Apple iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 (2023): how to download, new features, supported devices

If you like dictating your messages instead of typing them (less ducks, right?), you’ll appreciate the improvements to dictation. Now the keyboard will stay open during dictation so you can easily switch between voice and touch. You can tap text to select it and replace it with your voice, and even send emojis without taking forever to find one.

Safari tab groups and access keys

You can already create tab groups in Safari, like a collection of tabs for work, but in iOS 16 you can share these groups with other people. You will also be able to see which tabs people are viewing in real time.

Everyone wants to get rid of passwords, and Apple is one of them get closer with Passkeys. These are unique digital keys that you can create via Touch ID or Face ID; there’s no password to generate or type in, and Apple says they’re virtually immune to being hooked Or leak during a data breach. They sync across your Apple devices via iCloud Keychain and will work across apps and the web. Apple says it’s working with the FIDO Alliance for a cross-platform solution for those who also use non-Apple devices. Learn more how access keys work.

Live text visual search updates

Live Text, the feature that lets you type text from any photo (before or after taking it), now works with videos. Just pause any video and tap the text to copy it. There are a few new quick actions when you select particular text types, such as currency conversion and text translation.

Visual Look Up was a different feature introduced by Apple last year that offered more information about the photo you were looking at, such as details about a landmark or similar web results. It now supports birds, bugs, and statues, but you can also use it to grab the subject of a photo (much like using the Lasso tool in Photoshop) to paste it anywhere, like in a conversation thread in Messages.

Medication Tracking

Apple has updated the Health app with a new Medications tab to make it easier to track your medications. You can use it for add medication you need to take and set reminders (and receive them on the Apple Watch). You can type in these drugs manually or simply scan the bottle label with your phone’s camera. Data includes critical, severe or moderate interactions with the pills. You can also log in when you have taken your medication. You can share this health data with your family members.

Use your iPhone as a webcam

You can use your iPhone as a MacBook webcam (rear cameras, which are significantly better than webcam cameras), and without needing to plug anything in, your Mac will automatically detect the rear camera and use it for your video calls. (Any MacBook that can run macOS is coming will support this feature.) You can use features like Center Stage, which lets the camera follow you around a room, and Portrait Mode, which blurs the background to block out the clutter behind you. There’s even a Desk View mode that uses the ultra-wide camera to show people what’s on your desk, even if I don’t want anyone to see it. Belkin has a custom mount you can use to equip your iPhone to the MacBook, and there are even a version for Mac.

Apple Maps goes to Vegas

Apple has slowly redesigned some cities in the United States to display richer data. The company has added Las Vegas, Miami, Seattle, Atlanta and Chicago to the list, with more cities expected to arrive this year. The feature is also available in London and Canada. Other Maps updates include the ability to add up to 15 stops before your final destination, which is great for long road trips (and you can set it up on a Mac and send it straight to your iPhone). If you use public transit, you can now view fares, add transit cards, view low balances, and top up transit cards.

Lock Mode

To help protect your devices against “highly sophisticated cyberattacks”, Lock Mode adds an extra extreme layer of protection to your iPhone and iPad. When enabled, features, apps, and websites will be restricted for security reasons to prevent malware or spyware from accessing and compromising specific data. you can learn learn more about lockdown mode and how to enable it here.

Security controle

This new tool allows you quickly remove all access that you could have granted to anyone in your circles and includes an emergency reset that will sign you out of iCloud on all other devices, reset privacy permissions, and limit messaging to the device you have in hand . It also shows you who has access to your devices and apps.

Family Sharing

Now there’s an easier process to set up devices for kids. Just bring your iPhone close to your iPad and choose your children’s account. It will set it up with all the parental controls you set up before. You can even grant Screen Time extensions in the Messages app instead of having to go to device settings. There’s also a family checklist tool for suggestions like turning on location sharing and changing settings as your kids grow.

iCloud Shared Photo Library

You can now set up an iCloud Shared Photo Library, similar to how you can set up Shared Photo Libraries in Google Photos. Just add up to five other people to a library and anyone can add and edit family photos. You can choose which photos to share, including whether you want to base them on a start date or via face detection. There’s also a toggle in the Camera app that you can turn on to automatically send the photo you capture to the shared library. If you’re all on vacation, those photos might even automatically appear in the shared library based on your proximity to family members.

Satellite Emergency SOS

Those who have any model of the iPhone 14 range now have access to the new Emergency SOS via satellite function. If you ever need assistance in a remote location without cellular service, iPhone will be able to connect to Globalstar satellites in orbit. This way, you can contact emergency responders or Apple’s own relay center for assistance.

Advanced Data Protection for iCloud

Apple has increased the number of categories of iCloud data protected using end-to-end encryption. In addition to credit card and payment data, health data and passwords, you will now have the option to extend this protection to other sensitive information like notes, photos and iCloud backup. You can find out more about the new feature here.

Apple ID support for physical authentication keys

In addition to two-factor authentication codes (which are required for all new Apple IDs), you now have the option of using hardware keys as part of the process. Unlike codes, hardware tokens cannot be compromised or shared as easily, adding an extra layer of security to your devices.

HomePod (2nd Gen) support

With the launch of a Second-generation HomePod, iOS 16 unlocks a variety of new features for the new smart speaker, some of which are also available on the first-generation HomePod and HomePod Mini. On all HomePods, you can now use Find My to ask Siri for the location of family and friends (if they’ve shared it with you) and set up recurring home automation through Siri using your voice (like turning on alternating current at a specific time during the day). When controlling devices located in different rooms, you will also hear a new Siri confirmation tone to confirm that the command was executed.

On the HomePod (2nd Gen) and HomePod Mini, you’ll have access to the internal temperature humidity sensor. It can measure indoor environments, allowing you to set automation such as turning on the air conditioning when a room reaches a certain temperature. Both full-size HomePods now also come with automatic tuning optimization for spoken content like podcasts or audiobooks, which should allow for greater clarity.

Emergency SOS Commands

Prior to iOS 16.3, you could make an emergency call on your iPhone by holding down the side button, one of the volume buttons, and using the Emergency SOS slider. In an effort to prevent people from accidentally triggering the feature, Apple changed the controls slightly. You still have to hold down the side button and one of the volume buttons, but the call won’t go through until the countdown ends and you physically let go of the buttons.

Pay later with Apple Pay

Services that allow you buy now pay later have received some negative feedback from consumer analystsbut Apple is moving forward with its own version called Apple pay later. It lets you split the cost of an Apple Pay purchase into four equal payments over six weeks with no interest or fees. You’ll also have the option to request Apple Pay Later when you pay with Apple Pay (Apple says it will do a smooth credit check), and you’ll need to have it with a debit card. It’s available wherever Apple Pay is accepted online or in-app. You can also see order tracking directly in Apple Pay, although this is only available at participating merchants. And if you’re a small business owner, you’ll be able to accept Apple Pay payments through iPhone instead of having to use a separate terminal.