Apple’s iOS 17.5 is coming soon, after the first beta of the new iPhone update dropped this week. Hot on the heels of iOS 17.4.1, iOS 17.5 will be a major upgrade, adding a bunch of game-changing new features to your iPhone.
Here’s what’s coming in iOS 17.5 and when you can expect the update to arrive for iPhone.
Hot on the heels of iOS 17.4.1, iOS 17.5 should be a major upgrade, adding a bunch of … [+]
iOS 17.5 comes with tracking protection
AirTags have come under fire in the past for their potential to be used for unwanted tracking. Apple has already added various safeguards to prevent AirTags from secretly tracking people, and iOS 17.5 will take this a step further. Spotted by 9to5Mac in the iOS 17.5 beta internal code, iPhone users will now be able to identify non-Apple tracking devices other than AirTags.
It comes after Apple and Google announced a partnership last year to work on an industry standard to stop unwanted tracking.
Strings added to the Find My app in iOS 17.5 show that Apple can now alert you to any unknown Google tracking device, for example.
9to5Mac cites an example of one of the new Strings that reads: “This item is not certified on the Apple Find My network. You can disable this item to prevent it from sharing its location with its owner. To do this, follow the instructions provided on the website by the manufacturer of this item.”
Apple AirTags technology “has been easily abused by stalkers,” says Jake Moore, global cybersecurity consultant at ESET. “Enabling the identification of all types of tracking devices opens up a much-needed breadth of support and security for users,” he says.
iOS 17.5 allows EU users to install apps directly from the developer’s website
Apple’s iOS 17.4 was a major update for iPhone users in the EU, as it opened up iOS to sideload apps for the first time. And iOS 17.5 will take it a step further, as the update allows apps to be installed directly from the developer’s website.
Called “Web Distribution,” the new feature can be used by developers who opt in to the new business terms, including a fee for the underlying technology.
iOS 17.5’s new move certainly adds choice for iPhone users — at least it will when developers start offering the service — but Apple has been very vocal about the security risks posed by sideloading apps.
The iPhone maker protects users with notarization, and developers offering apps will have to adhere to Apple’s guidelines. They will also have to be approved by Apple.
Installing apps directly from a developer’s website has been a “big no-no” for years, especially for those concerned about security, Moore says.
However, with the right “due diligence and research into downloads before installation,” Moore thinks the new iOS 17.5 feature is perfectly safe. “Any app that’s distributed through a third-party website will still have to meet Apple’s guidelines, so people will have that guarantee.”
Even so, Moore advises to be careful to avoid fake apps. I agree. While sideloading can be done safely — just look at Google Android users — it requires extra caution. Always check reviews, keep your apps tidy and delete the ones you don’t use, and check permissions thoroughly to ensure privacy.
Other new features of iOS 17.5
Apple’s iOS 17.5 is certainly a flagship update, with new MDM features added for business users.
It also adds some design changes detailed by 9to5Mac, including an Access Keys option for web browsers in the Settings menu under Privacy & Security.
When will iOS 17.5 arrive?
Apple’s iOS 17.4.1 has only been out for a week, and iOS 17.5 is in its first beta, so it’s unlikely the update will arrive before May. In fact, it is possible that Apple will release the iOS 17.4.2 update to address all security flaws and bugs on the iPhone, before releasing iOS 17.5 in mid or late May.