Apple iOS 17.5 Update Out: iOS 17.5 now rolling out to make iPhone 15 more useful

Apple iOS 17.5 Update Out: iOS 17.5 is now available for everyone with an eligible iPhone, weeks after it was seeded to developers. Apple has incorporated several minor changes in the new update, aimed at making the iPhone 15 and older models more useful. For instance, the Apple News+ app now includes a word game called Quartiles and an offline mode, while the Find My network can now identify accessories from other makers, those running a non-Apple platform, to prevent stalking.

What’s new in Apple iOS 17.5 Update? (4 New Features of iOS 17.5)

1. Downloads from websites

The new iOS 17.5 update brings many incremental upgrades, but none of them are major. The most significant change coming to iPhones with the iOS 17.5 update is the ability to install apps directly from a website. That removes relying on the App Store for app distribution for developers and gives more flexibility to customers. The new functionality is one of many changes Apple has introduced to comply with the European Union laws. That also means these changes apply to European Union users, who can download and install apps directly from a developer’s website. For example, if a user wants to download WhatsApp, they can visit the app’s website and download the app — much like Android where APK files are available as an alternate method to Play Store downloads.

2. New Quartile game

The Apple News+ subscribers can now enjoy a new word game, Quartile. It lets users select from a grid of tiles to form different and unique words. This is the third game in the Apple News+ app, but available only to users in the US and Canada. Unfortunately, Apple has not expanded the app’s availability to more regions with this update.

3. Minor redesigns

The iOS 17.5 update brings a new dynamic colour for the Podcasts widget. It now changes colours based on the artwork currently playing. The Apple Books app has a redesigned Reading Goal icon at the top navigation bar. The “Passkeys Access for Web Browsers” menu under the “Privacy & Security” settings has a new glyph. Apple has also introduced a new Pride wallpaper for the iPhone with the new update.

4. Better Find My capabilities

Apple has introduced a new system to prevent stalking through AirTags and other accessories. For the latter part, Apple has partnered with Google to include a wider set of accessories that Find My network can detect.

How to download Apple iOS 17.5 Update?

To download the iOS 17.5 update, head to the General section of iPhone settings and then tap Software Update to look for the new update. iOS 17.5 is available for iOS 17-eligible devices.