When Will iOS 17.3 Be Released?

[MacRumors]

Update: On January 17, Apple revealed that iOS 17.3 will be released "next week", with Monday, January 22, and Tuesday, January 23, being the most likely dates.


Apple is working on an iOS 17.3 update, and has seeded three betas to developers and public beta testers so far. The update isn't quite as large as the prior iOS 17.2 update in terms of new features so the testing period won't be as long, and we are expecting it to launch before the end of January.

In terms of timing, a launch the week of January 22nd might make the most sense. We've had three betas, two of which have not added anything particularly notable, suggesting there isn't much testing left. If Apple plans to launch the update on the 22nd or the 23rd, we can expect to see the release candidate version of the iOS 17.3 update on the 15th, followed by the launch.

Apple could also release iOS 17.3 on the week of the 29th, but that is the week that visionOS and the Vision Pro headset will be coming out. Apple does sometimes tie software release updates together, but as an entirely new operating system, visionOS isn't likely to be accompanied by any other updates.

The last new operating system update that Apple came out with was watchOS back in 2015. watchOS saw its official release on Friday, April 24, 2015, the same day that the first Apple Watch models launched.

Apple last year released iOS 16.3 on January 23, and in 2022, Apple released iOS 15.3 on January 26, so a January 22 launch date for iOS 17.3 would be in line with Apple's past release timelines.

iOS 17.3's main new feature is Stolen Device Protection, a feature that prevents a thief that somehow gains access to both your iPhone and your passcode from accessing sensitive information. It locks several features behind a Face ID scan, preventing a thief from viewing iCloud Keychain passwords, turning off Lost Mode, using Safari payment methods, and more.

It also adds a time-based delay before allowing Face ID, Find My, or Stolen Device Protection to be turned off, and before letting an Apple ID or iPhone passcode be changed.

Along with Stolen Device Protection, iOS 17.3 adds Collaborative Apple Music Playlists, a feature originally intended for iOS 17.2. With Collaborative Playlists, multiple people can contribute to one shared Apple Music playlist.

Article Link: When Will iOS 17.3 Be Released?

 

[klasma]

Along with Stolen Device Protection, iOS 17.3 adds Collaborative Apple Music Playlists, a feature originally intended for iOS 17.2. With Collaborative Playlists, multiple people can contribute to one shared Apple Music playlist.

How do those interact? Can a thief contribute to a shared Apple Music playlist?

 

[maxfromdenmark]

Hopefully not before it’s ready

 

[JapanApple]

Stolen Device Protection, iOS 17.3 adds Collaborative Apple Music Playlists, a feature originally intended for iOS 17.2.

This is what i want

 

[Apple_Robert]

I predict another month.

 

[california_kid]

Apple totally missed the opportunity to say version 123.123 will be released on 123123 and the new security feature will reset all PIN codes to 123123. It will be as easy as 123.....ok I'm done.....

 

[coffeemilktea]

You know, I kind of figured this would arrive around the same time a certain headset "spatial computing" device ships.

(almost forgot, Apple doesn't like it when you call it a "headset" )

 

[iOSBry]

Hopefully not before it’s ready

Couldn’t agree more. Really feels like we need more betas not an arbitrary timeline.

 

[ThomasJL]

For the people here who've tested the betas of iOS 17.3, I'd like to ask a question: If you had to make a rough estimate, what percentage of iOS 17.3 is bug fixes and what percentage is new features?

 

[segfaultdotorg]

Is this just for the older stuff, or do they also plan to release iPhoneOS 17.3 and iPadOS 17.3?

 

[gigapocket1]

The amount of updates over the next 3 months is about to be massive lol..

 

[anthogag]

When will iOS 17.3 be available?...it's available now for the brave, chickens have to wait 😂

 

[spaxxedout]

AudioOS and BridgeOS have come out since the launch of WatchOS.

 

[lartola]

I predict another month.

That’s highly unlikely. First of all, waiting another month would mean a whole 2 months without any software updates at all and apple has never done that before, nor will they ever do it. Second, they have to release some software updates in late january or early february to include in them the unity wallpaper and unity watch face released every year for the unity month, which is february.

 

[tonmischa]

BTW:

The last new operating system update that Apple came out with was watchOS back in 2015. watchOS saw its official release on Friday, April 24, 2015, the same day that the first Apple Watch models launched.

Not true. iPadOS was released in 2019.

 

[lartola]

BTW:

Not true. iPadOS was released in 2019.

True. However, iPadOS was more of a name change for iOS on ipad, an already existing software for an already existing product. WatchOS, on the other hand, was an entirely new OS for an entirely new product (apple watch), as will be visionOS for the vision pro.

 

[svish]

Expect it to be released just before Vision Pro launches.

 

[GerritV]

Hopefully not before it’s ready

Today's macOS, iOS and watchOS are perhaps the most buggy releases I've known so far.
Everything seems to work, but with hundreds of cosmetic issues.

 

[yeye2]

Today's macOS, iOS and watchOS are perhaps the most buggy releases I've known so far.
Everything seems to work, but with hundreds of cosmetic issues.

I have been an iOS user since iOS 6, and I find iOS 17 to be the most problematic version to date, reminiscent of Android KitKat in terms of issues. Specifically, on the iPhone 15, the experience is significantly buggy. The extent of these issues is prompting me to consider switching from my iPhone 15 Pro Max to a Samsung S24 Ultra.

The problems I've encountered include: persistent bugs in the keyboard, crashes when auto-completing passwords, Bluetooth functionality issues (which were not present in iOS 16), calls ceasing to ring after just one ring, and frequent crashes of the camera app.... etc etc....

 

[msackey]

Anywhooo.... so, anyone know if 17.3 includes further enhancements of the Journal app? I've been using it and I actually do enjoy using it to make a quick log about certain things which I then use as a way to remind myself to write longer notes in another application, usually Obsidian. But, the app is lacking in recognizing a number of things including: meditation, health status, sleep status, doesn't recognize the podcast one listened to on a connected Apple Watch.

 

[jonnysods]

If the beta was bricking people's phones, I think I'll sit it out for a .1 release. I will say I've been enjoying iOS17 its been solid (aside from this instance of bricking!)

 

[barkomatic]

Stolen Device Protection alone makes this a major update for me. I live in NYC and am in public places a lot with my iPhone. I take all the precautions I can but thieves are very clever.

 

[TheGeneralist]

I really hope they can hold off at least until 29th of January, better still until February.
The current versions should become more stable soon...and soon means in this case, better spend some additional weeks for fixing than rushing out another half-baked version...

 

[Realityck]

Apple is working on an iOS 17.3 update, and has seeded three betas to developers and public beta testers so far. The update isn't quite as large as the prior iOS 17.2 update in terms of new features so the testing period won't be as long, and we are expecting it to launch before the end of January.

I predicted Monday Jan 22nd awhile back. RC is next week. Originally I thought they weren't going to push it out as early as to devs on Jan 3rd, but Jan 9th. This retracted iOS beta 2, and issue an additional beta 3 to all OS's a week later doesn't change that target date.

 

[Jimmy Bubbles]

Hopefully this will fix my ${bug.name} when it comes out!