Users complained that some HomeKit devices were stuck in an “updating” or “setting up” status, while other devices were completely missing from the Home app, among other bugs. The new architecture returns in iOS 16.3, presumably now that Apple has fixed the issue.
What is still missing?
Even though iOS 16 is due out in the fall of 2022, not all of the features Apple promised are available yet. We’re still waiting for a dedicated Apple Music Classical app to launch, though there are reports that the iOS 16.3 release candidate contains code (opens in new tab) alluding to such service.
Apple Pay Later, which lets you split Apple Pay payments into four parts, is also yet to launch. Perhaps it will be part of iOS 16.4, which will likely arrive in beta form not long after iOS 16.3 is released.
